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Running Head: Personal Health Beliefs 1

Personal Health Beliefs

Jaspinder Gill
820546760
Oct 11, 2013
NURS 160 Practical Nursing
Humber College

Introduction
Health beliefs play a significant role in deciding, whether a new medicine
has started or going through a protruding test. Each individual has certain ways of considering
health and everybody describes health diversely. I will discuss my views about health and how
they differentiate from my cultural beliefs. I will mention similarities and differences between
my background and my classmates which are Sikhism and Islamic respectively. I will also
explain how it improved my view of health and how all of these beliefs can help me in future
while working as a nurse.
Defining Health
I describe, as it is the way when an individuals present themselves as a
healthy human. The sensation of being internally fit is a significant health expression for me. I
think intellectual health is how an individual keeps themselves healthy in all aspects. Healthy
body is when a person exercise regularly and maintains a balanced diet. In 1947, WHO defines
health as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity (Potter & Perry, 2010, pg. 2). The statement above explains the
same way I describe health.
Current Health Beliefs
I believe whatever I consume reflects my health beliefs. I belong to a
vegetarian family and that shows our way of staying healthy. According to me, health can be
defined in the way a person takes care of himself or herself. My health is largely influenced
intellectually and more or less physically. Whenever I consume food, I do not really pay attention
to what I am eating and how it can affect me. I believe in keeping myself clean and sanitized. In
addition to health beliefs, we believe that worshipping god, staying patient, and taking home
remedies can treat sickness. In addition, homeopathic medicine can also be useful. I personally
prefer not to take medicine unless it is a major one because of two following reasons: Initially, I

believe human body has the ability to fight any illness to some level. Furthermore, medicine is
not a permanent cure plus it can cause many side effects, which can start new problem. I make
sure my body is in healthy condition by getting it examined regularly. I believe an individual
must know whether their body is functioning properly or not.
Cultural Beliefs
How we individually describe our culture affects how we maintain our
healthy body. Generally, the health viewpoints are affected by the cultural viewpoints in respect
to what we consume. I am a vegan, which is my religious belief and therefore we are not allowed
to eat meat because it involves killing a living being which is morally wrong according to our
religion. Even though, fruits and vegetables are nutritious but still they lack certain proteins or
other nutrients that are present in meats.. Due to this, I am obstructed from making and
sustaining physique. Being an Indian, we put large amount of oils and spices in our food, which
are not healthy. According to another belief, I restrict myself from consuming any kind of nuts
during menstrual period because it can lead to future health complications during pregnancy.
Health strategies
A healthy body can be determined by the way we take care of it. Body
needs 7-8 hours of sleep each night so that every body system works properly. I mostly eat what
I like without paying attention to the nutrition facts of what I am consuming. So I need to work
on this in order to keep myself healthy. Other way to deal with stress is to exercise regularly
because stress can affect the body systems. Exercising can relieve a person from tension,
nervousness and depression. I need to add more physical activities to my daily lives to maintain
my healthy life.
Compare and Contrast
Individuals bond strongly with their ethnicity, defining their individuality
thru their lifetime. I correlated my health beliefs with my classmates beliefs, who is Muslim and

has distinct understanding of health. They prefer eating halal meat but on the other hand I am a
vegetarian. Other difference is when they fast for month from dawn to dusk but on the contrary,
we do not agree with this belief. Fasting leaves negative affects on the body as it makes you
weak. However, meditation and exercising is mutual in both of our beliefs. We consider, a person
must be internally capable of dealing with everyday issues. Another similarity is home remedies,
which originates from our descendants. For some illnesses, we consider them to be a better
treatment than medication.
Analyzing Nursing Practice
Both of us have our own views when expressing health and are often
altered by others. As the human nature is, we also prejudge others and therefore the outcome is
we end up treating people in that bias. This interview with my classmate gave me the opportunity
to gain knowledge about her religious beliefs, which will help me in my profession of nursing. In
future while caring for my client, I will first educate myself about their beliefs and make sure I
do not disrespect them and their beliefs. This interview has added to my daily experience of
treating people from different ethnic background with respect.
Conclusion
Health care and its providers are affected by traditional ideals and
expectations. This assignment made me understand how I describe health and being healthy is
the essential part of life. It is important to educate oneself about others health beliefs to provide
them with a comfortable environment and also to respect all religions and its morals while taking
care of clients in my profession.

Reference

P. A. Potter, A. G. Perry (Eds.), J. C. Ross-Kerr, & M. J. Wood (Canadian

Eds.), Canadian fundamentals of nursing (4th Canadian rev. ed., pg. 3). Toronto, ON:
Mosby Elsevier

Sikh Patients Protocol for Health Care Providers (2001), Guidelines for Health Care
Providers Interacting with Patients of the Sikh Religion and Their Families
<http://www.sikhwomen.com/health/care/protocol.htm>