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How the environment impacts our health
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Health in human life define as ability of society or individual to adjust when facing challenges such as mental, social or physical (World Health Organization (WHO), 2002:1.) It is well known that the health of human beings gets affect by several factors such as genetic, lifestyle, environmental and socioeconomic elements that influence and support the health sector. Maintaining health is a process that starts with health knowledge and end up with implementing that knowledge into the real life for the purpose of living healthy. Although there was a rise of life expectancy over the last 200 years, people were not able to have the same opportunity to live healthy. This essay will describe, analyse and evaluate environmental and lifestyle factors …show more content…
All kinds of food that contains saturated fat and large amount of calories such as fish and chips and deep-fried Mars bar could result in increase the percentage of body mass index (BMI) which leads to obesity. Lustig (2012:28) recommends to eat a well-balanced diet and avoid sugar and salt products that will going to protect people against chronic medical illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Although there are impacts of eating unhealthy food on human health, consumption of alcohol has greater one. Large amount of alcohol intake can result in alcohol poisoning which characterized by shortness of breath, low blood sugar, extreme sleepiness, seizure and …show more content…
In Sri Lanka air pollution significantly reduced after creating greenhouse gases from transportation, industries, environment and energy which attract tourist who is seeking to breathe a clean air and maintain healthy lungs (Inskeep,1987:118). Despite air pollution is not a major problem in Sri Lanka, stress, lack of physical exercise and excessive intake of drugs which are lifestyle factors are noted in this country and results in high morbidity rate. As evidence life expectancy from 1940 to 2006 in LEDCs is lower by half compared to MEDCs
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are increasingly becoming a major problem of Public Health around the World. The impact of resources and material deprivation among people and populations has resulted in an increase in mortality rate on a planetary scale. Social determinants of health are defined as the personal, social, economic and the environmental conditions which determines the health status of an individual or population (Gardner, 2013). Today’s society is characterized by inequalities in health, education, income and many other factors which as a result is becoming a burden for Public Health around the world. Research studies have shown that the conditions in which people live and work strongly influenced their health. Individuals with high levels of education and fall within the high income bracket turn to have stable jobs, live in the best neighborhood and have access to quality health care system than individuals who have low education and fall with the low income bracket. This paper is to explain different social determinants of health and how they play ...
Humans are mortal beings, therefore with life comes death; this is a certainty. What is not so certain is the quality of life which one will lead thereto; and the variances they will face in life which will underwrite a person’s health. Health, which can be measured, regulates the quality and longevity of people’s lives. People have long since philosophised that it is “luck of the draw” as to who are inflicted with illness or disease. In fact, through research and consensus reports, analysis has concluded that social, economic and environmental influences are contributing factors. This essay will explore some of the main issues regarding health and consequences of lifestyle choices. Furthermore, recognition and critique will be focused on the principal reports and recommendations therein regarding health inequalities.
To begin with, society and social factors have increasingly been investigated as they have been thought of as crucial components to understand health. This tendency was derived by the inefficiency of the traditional model of health, the biomedical model, in many situations to manage some diseases such as communicable diseases (Browne, Health and Illness, 2005). Disease was predominantly attributed to proximal biological factors identified by doctors according to the classical model accepted in the nineteenth century. Therefore, this model seems to be inadequate to explain the differences in health outcomes between social strata. Despite the fact that health currently could be defined differently depending upon factors such as sex and age, it is generally believed now that it combines physical, mental and social well being of individuals (Blaxter, 2001).
Public health is a concept that will always be subject to conflicting opinion. Over the year’s different ‘models’ of health have been formulated in order to categorise public health into dominant areas of cause and effect. The two models in which this essay will be focusing on are the Biomedical Model and the Lifestyle Theory Model. Although both models have equally arguable advantages and disadvantages, it is difficult to state either model as being ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in defining the correct pathway to resolving the central health issues of today.
