Health Factors Overview

Study Notes

Health

Individuals define health based on their feelings, presence or absence of illness symptoms, and their ability to perform activities.

Factors Influencing Health

Genetic factors: Passed down from parents, can increase susceptibility to diseases like asthma, heart disease, and some cancers.
Economic factors: Influence public health services, treatment accessibility, housing quality, and disease spread, particularly in developing countries.
Social and Cultural factors: Impact perceptions of health, illness, and death, beliefs about disease causes, approaches to health promotion, how illness and pain are experienced, and the type of treatment preferred.
Occupational factors: Different jobs involve specific health hazards and risks, leading to occupational diseases like lung disease, cancer, and varicose veins.
Environmental Pollution factors: Air and water pollution negatively affect health, leading to respiratory diseases, lead poisoning, and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Nutrition: Unhealthy eating habits increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity; balanced diets and food control are essential for good health.
Societal Changes: Increase the spread of infectious diseases due to international travel, ecological changes, new food production methods, microbial adaptation, changing contact patterns, and societal breakdown.

Health Promotion

The process of enabling individuals to gain control over and improve their health.
Aims to enhance well-being and maximize human potential.
Focuses on preventing disease and promoting positive good health.
Seeks to achieve sustainable Development Goals.

Focus of Health Promotion

Changing behavior patterns to promote health rather than just avoiding illness.
Promoting healthy lifestyles.
Encouraging individual involvement in healthcare.
Creating environments conducive to healthy living.
Recognizing lifestyle diseases as major causes of illness and death.
Strengthening community participation.

Principles of Health Promotion

Empowerment: Enabling individuals to control decisions affecting their health.
Participative: Active participation in decision-making.
Holistic: Considering all influences on health and their interactions.
Equitable: Ensuring fair outcomes for service users.
Intersectoral: Collaboration with relevant agencies and organizations.
Sustainable: Ensuring lasting outcomes of health promotion initiatives.
Multi-Strategy: Employing a diverse range of programs and policies.

Elements of Health Promotion

Nutrition:
- Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.
- Limit sodium intake.
- Eat slowly and concentrate on eating.
- Eat frequent meals.
- Avoid saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Consume foods with adequate starch and fiber.
- Avoid excessive sugar.
- Don't skip breakfast.
Exercise:
- Benefits include:
  - Achieving and maintaining healthy weight.
  - Improving self-image, appearance, and health.
  - Reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
  - Building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
  - Boosting energy levels.
  - Improving sleep quality.
  - Reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
  - Controlling or preventing disease development.
  - Enhancing mental abilities.
Sleep:
- Sufficient sleep is essential for optimal physical, mental, and emotional health.
- Regulates hormone release, slows aging, boosts immunity, and improves brain function.
- Inadequate sleep affects quality of life and can be hazardous to health.
- Suggestions for good sleep:
  - Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
  - Engage in daily exercise.
  - Drink warm milk before bed.
  - Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
  - Relax before bed.
  - Create a quiet, dark, and relaxing bedroom environment.
  - Avoid large meals before bed.
  - Don't lie awake in bed.
  - Control bedroom temperature.
  - Consult a doctor if sleep problems persist.
Stress Management:
- Stress can lead to psychological and physical health issues, including:
  - Mood swings, anxiety, paranoia, muscular tension, headaches, impaired concentration, irritability, skin disorders, chronic aches, weight gain, and increased susceptibility to illness.
- Stress management techniques include:
  - Avoiding role overload.
  - Eating balanced meals.
  - Getting sufficient rest and sleep.
  - Taking vacations and relaxing with family.
  - Engaging in regular physical activity.
  - Getting massages.
  - Practicing yoga and meditation.
  - Practicing forgiveness.
  - Participating in social gatherings.
  - Praying, listening to music, relaxing, and thinking positive thoughts.
  - Taking breaks from worries and engaging in enjoyable activities.

Barriers to Health Promotion

Socioeconomic Level: Influences affordability of healthcare and health promotion activities.
Environment: Crowded living conditions increase the risk of infections.
Work: Work can influence health and wellness.