Variations in health status between population groups Flashcards
Biological factors
factors relate to the structure of the cells, tissues and systems of the body and how adequately they function
Biological factors- BODY WEIGHT
HS: High body weight (overweight/obesity) places extra pressure on the heart to pump blood around the body increasing the risk of hypertension and thus cardiovascular disease (DALYS)
HS: Overweight/obesity puts extra pressure on bones and joints increasing the prevalence of osteoarthritis (YLD)
H+W: may face social exclusion and discrimination leading to low self-esteem (mental)
H+W: excess pressure on joints leads to pain- physical
Biological factors - AGE
HS: aging increases the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss
HS: aging increases the incidence and prevalence of dementia
H+W: negative thought patterns associated/influenced by chronic disease impacting mental h+w
H+W: aging results in a gradual physical and mental decline in most people
Biological factors- BLOOD PRESSURE
HS: hypertension means the heart is working harder, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack, contributing to increased mortality and lower life expectancy
HS: high blood pressure increases pressure on the artery walls, making the heart work harder, increasing the risk of CVD, including stroke + heart disease- DALYS
H+W: unmanaged hypertension can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, lack of energy + breathing difficulties- physical h+w
H+W: hypertension can also reduce an individuals ability to engage in social situations impacting social h+w
Biological factors- BLOOD CHOLESTEROL
HS: too much LDL (low density lipoproteins) cholesterol leads to the narrowing of blood vessels (artherosclerosis), which increases incidence of CVD, stroke + heart attack
HS: the heart must work harder to force blood through narrowed blood vessels, increased hypertension and YLD
H+W: restricted blood flow to the brain can interfere with thought processes, including process information and probelm solving abilities, impacting mental h+w
H+W: high levels of cholesterol can lead to gallstones, which are hard stones made largely of cholesterol. gallstones can impact individuals ability to carry out daily tasks, impacting physical h+w.
Biological factors- GLUCOSE REGULATION
HS: impaired glucose regulation results in raised blood glucose levels which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and then kidney disease, impacting YLD
HS: impaired glucose regulation results in raised blood glucose levels, increasing the incidence of CVD
H+W: impaired glucose regulation can cause damage to blood vessels and contribute to issues with eyesight, gums and feet. These complications can contribute to increased stress + anxiety about future of the condition impacting mental h+w
H+W: if people have to implement measures to reduce the impact of impaired glucose regulation, they may experience negative emotions associated with avoiding certain foods + drinks impacting emotional h+w
Biological factors - BIRTH WEIGHT
HS: low birth weight usually means an undeveloped immune system increasing the risk of infections (incidence)
HS: more likely to suffer from premature death and significant disabilities such as speech and learning disabilities, increasing mortality and morbidity
H+W: low birth weight has also been shown to contribute to developmental delays in relation to cognitive skills and motor development. this may decrease the person’s ability to think clearly and use logic, impacting mental h+w
H+W: low birth may also have a decreased capacity for physical activity, which can reduce opportunities for social interactions, impacting social h+w
Biological factors - GENETICS/HORMONES
HS: oestrogen helps to maintain bone density in women. during menopause, the levels of oestrogen decline, leading to a loss of bone mass from skeletal system, which can contribute to osteoprosis (YLD)
HS: testosterone is mainly responsible for the male sex characteristics and the production of sperm, may also play a role in increased risk-taking behaviours +agression in males compared to females, leading to higher injury rates and mortality (BOD)
H+W: genetics play a role in determining peoples personalities. some people may be naturally more outgoing, which can lead to more social interactions and improved social h+w
H+W: some people have a faster metabolism than others and are therefore less likely to gain excess weight, influencing physical h+w
Sociocultural
the social and cultural conditions into which people are born, grow, live, work and age
Sociocultural - SES
HS: high SES means high income. income means people can afford resources such as nutritious food, reducing the risk of overweight/obesity and thus associated conditions of CVD, type 2 diabetes, improving life expectancy
HS: low SES more likely to have low levels of health literacy which could lead to the incidence of diet related diseases
H+W: manual occupations often involve physical exertion, which increases the risk of soft tissue injuries + backpain impacting physical h+w
H+W: occupations in which people work with others, such as in offices, schools, and hospitals can provide social interactions that contribute to social h+w
Sociocultural - UNEMPLOYMENT
HS: people cannot earn income. without an income life expectancy decreases as you can’t access health care or food, increasing Mortality etc
H+W: place significant financial dtress on people- mental h+w
Sociocultural - SOCIAL NETWORKS + SOCIAL EXCLUSION
HS: leads to poor physical and mental h+w, including increased incidence risk of mental disorders (depression)
H+W: social networks also provide people with a sense of belonging to the world in which they live, enhancing spiritual H+W
Sociocultural- SOCIAL ISOLATION
HS: social isolation and loneliness report higher rates of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, increasing YLD
