This qualitative study carried out in a university in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, aimed to analyze the impact of the teaching-learning process in the quality of life and health conditions of faculty members from health area graduation courses. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and submitted to content analysis, associated to the analysis-reflection-synthesis process. It was observed that different factors either facilitate or limit the quality of life of the faculty members, including issues outside the workplace itself. Such factors are related to the dynamics of personal interactions developed in the teaching-learning process, especially those involving activities with the user population. Other factors were related to institutional problems, the interaction with administrators, working conditions, and the wage. The teaching-learning process in the health area appears, at the same time, as a source of distress and of pleasure. The challenge for teachers that care while teaching is to continue enhancing self-care and to ensure social interaction opportunities in order to promote a healthy collective environment..