Health and Wellness: Infancy through Adulthood - Research Paper Example

? Health and Wellness: Infancy though Adulthood Introduction The health in addition to wellness perspectives of an individual generally pass through variety of stages from their infancy to adulthood. It has been viewed that the health conditions of individuals fundamentally change with their growth during every stage of life. In this similar context, these changes are mostly identified in terms of emotional, physical, sociological and psychological attributes possessed by an individual. Various Developmental Changes that Occur in Each Stages of Life Physical Developmental Changes For any individual, physical activities relating to physical changes can be considered as a necessary component for maintaining a healthy life. In this regard, it can be stated that physical changes and correspondingly physical activities performed by an individual generally begins during the stage of infancy and stretches up to the stage of adulthood. It has been viewed that performing regular physical activities can foster certain physical transformations within individuals. The changes encompass increasing strengths in bones and muscles along with the enhancement of the ability to learn as well as think owing to the growth of the brain muscles. Physical developmental changes generally involve the coordination as well as the development of motor skills during the stage of infancy and toddler. In this regard, motor skills assist the infants to build motor coordination as well as physical strengths in their muscular as well as skeleton system (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009). Physical development in early childhood can be possible in two types of dimensions, namely the dynamic development and the normative development. Dynamic development can be identified with the changes in the physical aspects and progression that occurs in every functioning performed by children. On the other hand, normative development is regarded as an important aspect through which it is possible for the parents to identify the physical attributes and growth of their children at various ages. Various outdoor activities as well as brainstorming also assist the children to develop and learn about their abilities in the physical aspects (North Dakota State University, 2006). Physical development of adolescents can be identified as their increment in heights, weights and greater ability to perform continuous physical activities (American Academy of Child and Adolescent’s Facts for Families, 2008).Conversely, physical development of adults can be recognized in the growth of their muscles along with heights (University Of Florida, n.d). Biological Developmental Changes The biological development of infants can be identified with the growth of their organs that include their cardiovascular, brain, neuromuscular and other special systems as well as senses. Furthermore, disparity in timing, sequence and proficiency level development are generally linked with the biological and environmental aspects. Biological development of early childhood can be identified in terms of the development of their motor skills, muscle strengthening, increase in heights and weights. The biological developments of adults can be further recognized with due consideration towards different aspects that include growth of behavioral patterns and invariant sequences relating to life quality (Malina, 2004). Additionally, the biological development of adolescents can be viewed through their experience in dramatic physical advancements during puberty and significant transformations in their abilities as well as to understanding deciphered during any sort of complex situation (Stang & Story, 2005). Emotional Developmental Changes Emotional development in infants can be identified on the basis of their facial expressions according to their interests and feelings (KU Department of Psychology, n.d.). Emotional development can be identified in early childhood stage when children try to speak, smile or sing (Kansas Parent Information Resource Center, n.d). Emotional development of adolescents can also be observed when they are engaged in adjusting themselves to deal with emotional and stressful situations for maintaining their growth process in future (American Psychological Association, 2002). Furthermore, such developments among adults can be observed in terms of their relationship that are created as well as maintained by them with their surrounding through the appropriate expression of their feelings, ability to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, belief among oneself and deciphering competencies in certain domain areas (Commonwealth of Virginia, 2013). In relation to sociological as well as emotional changes, it has been viewed that during the infancy period, children remain attached to their mothers for their adequate social and cognitive development in the initial stage. This particular aspect can be considered as a cognitive behavior that is related to empathy. At the early childhood stage, emotional changes can be identified in the facial expressions made by children revealing their feelings in terms of happiness, fear and anger among others. In the case of adults, emotional changes generally occur on the basis of their temperament and behavioral attitudes (KU Department of Psychology, n.d.). One of the sociological or the emotional changes that can be viewed in the stage of geriatric relates with the ages of the older people. A few of the older people are observed to be mentally as well as physically fit, while others face various health problems such as diabetes and mental illness among others. It is difficult for the older people to handle stressful situations in their geriatric stage due to their age problems. Moreover, taking proper care of the geriatrics is quite a challenging task in various aspects, whether it is psychological, biologic or social. Providing quality improvement in life as well as maintaining effective healthcare is the ultimate aim for keeping geriatrics fit. Hence, in order to provide effective healthcare to geriatrics, it is necessary to select and deliver appropriate surgical and medical treatments to individuals (The American Geriatrics Society, n.d.). Cognitive Developmental Changes Cognitive development of infants can be observed through their improvements or rather changes in terms of intelligence, memory and processing of information. The development of speaking language is also considered as one of the cognitive developments in the stage of infancy and toddler (Learning Seed, 2010). Cognitive development in early childhood can be observed in terms of the child’s ability to solve critical problems effectively through constant improvements in various aspects such as education and social customs among others (KU Department of Psychology, n.d). Similarly, adolescents’ cognitive development can be observed