ANTH 350 7980 Health, Illness, and Healing (2158) 11-19-2015

Stage 1: Ethnographic Assessment
An inventory of health/illness related product in the household In an ordinary household, it is common to find medication, medical devices, and or food supplements associated to a specific health-related condition or illness. An assessment of my household reveals the following products:
Prozac
Paxil
Amoxicillin
Furosemide
Esmilol
Vitamin C, Multivitamin, Pottassium, iron
Ambien
Lunesta
Percodan
Panadol
Cough syrup
Anti-Acid
Thermometer
Nebulizer
Blood Pressure Monitor
Hearing Aid
Anti-septic
Weight management magazine
First-Aid Guide book
Organic cook foods
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Health-Seeking Behavior * The gym is compulsory to all my family members. Most of them visit the gym on a daily basis while those with busy schedules ensure they attend at least thrice a week.The reasons for going to the gym are numerous. Some family member’s visit the gym to keep fit and tone their muscles while others aim to shed the extra weight. We also engage in exercise activities such as bike riding and jogging. * My family also has the habit of drinking water. Specifically, my father believes that water detoxifies the body and thus guarantees health.He starts and ends the day with two glasses of water;a habit he has maintained since his youth. Personally, I have also adopted my father’s belief in drinking water and I ensure I carry a bottle of water everyday irrespective of the weather. * My family also emphasizes on the consumption of organic foods. Organic foods are natural foods that are grown on farms and use minimal pesticides. My mother has instilled in us the belief that organic foods are safer than conventional foods because theyhave minimal chemical exposure. * Our family also has an “early to bed and early to rise policy” so as to rejuvenate the body.
Health/illness Related Conversation
Me: I have been feeling so tired of late
Dad: Treat your body, the way you want it to treat you. You need to allow your body to rest and you need to eat right
Me: I do rest dad and I eat when I can Dad: If you take care of your body, it will take care of you.You need to engage in proper feeding, rest and exercise.
Mum: You should start by taking a heavy breakfast every like I always tell me
Me: That is so hard to accomplish with my busy schedule. I prefer to grab a cup of coffee on my way out and am good
Available Resources * My family enjoys reduced gym rates at the local gym facility since my parents made significant financial contribution to its constructions. The discounted rates motivate every family member to visit the gym. * My family has also struggled to manage a family health insurance policy as they are very expensive. In most instances, the family has to top up the medical bill as the medical cover is not adequate. The realization that an unforeseen illness can drain the family’s finances motivates all family members to be cautious of their health. * We strive to keep warm during the cold season. * We also strive to exercise and eat a healthy diet. Every Saturday, my family sets time aside for physically engaging family activities such as bike riding and basketball. The monthly community competitions also ensure that the family engages in family and individual sports activities. * We also strive to eat organic home-made meals * Engagement in Yoga * Take a day off the daily work * Take a healthy and balanced diet
Community Features * My family lives in a moderately polluted area due to the numerous industries around the area. In the morning, it is easy to see the disturbing effects of air pollution as the morning sun struggles amid the smog. The rusty roofs are also evident of the extent of the pollution. The community believes that the air pollution is responsible for the prevalence of respiratory complications such as asthma. * Regardless of the pollution, the community strives to maintain a clean environment. The garbage is collected every week and the streets are cleaned on a daily basis. Once a month, the community members engage in community service activities that includes cleaning the roads, garbage collection and pruning of trees and flowers. The exercise guarantee a disease free community. * The local government also works with the local health agencies to provide wellness programs. The wellness programs involve provided the public with free medical check-ups on a half-year basis.The program enables individuals to measure their weight, their BMI, their sugar level, blood pressure, and overall health.The program also provides individuals with nutritional and health management advise. * The community is also blessed with numerous hospitals, health center and community health facilities that guarantee access to health services

Common Cold Infection in the Family * Three weeks ago, my mother came down with a cold after being rained on during a trip to the mall.The next day, she woke up with a sore throat, sneezing and a slight fever. She took some lozenges to sooth the throat and ignored the symptoms. The next day her condition had worsened as she had a running nose, a headache and was drowsy. As a family, we made a decision to allow her to rest. I volunteered to prepare the family meals so as to minimize the risk of infections. My father also requested that I provide my mother with plenty of fluids. My brothers volunteered to run my mother’s pending errands until she recovers. As a family, we agreed to observe mother’s condition so that it does not worsen.The decision-making process in our family reveals that we work as a team and value each other’s opinion. We also have each other’s best interest at heart.
Explanatory Model of Common Cold
One explanatory mode for the cause of a common cold is that the condition mainly affects people with a diminishing or weak immune system.An individual who has just recovered from an illness has a weak immune system thus at risk of a common cold if exposed to the virus. Similarly, individual with a poor diet can experience diminishing immune system that can leave them susceptible to colds. For instance, individuals who fail to consume foods rich in vitamin C are likely to experience frequent common cold infections.Children are also susceptible to common cold because their immune system is still developing (Lowinger, 2015).The best way to prevent the spread of a common cold is to isolate the infected individuals especially if it occurs in a home environment. However, a common cold is a viral infection thus difficult to control in a large environment such as a school. Individuals must strive to engage in strategies such as hand washing to minimize infection.
References
Lowinger, J. (2015). How does your immune system help you fight colds and flu? Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-06/how-does-your-immune-system-help-you-fight-colds-and-flu/6650768