Impact on Neurological Health

Question 1

SDoH

Answer 1

1. Socioeconomic Status:
   o Stroke and neurological disorders disproportionately affect socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
   o Barriers: Limited access to healthcare, preventive services, and rehabilitation.
   o Higher rates of disability post-stroke in low-income individuals.
2. Racism and Discrimination:
   o Contributes to increased hypertension and diabetes in marginalized groups (e.g., Indigenous, African, South Asian populations).
   o Leads to elevated risks of heart disease, stroke, and poorer outcomes.
3. Access to Healthcare:
   o Lack of preventive care and limited availability of services in low-income areas contribute to higher hospitalization rates.
   o Limited educational resources about early stroke recognition.
4. Language and Cultural Barriers:
   o Mistrust or lack of translated resources hinders access to healthcare.
   o Health education in diverse languages (e.g., Ojibway, Punjabi, Mandarin) helps reduce disparities.
5. Environmental Factors:
   o Poor neighborhood conditions can limit opportunities for exercise and healthy living.
   o Unsafe housing or lack of spaces for physical activity increases risks for cardiovascular and neurological issues.

Question 2

Strategies to Address SDOH

Answer 2

1. Health Education:
   o Tailored materials to diverse languages and cultures (e.g., Heart and Stroke Foundation initiatives).
   o Focus on modifiable risk factors: smoking cessation, healthy diets, physical activity.
2. Community Support:
   o Programs to promote exercise and access to affordable healthcare services.
   o Initiatives to reduce stigma and improve trust in healthcare systems.
3. Health Promotion:
   o Early detection and management of risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
   o Advocate for policies addressing economic and social inequities.

Question 3

Key Risk Factors Influenced by SDOH

Answer 3

1. Modifiable:
   o Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise.
   o Access to preventive healthcare.
2. Non-Modifiable:
   o Ethnicity (e.g., higher stroke risk in Indigenous, African, and South Asian populations).
   o Genetics and pre-existing conditions.