Health and Disease KQ1 and KQ2 Flashcards
Definition of Health
- State of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just absence of disease or infirmity
Indicators of heath
1) Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
2) Life expectancy
IoH: IMR
- Number of infants that die before reaching one year old per 1000 live births in a year
- DCs have lower IMR than LDCs (Good SOL, Access to HC, Clean drinking water, hygienic env)
- More developed a country, lower the IMR
e.g. DC: SG, IMR of 1.5 (2021)
- LDC: Argentina, Lower IMR <14
- LDC: Afghanistan, High IMR >74
IoH: Life expectancy
- Average number of years from the time of birth that a person can expect to live
- DCs Higher LE of around 80 (Australia, Japan)
- LDCs lower LE of around 65,
- LDCs such as Afghanistan LE lower than 50
- Due to lack of nutritious foods, proper hygiene, sanitation etc
Why health Differs between DCs and LDCs
> Social Factors
1) Diet
2) Lifestyle Choices
3) Education
> Economic Factors
1) Poverty and Affluence
2) Investment in healthcare and access to health services
> Environmental Factors
1) Living Conditions
2) Access to safe drinking water
3) Proper sanitation
SF: Diet
- Food and drinks people consume
> Malnutrition
- Poor diets result in malnutrition
- Body does not get sufficient nutrients to maintain healthy body function
- Life-threatening
> Overconsumption
- Excess nutrients stored as fats, leading to obesity
- Increases risk of diabetes and heart disease
SF: Healthy Lifestyle choices
- Habits, Attitudes, activities, values
- Healthy LS reduces burden of diseases and maintains high QOL
> Balanced diet
- Stronger immune system, increased energy, healthier organ and tissue function, better body development
> Physical activity
- Improved cardio-vascular health ( < incidence of CHD by 57%)
- Stronger resistance against diseases
- Improved sleep and mental well-being
SF: Unhealthy lifestyle choices + examples
> Smoking
- Cardiovascular and lung diseases
- Mouth, lung and organ cancers
> Excessive drinking
- Chronic illnesses, liver failure, hypertension
- Impaired thinking leading to risky behaviour (i.e. Sex, drugs)
e.g. WHO study, 2012
- 6% deaths worldwide due to lack of physical activity
- More prevalent in DCs due to ability to hire help
- Smoking larger problem in LDCs
- 80% of world´s 1 billion smokers from LDCs
SF: Education
- Process of teaching and learning
- Increased education = more informed about living healthy lifestyle
- Increased education = better job prospects = Increased disposable income = greater access to quality medical treatment, food and living conditions
SF: Womens education + example
- More informed of nutrition and healthcare
- Healthy mothers able to care and provide for children more effectively
- IMR decreases
e.g. India,
- Infants born to mothers >11 years formal education 60% less likely to die within first month of birth
SF: Childrens Education
- Increased education = likely to learn health and nutrition
- Improved diet + lifestyle
> DCs
- More likely to stay in school and complete education
- Schooling compulsory
- More resources = higher quality education
- More skilled labour to teach
> LDCs
- Cannot afford schooling
- Start working from young age
- Schools scare and under-equipped
e.g. 50% of school dropouts from SSA, 2.1% from NA and Western europe
EconF: Poverty + example
> Poverty
- No money nor material resources
- Due to poor education, unemployment, job insecurity
- Limits PP = unable to afford HC
- More likely to be exposed to health risks
- Poor housing, poor nutrition
e.g. 12.7% of world population living under extreme poverty line (<$USD1.90 per day)
e.g. UK
- Avg lifespan between poor and wealthy differ by 28 years
Health implications of children living in POVERTY
- Prone to nutrition related diseases
> Marasmus: deficiency in macronutrients body requires to function (carbohydrates, protein and fats)
> Kwashiorkor: insufficient protein or essential nutrients in diet
- Usually unvaccinated
- Lack access to vaccines
- Vaccines stimulate immune system to develop resistance against specific diseases
EconF: Affluence + Example
- Abundant supply of money, property and material goods
- Provides greater access to food
- Better quality HC
- Less likely to contract diseases, treatment more available
e.g. Higher income individuals choose to eat healthier and engage in more physical activity
e.g. Also more likely to overconsume high amounts of non-staple foods, leading to health problems
EconF: Investment in HC
- Resources devoted by govt, businesses and individuals for addressing HC needs of a population
- Build and maintain medical infra
- Train, hire staff
- Purchase medicine and equipment
- Increases availability of HS ( more doctors, beds, equipment)
e.g. Singapore
- Invest in manpower = able to provide 24hr HS
- Invest in skill = specialist doctors and nurses
- Invest in hospitals and equipment = inpatient/outpatient facilities
