Biological Health Factors

Biological Factors

• Biological factors relate to the body and influence health outcomes.

Body Weight

• Overweight and obesity are biological factors impacting health.
• Excess body weight strains the heart, increasing blood pressure and the risk of hypertension.
• Hypertension elevates the risk of heart attack and stroke, leading to higher mortality rates and lowered life expectancy.
• Overweight or obese individuals may experience social exclusion and discrimination, causing stress and anxiety, which impacts mental health and wellbeing.
• Obesity can lead to sleep apnoea, resulting in fatigue and impacting physical health and wellbeing.

Age

• Body systems start declining in the mid-20s to 30s.
• Age-related decline increases the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss, back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, depression, and dementia.
• Decreased fitness levels due to age impact physical health and wellbeing.
• Reduced cognitive function in older age groups impacts the ability to problem-solve, therefore affecting mental health and wellbeing.

Blood Cholesterol

• High blood cholesterol is a significant health risk that increases with age, influenced by factors like alcohol, smoking, poor diet, inactivity, obesity, and genetics.
• Excess LDL cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, thereby increasing morbidity rates.
• High cholesterol reduces blood flow to the brain, contributing to vascular dementia and increasing both morbidity and mortality rates.
• Restricted blood flow due to high cholesterol can interfere with thought processes.
• High cholesterol can lead to extreme abdominal pain and fever, impacting an individual’s ability to perform daily activities and tasks.

Sociocultural Factors

• Sociocultural factors are the social and cultural conditions into which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Socioeconomic Status

• Socioeconomic status is a person's position in society relative to others based on income, occupation, and education.
• Income influences access to resources like adequate food and healthcare, aiding in maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing diseases
• Reduces morbidity and mortality rates.
• Manual occupations increase the risk of occupational hazards, increases mortality rates.
• Shift work can disrupt sleep patterns and reduce energy levels, decreasing physical health and wellbeing.
• Occupations involving interaction with others, such as in offices, schools, and hospitals, can promote social health and wellbeing.

Social Isolation

• Social isolation is the lack of regular contact with others.
• Social Isolation has been linked to mental illness, suicide, and premature death, contributing to morbidity and mortality.
• Social Isolation contributes to risk-taking behaviours like smoking and alcohol use, increasing the prevalence of some cancers.
• Lack of social support can lead to mental health issues like depression and stress, impacting mental health and wellbeing.
• Regular social contact can encourage participation in physical activity, impacting physical health and wellbeing.

Food Security

• Food availability, quality, and cost influence diet and health.
• Socioeconomic disadvantage increases food insecurity, leading to reliance on cheaper, processed foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, increasing obesity and cardiovascular disease, which impacts morbidity rates.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face higher food insecurity due to lower incomes, contributing to obesity, increasing rates of morbidity.
• Food insecurity can impair immune function due to unmet nutritional needs, increasing disease risk.
• Uncertainty about the next meal can increase stress levels.

Environmental Factors

• Environmental factors encompass the physical surroundings in which people live, work, and play.

Housing

• Most people spend more time in their house than in any other environment.
• Poor housing conditions, such as dampness and poor ventilation, increase the risk of respiratory issues and asthma, impacting morbidity rates.
• Overcrowded housing can strain facilities, lead to unsanitary conditions, and facilitate the spread of infectious diseases, impacting morbidity.
• Insecure housing can lead to fear of intruders, causing high levels of stress and anxiety, impacting mental health and wellbeing.
• Inadequate heating and cooling can increase stress and sleep deprivation, impacting overall health and energy levels.

Work Environment

• The physical environment of the workplace significantly impacts health outcomes.
• Those working outdoors are more exposed to UV radiation, which increases the risk of skin cancer.
• Exposure to hazardous substances can cause burns, poisoning, respiratory diseases, and cancer.
• A hazardous work environment may increase stress and anxiety, decreasing levels of mental health and wellbeing

Urban Design and Infrastructure

• Access to goods and services can increase access to resources required to promote health.
• Living close to supermarkets, shops, and hospitals makes it easier to access food and healthcare, therefore reduces morbidity and mortality rates.
• Proximity to fast food outlets increases consumption of unhealthy food, contributing to obesity, increases morbidity rates.
• Living far from schools and workplaces limits social interactions, which impacts social health and wellbeing.
• Transporting ill family members to specialist services far away can create additional financial burdens and stress for the family.

Impact of Smoking and Vaping on Health Status

• Tobacco smoke reduces oxygen levels in the blood, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, escalating the risk of heart attack and mortality rates.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke elevates the risk of asthma attacks, increasing morbidity rates.
• Harmful chemicals in vapes and cigarettes can cause cancer, lung cancer being a common cause of death.

Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Health Status

• Overweight and obesity increase the risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, heightening the risk of kidney disease, thus increasing morbidity rates.
• Obesity places greater strain on the heart, elevating the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke, leading to increased mortality rates.
• Fat cells release fatty acids into the bloodstream, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, impacting morbidity rates.

Impact of Alcohol on Health Status

• Alcohol consumption can lead to instability and clumsiness, increasing the risk of injuries, potentially causing disabilities and increasing morbidity rates.
• High alcohol consumption over time can contribute to becoming overweight, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can cause inflammation and scarring of the liver tissue, leading to chronic liver diseases.

Impact of Under-consumption of Fruit and Vegetables on Health Status

• Under-consumption of fruits and vegetables may cause reliance on energy-dense foods, increasing the risk of overweight and obesity.
• This can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease, thus increasing morbidity.
• Low antioxidant intake due to under-consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• During pregnancy, it increases the risk of neural tube defects due to lack of nutrients from fruits and vegetables.

Impact of Low Intake of Fibre

• Low fibre intake contributes to overeating as fibre helps to feel full, which can eventually turn into overweight and obesity.
• This increases the risk of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes, therefore increases morbidity rates.
• Low fibre intake increases the risk of abnormal cells developing in the colon and rectum, which can lead to colorectal cancer.
• Low fibre intake reduces glucose absorption, causing a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Impact of Under-consumption of Dairy

• Calcium from dairy helps with strengthening the bones.
• Under-consumption may lead to weak bones, leading to osteoporosis.
• Calcium helps to harden tooth enamel.
• Under-consumption means that teeth are not as strong, increasing the risk of dental caries.

Impact of High Intake of Fat

• High-fat intake can be used as a fuel source of energy production and will contribute to weight gain if energy provided is not used, leading to overweight and obesity.
• This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
• High fat intake can interfere with the transport of glucose into the cell, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• High fat intake increases LDL cholesterol, therefore increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• High fat intake increases inflammation in the digestive system, increasing the risk of cancer.

Impact of High Intake of Salt

• Calcium is often removed when excess sodium is filtered through the kidneys, leading to weaker bones and osteoporosis, causing higher morbidity rates.
• High levels of sodium draw fluid out of cells and into the bloodstream, increasing the amount of blood in the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.
• Increased hypertension forces the heart to work harder, which results in heart failure if it cannot keep up.

Impact of High Intake of Sugar

• Storing excess sugar leads to:
  • Weight gain
  • Fatty liver
  • Increase certain types of cancers
  • Diabetes
• High intake of sugar can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, impacting morbidity rates.