Common illnesses
Searched over 200M research papers for "common illnesses"
Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest that common illnesses like colds and flu involve symptoms managed through medical help, are influenced by stable illness cognitions, and have limited treatment efficacy, with inflammation playing a key role.
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Common Illnesses: Understanding Symptoms, Representations, and Outcomes
Common Illnesses and Their Symptoms
Common Cold and Influenza Symptoms
The common cold and influenza are among the most prevalent infectious diseases affecting humans. These illnesses are primarily diagnosed based on their symptoms, which include fever, anorexia, malaise, chilliness, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, cough, watery eyes, and sinus pain. The understanding of these symptoms has evolved with new insights into the role of cytokines, which help explain many of the symptoms traditionally attributed to folklore.
Foodborne Illnesses and Chronic Sequelae
Common foodborne illnesses, caused by pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli, can lead to chronic gastrointestinal and joint-related sequelae. The most frequently reported outcomes include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and reactive arthritis (ReA). These chronic conditions highlight the long-term impact of foodborne pathogens on health.
Common-Sense Representations of Illnesses
Components of Illness Representations
Common-sense representations of illnesses typically involve five key components: identity (label), consequences, timeline, cause, and cure . These components are stable over time and across different illness episodes, influencing how individuals perceive and respond to their illnesses. For instance, strong beliefs in personal control over health are associated with increased self-control and decreased reliance on chance health outcomes.
Implicit Models of Illness
Implicit models of illness, which organize an individual's illness schema, include dimensions such as seriousness, personal responsibility, controllability, and changeability. These dimensions are consistent across different diseases and populations, suggesting a stable structure in how people conceptualize illnesses.
Coping and Illness Outcomes
Coping Strategies and Health Outcomes
The common-sense model of self-regulation posits that individuals form lay representations of illnesses that guide their coping strategies. These strategies, in turn, affect illness outcomes. For example, emotional representations and perceived control are linked to illness-related and functional outcomes through coping mechanisms such as cognitive reappraisal and problem-focused coping. This model underscores the importance of how individuals perceive and manage their illnesses in determining their health outcomes.
Behavioral Malaise and Performance
Minor illnesses like the common cold and influenza are associated with behavioral malaise, including reduced alertness and performance. This malaise can have significant real-life consequences, such as impaired driving and workplace safety. The underlying mechanisms may involve cytokine effects on the central nervous system, leading to changes in neurotransmitter functioning.
Conclusion
Understanding common illnesses involves recognizing their symptoms, how people represent these illnesses, and the coping strategies they employ. The common-sense model provides a framework for understanding the psychological and behavioral aspects of illness management, highlighting the interplay between illness perceptions, coping strategies, and health outcomes. This comprehensive approach can inform better health interventions and support individuals in managing their illnesses effectively.
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