Variation in Health Status and Factorss influencing it Flashcards
Indigenous Australians
Australians of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
Biological factors
factors relating to the body that impacts on health and wellbeing, such as genetics, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, birth weight
Sociocultural factors
the social and cultural conditions into which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions include socioeconomic status, social connections, family and cultural norms, food security, early life experiences, and access to affordable, culturally appropriate healthcare
Socioeconomic status
The social standing of an individual in comparison to others in that society. It is based on education, income and occupation
Health Literacy
The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions
Environmental factors
the physical surroundings in which we live, work and play. Include workplaces, housing, roads and geographical access to resources such as healthcare
atherosclerosis
the build-up of plaque on blood vessel walls, making it harder for blood to get through
Body Mass Index (BMI)
a statistical measure of body mass calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height (m^2)
Antioxidants
compounds in foods that neutralise free radicals
Nutrient dense
foods that contain a large amount of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals
Energy dense
foods that contain significant amounts of fat, carbohydrates and/or protein, therefore contributing large amounts of energy to the diet
Free radicals
molecules formed when oxygen is metabolised.
Can damage healthy blood cells and increase the risk of diseases such as CVD and cancer
Fortified
when a nutrient has been artificially added to food to increase its nutritional value
Anaemia
a condition characterised by a reduced ability of the body to deliver enough oxygen to the cells due to lack of healthy red blood cells
Biological factors (factors)
- body weight (high)
- blood pressure levels (high)
- glucose regulation (impaired glucose regulation)
- birth weight (low)
- genetics (fat distribution) (hormones)
- blood cholesterol
Sociocultural factors (egs)
- homelessness
- socioeconomic status (high/low)
- early life experiences (maternal smoking)
- unemployment
- cultural factors (western medicine is inappropriate) (masculine jobs/traits/sports) (media) (peer pressure) (children)
- social exclusion
- food security (food insecurity)
- education
- income
- access to healthcare
- neighbourhood safety
Environmental factors (egs)
- housing (poor housing) (overcrowding)
- water and sanitation
- access to healthcare (proximity)
- infrastructure
- work environment (dangerous/outside/transport)
- geographic location (fast food/recreational facilities)
- Climate change
Smoking
- lung cancer/bowel cancer (faults in cells so divide)
- hypertension (reduced oxygen in blood - heart rate)
- low birth weight -> infections (maternal smoking - less blodflow - >immune system)
Alcohol
- breast cancer (>oestrogen - >risk)
- obesity (has kj - weight gain)
- liver disease (alcohol filtered by liver - scarring tissue - not function)
- injury (lose control & judgement - risk taking behaviours)
BMI
- kidney disease (weight on kidneys - work harder - hard to filter waste)
- type 2 diabetes (fatty acids & inflammation - insulin resistance)
- asthma (produce inflammatory substances - impair lung function)
Vegetables
- high BMI (less fibre - energy dense)
- colorectal cancer (less fibre - no bulk - constipation - cancer)
- spina bifida - (folate - prenatal dev)
- hypertension - (high low-density pipoproteins)
Fruit
- high BMI (less fibre - energy dense)
- spina bifida (folate - prenatal dev)
- hypertension (high low-density lipoproteins
Dairy foods
- osteoporosis (calcium - strong bones - older adults)
- dental caries (calcium - teeth)
Fibre
- high BMI (fullness - energy dense)
- colorectal cancer (cleans digestive - cancer)
- hypertension (attaches to LDL - excretes them - less cholesterol)
- type 2 diabetes (less glucose absorption)
Salt
- hypertension (sodium - draws excess fluid out of cells - blood - more blood volume)
- osteoporosis (sodium calcium into urine)
Sugar
- BMI (excess - stored as fat - weight gain)
- dental caries (food source for bacteria - bacteria produce acids = tooth decay)
Fat
- BMI (not used - stored as fat)
- atherosclerosis (LDP on walls of blood vessels - substances embedded - hardening & narrowing of arteries)
- type 2 diabetes (saturated & trans - interfere cell membrane - transport glucose to cells)
Iron
- Anaemia (not enough oxygen in blood)
