Advances in Medical Research
Open Access

Self-care

Self-care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated. Someplace self-care on a continuum with health care providers at the opposite end to self-care while others see a more complex relationship. In advanced medicine, preventive medicine aligns most closely with self-care. A lack of adherence to medical advice or the onset of a mental disorder can make self-care difficult. Self-care is seen as a partial solution to the global rise in health care costs placed on governments. The notion that self-care is a fundamental pillar of health and social care means it is an essential component of a modern health care system governed by regulations and statutes.