Health and its significance in the modern concept of wellness and spa

The aim of the study is to present selected issues related to health that are significant in the modern concept of wellness and spa. The World Health Organization has adopted the so-called positive definition of health, which encompasses it as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Wellness is one of the contemporary approaches to health related to quality of life and actions for health (aspiring towards wellness). On the other hand, spa is an idea of a holistic approach to health, where the harmony of mind and body is to be ensured through the use of relaxing, cosmetic, and biological renewal treatments, often involving water. Spa centers combine relaxation with the care for psychophysical health. The purpose of these centers is to improve health, well-being, and appearance. These aspects are extremely important in the holistic understanding of health

Health and its significance in the modern concept of wellness and spa

The aim of the study is to present selected issues related to health that are significant in the modern concept of wellness and spa. The World Health Organization has adopted the so-called positive definition of health, which encompasses it as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Wellness is one of the contemporary approaches to health related to quality of life and actions for health (aspiring towards wellness). On the other hand, spa is an idea of a holistic approach to health, where the harmony of mind and body is to be ensured through the use of relaxing, cosmetic, and biological renewal treatments, often involving water. Spa centers combine relaxation with the care for psychophysical health. The purpose of these centers is to improve health, well-being, and appearance. These aspects are extremely important in the holistic understanding of health

Global self-esteem and coping with stress by Polish students during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesStudents experience considerable stress and anxiety during the course of their studies, which has a significant impact on their health and hinders the learning process. There are many stressors that can intensify stress, which is why choosing the right strategies for coping with stress and self-esteem is so important.MethodsThe study was conducted on 798 students of the School of Public Health at the University of Warmia and Mazury in majors: nursing, midwifery, emergency medicine and dietetics (subgroup 1; n = 428; 53.77%) and at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, major: veterinary medicine (subgroup 2; n = 368; 46.23%). The study employed the diagnostic survey method using a questionnaire technique including Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, MINI-COPE, PSS-10, and a self-questionnaire.ResultsThe scores obtained by over half of the students were indicative of low global self-esteem, whereas over 80% of the students felt stress at a high intensity. Moreover, it was shown that the veterinary medicine students demonstrated a higher intensity of coping strategies, i.e., active coping (p < 0.04) and planning (p < 0.02), than medicine students.ConclusionThe study revealed that students, irrespective of the major, experienced high levels of stress. Self-esteem had a significant impact on the stress level and methods of coping with difficult situations in students of medicine. A majority of the students applied positive styles of coping with stress

The Impact of Diet on Male Fertility

Introduction: Infertility is a reproductive health issue where the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse affects about 8 to 12% of couples of reproductive age. Factors such as diet, lifestyle, and exposure to toxins can negatively impact men's reproductive capacity, including semen parameters and gonadal function. The impact of diet on male fertility, including hormone levels and the process of spermatogenesis, is the subject of intense research. Aim of the Study: This study aims to review current scientific research on the impact of diet on male fertility to provide updated knowledge on this topic, essential for preventive and therapeutic actions in this field. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of scientific and medical literature was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The search terms included: impact of diet on male fertility, impact of diet on semen parameters, impact of diet on semen quality, male fertility, diet and male fertility, types of diets and fertility. Conclusion: Diet plays a crucial role in male fertility, affecting semen quality. It is recommended to consume meat in moderation, especially organic, and to increase the intake of fish rich in omega-3 while avoiding contaminants. Regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grains improves semen parameters, while limiting sweets, sugary drinks, and alcohol, as well as quitting smoking, is beneficial for reproductive health. Men planning fatherhood should also consider reducing cannabis use. Future research should focus on the impact of individual dietary factors on male fertility

Methods of Prevention and Mitigation of Autoimmune Diseases - A Review of The Literature

Introduction and purpose: Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the body’s immune system is unable to distinguish between auto- and foreign antigens and mistakenly attacks its cells, tissues, and organs. In recent years it became major public health concern because of the increasing diagnosis rate. Currently, about 5% of the population in Western countries is affected by such diseases, more often in women population. The exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown, although most probably it results from a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental risk factors and immune dysregulation. Development of autoantigen-specific lymphocytes and autoantibodies might be decisive in starting the process of autoimmunity. Most common medication used in autoimmune diseases treatment are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSADs), glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Additionally, there is biological medication available for many of them. It is known that non-pharmacological interventions, such as specific diets, supplementation or physical exercise is useful to mitigate the disease or even to prevent the body from its onset. Materials and methods: The data for the article was found using the PubMed and Google Scholar websites. The key words used for the search included: ‘diet and autoimmunity’, ‘autoimmunity and estrogens’, ‘microbiota and autoimmunity’. Articles not written in English, conference abstracts only and duplicated papers were excluded. Conclusions: There is still no cure for autoimmune diseases, although various prevention and mitigation strategies can help manage these conditions and improve quality of life for affected individuals. However, for the use of some of them, evidence-based recommendations are not available. This review highlights current non-pharmacological therapeutic options.

The Influence of diet on the course and activity of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - a review of available literature

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. It is a clinical entity that includes: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Food intake is an important environmental factor that influences the development of IBD. This article reviews studies on different dietary options and their effects on the course and activity of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.  Materials and methods: A review of the literature available in the PubMed database was carried out, using the key words: ”inflammatory bowel disease”; ”Crohn disease”; ”diet”; “nutrition”; „colitis ulcerosa”. Results: Appropriate diet selection is important in the course of inflammation in the intestines. It influences disease activity. It turns out that the diet improves inflammation parameters, clinical symptoms, and quality of life. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, one should also remember about deficiencies such as iron, vitamin D or protein deficiency, the demand of which is increased in sick patients compared to the general population. Conclusions: An individualized approach to nutritional therapy may be one of the main branches of treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. However, there is a need for further research on larger groups of patients in order to effectively implement it into treatment standards.

Personalized Healthcare: The Importance of Patients’ Rights in Clinical Practice from the Perspective of Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia—A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This study aimed to define the role and importance of patients’ rights in personalized healthcare from the perspective of nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia. Methods: The research was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey, using the survey technique, with the participation of 1002 nursing students attending a full-time undergraduate study program at three European countries. The “Patients’ rights” questionnaire was used as a research tool. The average age of students was 21.6 years (±3.4). The empirical material collected was subjected to a statistical analysis. Results: The study demonstrated that 72.1% of nursing students from Spain, 51.2% from Poland and 38.5% from Slovakia believe that patients’ rights are respected at a good level in their country. Significant intergroup differences (F = 67.43; p < 0.0001) were observed in the self-assessment of students’ knowledge of patients’ rights. The highest average values were obtained by students from Spain (3.54 ± 0.92), while 35.9% of students from Slovakia and 25.5% from Poland were quite critical and pointed to their low level of knowledge of patients’ rights in their self-assessment. When ranking patients’ rights related to respecting dignity, students from Spain obtained much higher average values (4.37 ± 0.92) than students from the other two countries. Conclusions: The level of students’ knowledge of patients’ rights and the respect for patients’ rights by medical personnel is, in the opinion of the respondents, quite diverse and requires in-depth educational activities among nursing students at the university level in respective countries