Chapter 2: Differences in Health Status Flashcards

1
Q

o

Factors that impact health and wellbeing

A
  • Biological
  • Sociocultural
  • Environmental
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Biological factors

A
  • Factors relating to the body that impact health and wellbeing and overall levels of health status
  • E.g. genetics, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, age and birthweight
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Genetics

Biological

A
  • Plays a role in determining HWB across the lifespan
  • Predisposition to disease – diseases such as cancer and diabetes tend to run in families and ethnic groups
  • Sex – some conditions are exclusive to either males/females (e.g. prostate cancer for males and breast cancer for females)
  • Hormones – oestrogen in females reduce the risk of osteoporosis and testosterone in males increase the likelihood of risk-taking behaviours
  • DNA mutations – can change genes, affecting the way the body works or develops
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Body weight

Biological

A
  • Influenced by genetics as well as bodily functions
  • Overweight/obesity – increases the risk of developing obesity related conditions such as CVD
  • Hypertension – high body weight puts pressure on the heart to pump blood around the body
  • Arthritis and osteoporosis – high body weight puts pressure on bones and joints
  • Type 2 diabetes – high levels of fat can damage insulin receptors which can leave glucose trapped in the bloodstream
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Blood cholesterol

Biological

A
  • Cholesterol is carried around the body via lipoproteins
    • Two types: low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
  • High LDL levels produce a build-up of cholesterol in arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow to the heart
    • Associated with heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease
  • HDL carry cholesterol to the liver, removing it from the body
    • Reduces high blood cholesterol

NOTE: LDL = bad. H(DL) = healthy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Blood pressure

Biological

A
  • Measurement of pressure of the blood in the artery
  • BP rises and falls, depending on a number of factors (e.g. body position, exercise, sleep and emotional state)
  • High BP puts stress on the heart to pump blood around the body which can lead to hypertension (increases the risk of heart failure)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Blood glucose regulation

Biological

A
  • Impaired glucose regulation (IGR) or pre-diabetes includes:
    • Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) – elevated glucose levels that are not high enough for the diagnosis of diabetes
  • Those with IGR are likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVD if lifestyle changes (e.g. exercise) are not implemented
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Birthweight

Biological

A
  • The weight of a newborn measured immediately after birth
  • Low-birthweight (< 2.5kg) may be due to premature birth or foetal growth restriction
  • Low-birthweight increases the risk of conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bleeding in the brain, heart problems and eye conditions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Age

Biological

A
  • Ageing can deteriorate bodily systems due to cellular damage that occurs over time
  • This can make individuals more susceptible to diseases including dementia, CVD, diabetes and hearing loss
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Sociocultural factors

A
  • Aspects of society and the social environment that impact health and wellbeing and overall levels of health status
  • Can often be out of an individual’s control
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Family (social networks)

Sociocultural

A
  • Social disadvantages (e.g. single-parent families) during childhood can impact one’s health throughout their entire life
  • Limitations on parental education and income can restrict their ability to model healthy behaviours for their children to adopt
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Peers and the community (social networks)

Sociocultural

A
  • Peers and community provide support networks
    • Support can be emotional (encouragement), physical (financial), or informational (advice)
  • Social networks can be positive or negative
    • Positive – more likely to exercise if friends do
    • Negative – more likely to smoke if friends do
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Sociocultural

A
  • An individual’s position in society determined by their income, education level, employment status and occupational type
  • Sometimes referred to as social class
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Level of education

Sociocultural

A
  • Education provides health status benefits to individuals
  • High levels – higher income, better employment prospects, healthier lifestyle decisions
  • Low levels – poorer mental HWB, increased reporting of disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Employment status

Sociocultural

A
  • Employment – healthy behaviours, identity/purpose and social status
    • Steady income allows individuals to pursue health-promoting behaviours (e.g. purchasing a gym membership)
  • Unemployment – economic and social disadvantage
    • Job insecurity increases levels of stress and anxiety
    • Limits healthy lifestyle choices, increasing the risk of tobacco, alcohol or drug use
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Overcrowding and homelessness ***

