1:Determinants of Health Flashcards
Social, Socioeconomic, Environmental, Biomedical
Unemployment:What are the psychological, financial, and social consequences of unemployment, and how do they impact an individual’s health and lifespan compared to those who are employed?
Working is better for health than not working. The psychological, financial, and social consequence that arise from not being employed are damaging to ones health. Unemployed people tend to be lower on the social gradient, suffer stress and anxiety and depression. People who are unemployed for extended periods of time suffer more illness and lead shorter lives than others.
Culture:How do cultural beliefs and traditions influence an individual’s health behaviours and decision-making?
The cultural group to which an individual belongs has an impact on their health behaviours as cultural expectations will influence decisions regarding things like food choices, help seeking and rituals or traditions. Cultural beliefs are central to both the individual, family and group dynamic. Individuals may feel it is important.
The impact of culture on health can not be ignored.
to respect cultural traditions or habits such as healing processes or faith rituals.
Transport: How can different modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling, or public transport, impact both individual health and the environment?
Choice of transport can also act as a source of exercise such as walking, cycling or skating. These modes are also better for the environment as they nave no emissions. Communities with high use of public transport can also contribute fewer emissions than societies with high private vehicle use.
in developing countries or isolated communities, access to cars or buses would make long distance travel easier and allow access to medical facilities, education or food further away from home. This could increase opportunity and improve
health outcomes.
Life Expectancy on Social Gradient
Life expectancy is shorter for people living lower down the social ladder. People with less money, poorer housing and lower incomes will experience disease more often and more severely than those further up to social gradient.
Cycle of addiction
Stressor or Unhappiness—->Drug/Alcohol use—->High or Feel Better—->Can’t Afford Drug
Stress:How does prolonged stress affect both the psychological and physical health of individuals, and what are some of the symptoms associated with chronic stress?
Individuals living in stressful circumstances for prolonged periods of time live in a constant state of “fight or flight”. The Autonomic and Sympathetic Nervous Systems’ response to a stressful situation is useful when the situation requires immediate action and is relatively short lived. However when this stress does not require a “fight or flight” response and is maintained over a long time, the person can suffer both psychological and physical health effects. The immune system will also be compromised due to extended stress and as such the individual will become more susceptible to infections and disease. Individuals suffering from extreme or prolonged stress will exhibit symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, low self esteem, frequent infections such as cold and flu, extreme tiredness and fatigue, reduced mental functioning and moodiness.
Early life:How do prenatal conditions and early childhood experiences impact an individual’s long-term health, development, and overall well-being in adulthood?
Prenatal and infant health will either positively or adversely affect adult health. The health of the mother during pregnancy, presence of complications during birth and the quality of the first few years of a child’s life will impact heavily on the wellbeing of the individual later in life. Poor fetal development (possibly due to inadequate diet, stress or drug use by the mother) can have long lasting effects due to poor brain development and growth.This will impact on education, socialisation and emotional health.
Addiction: What are the potential social and emotional impacts of addiction, and how might it create a vicious cycle for individuals struggling with both addiction and related life challenges?
Addiction can be a case of the chicken or the egg - which came first? People turn to alcohol or drugs to escape their unhappy lives, due possibly to other social determinants of health such as poverty, stress or unemployment. However the addiction to unhealthy substances will worsen the problems of the user and probably bring with it new problems. The chicken or the egg? They are addicted because they are poor or stressed, or they are poor or stressed because they are addicted?
Along with the obvious physical effects of the drug or substance on the body, the emotional strain of coping with addiction is detrimental to health in itself. The cost of the substance (cigarettes, alcohol etc) will lead the user further into poverty or place extra stress on already limited resources and this will cause added stress.
Addiction is a vicious circle.
Social Exclusion:What is social exclusion, and how does it affect an individual’s ability to participate in society and access essential services, including healthcare?
Social exclusion is characterised by an individual being excluded from the life of society, possibly due to unemployment, homelessness, poverty, racism, or discrimination. Not being able to participate in community life can lead to issues such as not being able to access medical services, not being able to communicate with others, lack of support systems, safety concerns and emotional trauma.
Work: How do different workplace conditions, such as safety, stress levels, and rewards, affect an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health?
Working (either paid or voluntary) is good for health. That being said, the safety of the workplace, the interaction of staff and co-workers and the control one has over their work life all impact on health status. The stressfulness of the workplace will contribute to the overall health of an individual. Unsafe, hazardous and demeaning occupations will adversely affect the health of an individual physically, mentally or emotionally. Highly rewarding workplaces (either intrinsically or extrinsically) can lead to improved self esteem, self worth, motivation and satisfaction. This will positively impact social and emotional health.
Social Determinant Of Health
Burden of Disease of Definition and how it is measured.
A description of how much disease and death is in a community. Measured by how many years people live with a disease, injury or illness and how many years they prematurely die
Social Support: How do positive social relationships and community cohesion influence an individual’s health and overall well-being?
People with positive, rewarding, close friendships will have better health status and live longer than those who either are socially isolated or have less supportive relationships. Humans need to have a sense of belonging and a well-established social network in order to feel valued, loved and cared for. Societies with high levels of social cohesion have lower levels of illness and disease and higher life expectancy. Communities with low levels of cohesion suffer more crime, violence and lack of social respect.
Food: How does access to nutritious food vary between developed and developing countries, and how does this impact the health choices individuals can make?
It is obvious what we eat will affect our physical health. A healthy, nutritious, balanced diet is essential for growth, development and vitality. All good nutrition advice suggests minimal amounts of salt, sugar and starchy or processed foods and large quantities of fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes.
For the individuals lucky enough to live in developed countries and have sufficient income, what they eat is by choice. Citizens of developing countries are not so lucky; they have to eat what is available to them or what they can grow themselves. Poorer people tend to substitute quality for quantity in order to feed their family on a limited income.
Fight or Flight Definition
The response the body has when in the face of danger. The body prepares to either stand and fight or run away.
Social Gradient: How does social class or level, based on factors like income, housing, education, or wealth, influence an individual’s health status?
Society has been segregated into classes or levels based on wealth. Most people can identify as being upper, middle or lower class based upon their income, housing, education, or accumulated wealth. This determinant of health suggests that the health status of individuals is linked to their placing along the social ladder.
Acronym For Social Determinants
SUE WAS Forced To Sing Songs Constantly
