When I was working on issues in genetics and ethics during my PhD, in the early 2000s, the term that was used as the "worried well", a means of describing the problems raised by genetic testing for predispositions. Perfectly healthy and well people could become "ill" not because of actual disease but because of the fear of risk of disease, something that might never actualise.
This is wise. You’re right that wellbeing is more important than health, and that you can be well while having serious health problems.
Healthcare loves to paint obesity, the health problem of our age in high- and middle-income countries, as unhealthy, but that’s not always true. There’s unhealthy obesity but there are many people with obesity who live healthy lives, full of wellbeing.
And, although it’s not central to your main point, it’s always concerned me, in my work as a doctor, when we make people think of themselves as unwell by telling them they have asymptomatic conditions that may never have any impact on their lives, such as hypertension, early kidney disease, or even some forms of prostate cancer. And then there’s the impact of screening on people’s wellbeing …
Thank you for pointing that obesity is not necessarily unhealthy! I'm considered obese, my blood markers are good, no hypertension, no diabetes, and I was just told by my doctor this morning that I have the heart of an 18 year old woman and I'm closer to retirement than to beginning an adult life... I also have a friend, she is obese and does triathlons... so...! (c :
Interesting, I think that if we are well in our minds, very often the physical health folllows. Not in every situations, but when someone believes they are well most of the time, their overall physical health improves. But this is my input and it is not scientific, I think? It certainly has an effect on the mental health for sure and can even be useful for healing. Also, people who live with permanent physical problems, I'm thinking here some mild chronic pains as an example, can be well as they are use to living with it.
Also like viewing the world as optimist or pessimist, glass half full or half empty. That framing changes both how we perceive our external environment and social relations as well as our internal emotional and physical states. Great examples of this from pain management and rehabilitation, e.g., using virtual reality games to distract from the pain and support rehab…and leads to marked reduction in the experience of pain.
When I was working on issues in genetics and ethics during my PhD, in the early 2000s, the term that was used as the "worried well", a means of describing the problems raised by genetic testing for predispositions. Perfectly healthy and well people could become "ill" not because of actual disease but because of the fear of risk of disease, something that might never actualise.
This is wise. You’re right that wellbeing is more important than health, and that you can be well while having serious health problems.
Healthcare loves to paint obesity, the health problem of our age in high- and middle-income countries, as unhealthy, but that’s not always true. There’s unhealthy obesity but there are many people with obesity who live healthy lives, full of wellbeing.
And, although it’s not central to your main point, it’s always concerned me, in my work as a doctor, when we make people think of themselves as unwell by telling them they have asymptomatic conditions that may never have any impact on their lives, such as hypertension, early kidney disease, or even some forms of prostate cancer. And then there’s the impact of screening on people’s wellbeing …
Thank you for pointing that obesity is not necessarily unhealthy! I'm considered obese, my blood markers are good, no hypertension, no diabetes, and I was just told by my doctor this morning that I have the heart of an 18 year old woman and I'm closer to retirement than to beginning an adult life... I also have a friend, she is obese and does triathlons... so...! (c :
Interesting, I think that if we are well in our minds, very often the physical health folllows. Not in every situations, but when someone believes they are well most of the time, their overall physical health improves. But this is my input and it is not scientific, I think? It certainly has an effect on the mental health for sure and can even be useful for healing. Also, people who live with permanent physical problems, I'm thinking here some mild chronic pains as an example, can be well as they are use to living with it.
Also like viewing the world as optimist or pessimist, glass half full or half empty. That framing changes both how we perceive our external environment and social relations as well as our internal emotional and physical states. Great examples of this from pain management and rehabilitation, e.g., using virtual reality games to distract from the pain and support rehab…and leads to marked reduction in the experience of pain.
Yes. I find fascinating this emerging connection between the feelings of fear and the sensitivity to pain... I see it in my own mom ;-)!