health midterm 2 Flashcards
define SES
socio-economic status (SES)
Relative social and economic ranking
includes level of income, type of occupation, and level of education (e.g., secondary, post-secondary, etc.)
what is the relationship between SES and health status
high health status= highest SES
low health status= lowest SES
what does health status refer to
how healthy or unhealthy we are
SES is ____ predictor of health status
potent
morbidity and mortality relationship to SES implies what
biological pathway
what are some personal pathway triggers
smoking
personal activity
nutrition
stress
what is the best predictor for health studies
education
true or false
Smoking is #1 preventable cause of morbidity and premature death in Canada
- responsible for more deaths than alcohol, traffic accidents, murders, suicides, drownings, fires, illicit drugs and AIDS combined
true
true or false
more than 1/2 of Canadians exercise regularly
false
its less than
how many calories do Canadians consume and how much should they
%35 and %25
persons with decreased SES are more inclined:
To encounter undesirable life events
to live in environments with higher crime rates
To experience unemployment and marital instability
To be in less desirable jobs
define stress
To lack feelings of power and control
to experience feelings of low self-esteem
to have more distressors
To have fewer resources to deal with
what are some consequences of prolonged exposure to distressors (things that cause us stress):
increased hypertension
increased blood pressure
increased cancers
increased overall exhaustion
increased risk of CHD
decreased immune system functioning
increased susceptibility to colds, etc.…
Social Support Mechanisms & SES
Individuals with high SES have increased social support mechanisms- quality/ quantity
individuals with better supportive social networks get sick less often and live longer
Social support is a MAJOR influence on health
better able to handle stress
what are some health Consequences Asociated with Low SES
people with decreased SES have an increased incidence of:
Premature and low birth weight babies
stroke
Heart disaese
some adult cancers
Adolescent pregnancies
Decreased life expectancy
do better genetics = better SES?
some illnesses strictly genetic … regardless of environment, disease will surface
examples:
cystic fibrosis
sickle cell anemia
Persons with low SES may be more predisposed to and less able to combat diseases affected by environmental interventions or factors
evidence indicates that the relationship between SES and health status is the result of interactions between:
education
Personal and behaviroal choices
genetics
How Can We Improve The Relationship Between SES and Health Status?
Anything that can decrease the gap between the “haves” and the ”have nots” would help to improve population health
