The Appalachian Culture and Its Territory

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The Appalachian population extends across thirteen states in the United States including: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. These regions are divided into categories of Northern Appalachia, Central Appalachia and Southern Appalachia. West Virginia is the only state that is entirely within Appalachia.1 The environment these individuals encounter is within the mountains, valley and rivers with varying degrees. There are few cities within this culture and many still live in small communities. Appalachian culture is more prone to certain health risks due to cultural beliefs and daily life. Death from cancer, heart disease, diseases of the lung and stroke have been found at significantly higher rate than national rates in Appalachia.1 The culture does not see disease as a problem unless it interacts with their daily functions. Health in this society is categorized by three levels: body, mind, and spirit. The people living in these areas have a ten step process when seeking health services when one becomes sick. In Appalachian culture it is common for one to try and help themselves first by some kind of self care practiced learned from their mother. When this seems to not work they depend on their mother or another female for help, which they view as a nurse, because they are familiar and self-educated with certain conditions. When self-care practices or home remedies seem to be failing they will turn to over the counter medication. If one still feels sick they try to recall if anyone of their friends or family members might have had the same conditions they are experiencing. They then go in search of unfinished medications and wi... ... middle of paper ... ...shes to see their loved one for the final time, can pay their respects, with the closest family members going last. Family and friends are welcome in one's home after someone passes to preclude them of the loneliness of their lost one. Cremations are not uncommon. Appalachian culture covers thirteen states in Northern America. It is beneficial to medical staff to be familiar with this culture’s beliefs in order to successfully treat their patients. Without knowledge and education of their social status, environment, nutrition, beliefs, and unhealthy habits, the medical staff can fail in treatment and can misdiagnose their patients. Works Cited http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3089820 http://home.wlu.edu/~lubint/Touchstone/ AppalachianFolkMed-Stone.htm http://www.namb.net/ARM/Appalachian-Culture/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1779277/

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