Sociocultural

A
  • Housing is a human right that has an important influence on health outcomes
  • Inadequate/unsanitary housing increases morbidity from infectious disease
  • Hazards such as stairs, slippery floors, pools and balconies can increase the risk of injury and premature death
  • Overcrowded living conditions can cause high rates of mental health issues as occupants are unable to find privacy
17
Q

Access to health information

Sociocultural

A
  • Comprehensive and high-quality information about healthcare helps a population achieve optimal HWB
  • Inability to access health information and healthcare services can be detrimental to health status (e.g. misdiagnosis of disease or a lack of understanding about disease prevention)
18
Q

Environmental factors

A
  • The surroundings in which we live, work and play; the environment includes water and air, workplaces, roads, nature, schools, recreation settings and exposure to hazards
  • E.g. climate change, infrastructure, housing, public transport, access to healthcare, geographic location
19
Q

Air, water and sanitation quality

Environmental

A
  • Air can be contaminated by asbestos, mould, carbon monoxide and methane
    • Poor air quality = ↑ risk of respiratory diseases
    • Second-hand smoke = hazard, particularly in homes
  • Water quality in Australia is higher than other countries
    • Australia’s water = ↑ quality, ↓ faecal/industrial pollution
    • Contaminated water = dehydration due to diarrhoea (fluid loss), gastro, typhoid fever and hepatitis
  • Sanitation also contributes to water quality
    • High population density, sewage outfalls and factory pollution = ↓ sanitation and water quality
20
Q

Access to physical resources such as transport, recreation facilities and healthcare

Environmental

A
  • Transport systems & infrastructure allows access to recreation facilities & healthcare which improves health status
    • Rural areas = ↑ rate of road injuries due to poor road conditions, wildlife and livestock presence
  • Inaccessibility of recreation facilities is identified as a risk factor for chronic diseases
    • E.g. parks, walking/cycling tracks and sporting grounds
  • Geographic location determines one’s level of access to essential services
    • Rural areas = basic healthcare (requires individuals to travel to major cities for specialised services)
21
Q

Workplace

Environmental

A
  • Influences an individual’s risk of injury and illness
  • Manual labour = physical strain/injury and ↑ risk of long-term work absence (+ stress for both the employee and employer)
  • Outdoor work = ↑ exposure to UV rays and ↑ risk of skin cancer
  • Transport jobs (drivers) = ↑ risk of road injury and trauma
  • Exposure to paint, fumes and corrosive chemicals = contributes to morbidity and mortality in the workplace of individuals
22
Q

Climate change and natural disasters

Environmental

A
  • Climate change = ↑ temperatures, sea levels, occurrence of natural disasters and vector borne diseases (e.g. malaria)
  • Bushfires = loss of human & animal life, houses and infrastructure; limits goods and services available
  • High UV levels = ↑ rate of skin cancer (true for Australia)
23
Q

Variations in health status of males and females

A
  • Accumulation of body fat: males → trunk/abdomen (risk factor for CVD), females → bottom and legs
  • Social standards: males are less likely to seek medical treatment and implement health-promoting behaviours
  • Workplace: males are more likely to work in high risk, labour intensive and outdoor jobs
24
Q

Variations in health status of Indigenous populations

A
  • Access to resources: many live in rural areas (↓ road quality and police presence = ↑ collisions, injuries)
  • Social expectations: less likely to access healthcare (+ cultural beliefs against Western medicine)
  • Education: ↓ literacy and ability to understand health promotion = ↑ risk of developing a range of conditions
25
Q

Variations in health status of high and low SES groups

A
  • Body weight: low SES = ↑ obesity, ↓ access to nutritious food
  • Education: high SES = ↑ health knowledge, ↓ likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours (e.g. smoking)
  • Air quality: low SES = ↑ child exposure to passive smoke
26
Q

Variations in health status of Australians living within and outside major cities

A
  • Natural disasters: rural = ↑ susceptibility to drought (affects employment, availability of food and provision of services)
  • Income and employment: rural = ↓ employment and income levels (risk factor for food insecurity and poor quality housing)
  • Body weight: the more remote an area is, the higher the proportion of overweight and obesity in the population