in relation to their ability to think, view and implement certain actions. The various cognitive aspects of adults can be developed through solving complex problems, concentrating upon significant aspects and creating imaginative ideas (Stiles, 2000). The cognitive developmental changes can also be related to psychological changes. The stress, anxiety as well as fear in the expressions of the children can be considered as important psychological changes that basically occur in the stage of infancy and toddler. In the phase of early childhood, the psychological changes or pressures can be identified on the basis of stress situations that are experienced by the children while imparting education. One of the apparent psychological changes that can be observed particularly in the stage of adolescence as well as adulthood indicates towards the individual’s physical development (Pearson Education Inc, 2013). The psychological changes that can be identified during the stage of geriatric are anxiety, disorders due to stress and the most likely effects of unhealthy habits of smoking, drinking or drug addictions. Older people tend to consume more alcohol and go through certain anxiety related health problems that restrict them to remain mentally fit. In the older age, stressful situations tend to have greater affects on the mental health of the older people (Neno, Aveyard, Heath & Baldwin, 2007). Positive and Negative Factors that Influences Health on the Various Stages of Life The development of health is apparently distinct for individuals in their different stages of life which signifies dissimilar needs of nutrition which can be obtained from healthy diets such as milk, cereals and palatable fruits among others. These nutritional foods contain vitamins, fats, carbohydrates and proteins that support them to grow healthier and stronger (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2012). There exist certain crucial negative factors that tend to broadly influence the health of the individuals in the different stages of their life. The factors might include depression, anxiety and excessive alcohol or drug consumption. The aforementioned factors influence the health of the individuals in their different stages of life causing problems relating to mental health and stresses among others (ACPMH, 2007). Moreover, the other negative factors that can influence the health of the people in the various stages of their life can be identified as the impact of trauma. This particular factor can affect the health of the infants and toddlers in particular by restricting their ability to overcome different challenging experiences (University of Minnesota, 2011). Apart from the negative factors, the positive factors that influence the health of the people in the different stages of their entire life includes their physical and mental growth as well as the development of their behavioral attitudes to relate with their surroundings on the whole (Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005). Major Health Risks The major risks that normally appear at the infant and toddler stages of life can be identified in relation to the occurrence of health diseases that is fundamentally caused due to the lacuna of nutritional foods and stressful changes in the surroundings of the individual among others. For instance, in early childhood stage, the major health risks can be identified in terms of the deficiencies in iron intake which causes anemia that results in decreasing intelligence as well as causing delay in developing the abilities to learn and grow. During the stage of adolescence and adulthood, the risks generally occur due to addiction of smoking, intake of unhealthy diets and sexual or hormonal problems among others. Furthermore, the major risks that can be observed in the stage of geriatric stage of life can be identified as the emergence of end-stage diseases such as cancer and sleep disorders among others (World Health Organization, 2009). Recommendations The prime concern of life expectancy can fall due to the emergence of various problems that include poor health growth, diseases and natural as well as manmade calamities. It has been apparently observed that there has been drastic increase of life expectancy due to the enhancements in medical improvements and public consciousness regarding health issues. It can be stated that a country is properly shaped in terms of demography, if its life expectancy is higher. In this similar concern, increase in life expectancy can be achieved by focusing upon three theories that include expansion of morbidity, compression of morbidity and dynamic equilibrium. When concerning the theory of expansion of morbidity, life expectancy increases due to the advancements in medical science that prevents fatal consequences generating form any disease. Similarly, with regard to the theory of compression of morbidity, life expectancy can be increased by transforming the underlying patterns of different diseases. Finally, the theory of dynamic equilibrium also supports in increasing the life expectancy by highlighting the delays that are observed in the final phase of the advancement of critical chronic diseases. Apart from prioritizing the aforesaid theories, life expectancy can also be increased by concentrating upon certain other crucial factors. In this regard, the proper care of the body, regular exercise and eating better and healthy foods can ultimately increase the life expectancy by a significant level. In order to enhance health and gain a healthy life, individuals require performing physical activities regularly getting involved in daily exercise. Moreover, the health and wellness of the people can be enhanced by eradicating the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or drugs and simultaneously preserving a healthy diet and conducting physical examination on yearly, quarterly or monthly basis (Howse, 2007). Conclusion With reference to the above discussion, it can be concluded that there exist huge developmental changes in terms of various aspects which include physical, emotional, biological and psychological in every stages of human life. Certain major risks are often found to be involved in these stages of human life which may be identified in the form of critical diseases and alterations in the environmental settings among others. However, these risks can be minimized with the regular intake of nutritional foods and conducting physical activities in a regular manner. It is worth mentioning that the theories including dynamic equilibrium, compression and expansion of morbidity can increase life expectancy by a greater extent. In order to enhance health as well as wellness, the individuals need to practice a healthy diet and involve in carrying out regular exercises among others. References American Academy of Child and Adolescent’s Facts for Families. (2008). 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