Definitions of health

Health definitions can be described as being subjective, personally defined by ach individual therefore there is no universal definition which can be complied as being completely correct and agreed upon by everyone. However the most commonly used definition of health is that of the World Health Organization, which defines health as, “Being in a complete sate of physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease of infirmity” (Brooker, Waugh, 2007:5). This definition has a positive holistic view of health mentioning the different aspects of health although it implies that health is stable and does not change with life circumstances.

Seedhouse (2004:15) proposed health as, “A foundation for achieving a person's realistic potential” Health is now seen as a positive concept that focuses on personal and physical capacities along with social resources, adaptability and responsibility.

Stress is evident in a variety of emotional, behavioral and physical indicators, which the symptoms of stress varying between each individual dependent on how well the individual has learnt how to cope with their own stress levels. Stress is used to describe the ‘pressure' experienced by a person in response to life's demands. Stress itself is not necessarily a bad thing if it is managed and controlled properly. Most people think of stress as an emotion they experience when they can no longer cope demands of a particular task or activity. Without stress people would have little motivation to act and would not be able to feel the satisfaction and pleasure of success and achievement. In many ways stress should be views as a useful action as it prepares the individual to take this action. However if people lack the capacity to deal with the demands that are made upon them their own coping strategies may be inadequate.

Stress levels are particularly high during the transition period of a life stage. A particular transition period that involves high level of stress on individual is that of entering university. Students leaving school are forced out of their comfort zones of which their local high school provides and leave their friends that they have grew up with to go and study at university. There may also be students who are returning to education after a significant period of time who may all feel the pressure of stress upon them.

Being a student nurse is vital that we learn to cope with stress effectively as there are high demands expected. Coping with study, exams, assignments, seminars and placement are all very stressful on their own but with the added details of many students being away from home many for the first times in their lives, stress levels will be high and how each student copes with their own stress is vital in order to complete university life.

Exercise is one way to relieve stress. Exercise on a regular basis has proved to lower the level of hormones and neurochemicals which contribute to stress. Exercising for 30 minutes each day not only relieves stress but has excellent health benefits and can completed in any activity desired.

If stress is not managed correctly it can lead to psychiatric problems such as a post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety disorders that requires long term medication. Uncontrollable and unpredictable stress has consequences on our physical and mental health. Stress can occur at any age and recur throughout one entire life span. It is therefore important be aware of which stressors affect each individual the most in order to for when they do occur to be prepared on how to cope with them effectively and efficiently. If we are unable to control the recurrence of stress them it may be detrimental to our own health.

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