Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

Q–R
quality of life The extent to which health supports,
and disease or injury prevents, a person’s
ability to participate in and enjoy daily living
activities is highly subjective though nonetheless a
crucial measure of health care. Health experts use
various tools, such as questionnaires, and methodologies
to assess health-related quality of life
(HRQOL). The findings become integral in determining
the overall effectiveness of intervention
and treatment approaches for all kinds of health
circumstances from surgical operations to degenerative
diseases.
Numerous factors influence quality of life for
people living with chronic health conditions or
disabilities, ranging from personal satisfaction with
the process and outcome of medical treatment to
the removal of barriers to participation in activities
of interest. Removing barriers might include
measures such as adaptive devices for HEARING LOSS
and VISION IMPAIRMENT, voice-activated telephones
and other electronics, prosthetic limbs, and mobility
devices. Each person has activities that he or
she considers essential for enjoying life.
Individual satisfaction with of quality of life
correlates closely to expectations for outcomes,
which vary among cultures and generations.
Younger people tend to have higher expectations
for treatments that return them to “normal” in
relatively short order. Medical technology often
makes such expectations reality. However, technology
has its limitations and sometimes expectations
exceed them. Doctors may be excited about
the potential of new treatments, and individuals
may be less than fully informed about potential
benefits and risks. Taking the time to thoroughly
investigate proposed treatments, including medications
and surgeries, and obtaining second opinions
from other doctors are key measures that can
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help put those treatments in proper perspective
and frame realistic expectations.
Quality of life is a particular concern for people
who have severely debilitating or terminal health
conditions. Issues such as independence, mobility,
PAIN management, and dignity often arise. Most
people are more accepting of chronic and even
terminal conditions when they are able to discuss
their concerns and fears openly and honestly with
their doctors, and to establish treatment plans that
are consistent with their wishes.
See also ADVANCE DIRECTIVES; CULTURAL AND ETHNIC
HEALTH-CARE PERSPECTIVES; END OF LIFE CONCERNS.
radon exposure Radon is a naturally occurring
radioactive element, present as a gas in rocks and
soil. Radon is also a CARCINOGEN (cancer-causing
substance) that is the second-leading cause of LUNG
CANCER in the United States. The highest rate of
radon-induced LUNG cancer occurs among miners
who work underground and breathe concentrated
levels of radon over years to decades. Cigarette
smoking, in addition to itself being the leading
cause of lung cancer, greatly increases the risk for
radon-induced lung cancer. Radon becomes a general
health hazard when its levels rise inside
houses and workplaces such as offices and stores.
It seeps inside through cracks in foundations and
floors, often drawn indoors by pressure inequalities
(the air inside is generally lower pressure than
the air outside).
The US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has established an “action level” for indoor
radon concentrations of 4 picocuries per liter
(pCi/L). The typical house has a radon concentration
of about 25 percent of the maximum, 1.0 to
1.25 pCi/L; the air in an underground mine may
contain four times the maximum, 20 pCi/L, or