Health and illness

A person’s health and wellbeing can be promoted through a versatile and nourishing diet, exercise, sufficient livelihood and reasonable living conditions, and good social relationships. The wellbeing and health of people in Finland are supported through diverse health and social services.

In Finland, the aim is to detect health issues as early as possible. Public health research and screening for different diseases is a part of this effort. In screenings, a person is regularly invited to give a sample. These samples are used to search for signs of disease.

Common acute diseases include inflammations, flus and injuries. Common chronic diseases in Finland include cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes and depression.

The wellbeing and health of an immigrant are affected by many factors. Good quality of life and living conditions can improve health and wellbeing in a new home country. Difficulties in integration, untreated illness or difficulties in using health services can negatively impact the wellbeing of an immigrant.
 

A healthy person feels that their functional abilities and quality of life are good

A healthy person feels well physically, emotionally and socially. They are able to get through everyday tasks and challenges. Health does not only mean that a person does not have a disease. It is a person’s ability to function in everyday life.

A healthy person is able to do things that they feel are meaningful, such as study, have hobbies, work, or take part in social life. If a person becomes ill or severely injured, they may often have to give something up that is important to them. A person can however feel good and be able to function even with a chronic disease. If the disease is treated, the person can live a good life despite the disease.

Some diseases, injuries and ailments are acute, meaning they come on suddenly and are short in duration. These include inflammations and flus. Some diseases can be chronic, meaning they are long-lasting or continuous.

Common chronic diseases in Finland include

• Respiratory diseases, such as asthma and allergies
• Cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Musculoskeletal diseases, such as rheumatism
• Cancer
• Depression

Why does a person become ill? 

Diseases are disorders in the body or its functions. The body or a part of it does not function as it should, and the illness can hinder a person’s work or other life. Many different things cause diseases. The symptoms of the same disease can be different with different people. It is not always easy to find the cause for an illness.

Doctors diagnose and treat diseases based on science. According to science, a person is a living organism consisting of organs, cells and molecules. Illnesses are caused by damages and dysfunction in the body. These damages can be caused by a person’s genetics, living habits, environment, and accidents. Doctors are able to fix damages through treatments such as operations or medicine.

Mental health disorders are situations where a person’s mood, emotions, thoughts or behaviour impede relationships or functional abilities or they cause suffering. Mental health issues or disorders can be caused by exceptionally burdensome situations or events, long-term severe stress, genetics, substance abuse, and physical diseases and their symptoms. Stress means that a person is under so much pressure and such high demands that they do not have the resources to handle these. Mental health issues are cared for by psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and doctors such as psychiatrists. Care often includes discussion and medication.

Services in a welfare society support health

Many factors affect a person’s health. It is easier for a person to stay healthy if good health services are available. Services help people maintain healthy habits. These services help in identifying many diseases early on, making it easier to treat them.

Health and wellbeing can be promoted in many ways, including

• A versatile and nourishing diet
• Physical activity and exercise
• Sufficient sleep and rest
• Sufficient livelihood
• Reasonable living conditions
• Good social relationships
• Societal peace
• Equity and democracy in society
• Sufficient education
• The opportunity to work or do something beneficial to society

Good health is supported through laws, research, organisations and schools

The Finnish welfare society uses many ways to make sure that people remain as healthy as possible. There are laws that are meant to promote the health of citizens. One example is the tobacco act, which limits smoking in public spaces. Smoking is unhealthy and causes diseases both in the person who smokes as well as those who are exposed to smoke.

Research data is constantly collected in Finland about people’s health and diseases. This information helps society to plan and execute programmes which promote health. These programmes can be connected, for example, to cardiovascular diseases or cancer.

Different organisations in Finland also do a lot of work to promote health. For many chronic diseases, there are associations which provide information and support to people suffering from the disease as well as those close to them.

In children’s comprehensive education, health education is its own subject. The purpose of health education is to promote the health, wellbeing and safety of the students.

Screenings aim to detect diseases at an early stage

Health is also monitored through screenings. A screening is an examination which looks for signs of a serious illness. These can be, for example, cervical cancer, breast cancer or colorectal cancer. When a disease is detected at an early stage, its prognosis is more positive.

In a screening, a certain portion of the population, for example women aged 25–65, are regularly invited to an examination. A sample is taken and this is examined to see if the sample is normal or whether there are signs of illness. The invitation and appointment time for screenings arrive by post.

The health and wellbeing of immigrants is affected by many factors

The population that has moved to Finland from other countries is diverse and the health differences between different groups can be vast. The health and wellbeing of immigrants is affected by their country of origin and age of immigration, as well as the reason for migration and how long they have lived in Finland. Health and wellbeing can also be affected by cultural notions of health, illness, disease prevention and care and the immigrant’s own experience of their health.

The health and wellbeing of an immigrant in their new home country can be promoted through

• Feeling that their quality of life in their new home country is good
• Satisfaction in living conditions, including dwelling, work, livelihood and access to healthcare
• Support from family and community
• Healthy habits, such as low alcohol consumption.

The health and wellbeing of an immigrant in their new home country can be weakened through

• Difficult experiences in their previous home country and on the way to the new home country
• Having to live for a long time in a reception centre, and having difficulties in gaining a residence permit
• Difficulties in integration, for example difficulty in gaining access to language courses, work or different communities
• Untreated illnesses
• Difficulties in accessing healthcare in Finland
• Concern for family remaining in the former home country
• Certain specific issues and traditions, such as hereditary diseases or female genital mutilation
• Experiences of discrimination in Finland
• Lack of social networks.

More information about immigration and wellbeing: Immigrants’ health and wellbeing (thl.fi) Finnish, Swedish, English