However, when creating fast food restaurants, the industries were not thinking about the negative effects such as obesity. Other than obesity, other harmful effects exist as well. Fast food restaurants serve unhealthy products such as greasy foods and artificial meat that lead to dietary health issues in many adults and children. A recent study showed that “Young children who are fed processed, nutrient-poor foods are likely to become unhealthy teenagers, and eventually unhealthy adults. Now twenty-three percent of teens in the U.S. are pre-diabetic or diabetic, 22% have high or borderline high LDL cholesterol levels, and 14% have hypertension or prehypertension”
The main approach of the social determinant of health is how the society provides the economic and social resources to their population in order to improve public policies and health. The social determinant of health has introduced in the mid of 19th century in which the living conditions of the society were the main factors of health (Engels, 1845/1947; Virchow, 1848/1985).After this research there was a number of studies that have proved that the people who are exposed to their social and physical conditions in their homes, workplaces and communities are more significant towards their health than their living conditions such as the usage of tobacco or too much intake of alcohol, eating fruits or vegetables and daily
Essential to everyday life is the significant condition of our health. Our health can be affected by a number of elements, including our nutrition. In addition, health can also be affected by social determinants such as transportation, social economic status, early life, work, social support, food security and education. (Wilkinson, R.; Marmot, M. 2003) Case studies would be analysed and compare how the social determinants of health have been involved in the manifestation of the health complications. Also how these social determinants have affected the ability of the person access services and manage the health problems
human beings’ health was in focus in 1990s. The issue has not only attracted the experts, but
The health of an individual and their communities is affected by several elements which combine together. Whether an individual is healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment.1 To a greater extent, factors such as where an individual lives, their relationships with family and friends, the state of their environment, income, genetics and level of education all have significant impacts on health, however the more frequently considered factors such as access and use of health care facilities regularly have less of an impact.6 Determinants of health is a term which was introduced in the 1970s as part of a broader analysis of research and policy on public health. Researchers argued that there was a lot of attention and too much expenditure on health being dedicated to individuals and their illnesses, and little or no investment in populations and their health. It was decided that public health should be more concerned with social policies and social determinants than with health facilities and the outcomes of diseases.7 The determinants of health include social and economic environment, physical environment and an individual’s behaviour and characteristics. The environment of an individual determines their health, holding responsible an individual for having poor health or acknowledging them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are not likely to be able to control several of the determinants of health. These determinants that make individuals healthy or not include the factors above, and numerous others.6
Nevertheless, some people insist that fast foods, such as chips, hamburgers and fizzy drinks, that are so cheap and tasty, are not a consequence of the health problems. However, I strongly disagree that fast food has no bad impact on people’s health. I believe that fast food has a negative impact on society and, therefore, people must take care of themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle if they do not want to face serious problems with their
There are many inequities in this global world; should there be such gross inequities in the health of people around the world? We hear words like health gap, health care inequality and sustainability. What can be done to eliminate the health gap, health care inequities and maintain sustainability? The World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations, private and public are working towards eliminating these disparities. Healthy People 2020 are one such goal that has achieved considerable progress in attaining sustainability in the pursuit of global health goals (Gostin et al., 2013). The health gap can be minimized through health strategies. Among them are essentials for all in this global world; clean air, water, healthy food and adequate housing with hygienic living conditions. Primary, secondary, tertiary prevention and care services should be available to all who seek health care services.
An individual’s health is contingent upon and therefore, dictated by the environment in which they reside. The following quote conceptualises this idea when it states, “people are only as healthy as the communities in which they live”. Indicating that the health of an individual is consequently, a product of their environment (Ashby & Pharr, 2012). In an era of transforming health systems globally, the recognition and enquiry of determinants of health have led to policymakers, coupled with health practitioners, achieving measurable success, as a consequence of a holistic approach. It is a holistic approach, within epidemiology, which aims to consider the wider determinants of health, as opposed to perceiving health through the isolation of
Public health can be defined as the approach to medicine that is concerned with the health of the community as a whole. It is about protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease, injury prevention, detection, and control of infectious diseases. Many factors contribute to a long life, including demographics, socioeconomics, genetics, environment, and behaviors. It is important to assess these factors when attempting to increase life expectancy and improve health status, because positive health practices result in higher life expectancies and better health.
Food addiction can lead to serious and difficult health concerns. Nevertheless, obesity has other health issues that comes with it as well. In the United States between 2007 and 2009 there has been a 1.1% increase of obesity (Pedram). There has been an assumption that if it continues by 2050 it would be close to 100% of Americans who would be obese (Pedram). This information explains that the increase in overconsumption of food can slowly make most Americans suffer from obesity. Another issue of obesity is that it is “the fifth leading cause of global death” (Pedram). Becoming a food addict can cause an individual into becoming obese that they may eventually face death. Food addiction has become quite a controversial that it is difficult to overcome as fast food restaurants are encouragement in individuals to choose the path of obesity. Nevertheless, obesity is still a health issue that is harmful and dangerous to an
The objectives of this essay is to identify and address the global health issues as whole including causes of these issues and impact of these issues. Also it is aim to address the preventive measures to reduce the global issues and report the methods for global health issues identified and understand the global health priorities with regards to major health issues throughout the world.