H+W: regular social contact gives people the opportunity to effectively communicate and socialise, which can promote social h+w
Sociocultural- CULTURAL BACKGROUND
HS: the traditional diet of Indigenous peoples included low fat meats and a range of fruits and vegetables. the western diet (european) contributes significantly to the high prevalence of obesity and related conditions, decreasing life expectancy
HS: males typically consume more alcohol than females, leading to a range of conditions including injuries, which males experience more than females, increasing YLD
H+W: many religions have rules associated with fasting and food intake, which can influence the levels of energy people have and the functioning of their body systems, reducing physical h+w
H+W: the dominance of western medicine can lead indigenous peoples feeling excluded from society, contributing to poorer spiritual h+w
Sociocultural - FOOD SECURITY
HS: people with low SES and low income may not be able to afford nutritious food and therefore buy cheaper more processed high fat/sugary foods, increasing the risk of diet related diseases, including obesity + cvd, contributing to higher levels of mortality/morbidity
H+W: if an individual is unsure when their next meal may be/ come from. they can experience increased levels of stress, decreasing mental h+w
Sociocultural - EARLY LIFE EXPERIENCES
HS: maternal tobacco reduces the amount of oxygen that crosses the placenta due to increasing levels of CO2 and other chemicals. this contributes to slowed growth and an increased risk of having low birth weight baby, increasing infant mortality
H+W: if the respiratory system is impacted, the individual may find exercising difficult, which can result in lower levels of fitness + higher body weight, affecting physical h+w
Sociocultural - ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
HS: those with low SES may avoid health care if they’re required to pay, leading to the illness going undiagnosed, resulting in increased rates of morbidity, mortality + decreased life expectancy
HS: sociocultural barriers to healthcare contribute to conditions going undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in higher mortality rates + lower life expectancy
H+W: lack of access to healthcare can result in increased levels of pain rreducing physcial h+w
H+W: lack of access to healthcare increases levels of stress if conditions deterioate and interfere with daily life, impacting mental h+w
Sociocultural - COMMERCIAL FACTORS
relate to the impact the private secotr has on consumption patterns of individuals and groups
HS: exposure to air pollution can contribute to higher morbidity rates due to respiratory conditions such as asthma
HS: dangerous labour conditions can increase the incidence of injuries and death, reducing life expectancy
H+W: industrial sites increase air and noise pollution in the area. this can increase the risk of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, impacting mental h+w
H+W: exposure to marketing techniques, including online, can increase the likelihood of people participating in activities that detract from health such as alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, consuming energy dense foods etc, impacting the ability to carry out daily tasks, decreasing physical h+w
Environmental
relates to the physical features that surround us. these can be natural features or those built by people
Environmental- HOUSING
HS: poor sanitation due to added strain on bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities increases the risk of infectious dieseases such as diarrhoea and gastro, increasing YLD
HS: a housing environment which is damp and has poor ventilation can promote the growth of mould, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions such as asthma, increasing morbidity
H+W: sleeping conditions- sleep is needed for adequate energy levels for waking hours, enhancing physical h+w
H+wW: overcrowded housing- experience higher rates of mental health issues because occupants find it difficult to find their own space, impacting self-esteem and mental h+w
Environmental- WORK ENVIRONMENT
HS: a workplace environment which is outdoors (construction farming) increases exposure to harmful UV radiation. increasing the incidence of skin cancer such as melanoma
HS: a workplace environment that is exposed to hazardous substances like asbestos, such as those in construction, increase the risk of burns and respiratory disease, impacting YLD
H+W: a work environment that contains hazardous substances/hazards may increase the levels of stress and anxiety (mental h+w) among employees if they’re concerned about sustaining an injury
H+W: injuries sustained in the workplace can influence the impacts on the body and its system, impacting physical h+w
Environmental- URBAN DESIGN AND INFRASTRUCTURE
HS: being close to supermarkets, shops and hospitals can decrease morbidity and mortality because people have access to these resources required to obtain adequate food and healthcare
HS: adequately maintained roads and traffic systems can decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality for road trauma
H+W: living far away from resources can mean that people are not able to work towards their purpose in life, reducing spiritual h+w
H+W: having access to recreational areas such as walking paths/ tennis courts, means more people are likely to become physical, maintaining a healthy body weight.
Environmental- CLIMATE CHANGE
HS: increasing temperatures cause/lengthen bushfire seasons, impacting infrastructure, killing livestock and increasing the risk of injuries and premature mortality
H+W: extreme weather events such as droughts and floods can prevent people from working towards their purpose in life, impacting routine, impacting spiritual h+w
