No går det på helsa laus : helse, sykdom og risiko for sykdom i to nord-norske kystsamfunn

Abstract

The present thesis shows how ordinary people experience the process of medicalization in their everyday life. The thesis describes how health and iliness is resolved, and how they solve their daily health problems. <p>The data presented is from two villages on the coast of Northern Norway. The study from Nordfjord examines how people change their attitude to iliness, health and health-care over time. It consists of two different field-studies, conducted 12 years apart. The study from Finnfjord contains interviews with 47 people who were at high risk for cardiac diseases. These people were followed up by the local health care system after a population study in the area. The people-at-risk and their spouses were interviewed. The study aimed to gain insights into what it means to be at high risk for cardiac diseases.<p> Similarities were found between the two villages. In both Nordfjord and Finnfjord, health is considered to have a high value. The women view health in their family as their responsibility. They are concerned about their husbands health. Women try to prevent spousal cardiac disease by feeding the family healthy food. They are concerned about possible diseases, and can no longer rely only on symptoms. This results in an expansion of modern medicine and a dependency on the health system. In Finnfjord, medicalization is an invasion from the health system. In Nordfjord, medicalization ‘just happens as a part of their adaptation to modern life. The present thesis also discusses if medicalization as risk assessment is a part of their modern way of living.