Week 9 - Longevity, Health and Stress Students PDF

Lecture 9: Longevity, Stress and 3012PSY Adaptation Learning Outcomes 1. Understanding of the factors that influence longevity 2. Ability to describe 5 key issues in adult health and illness Have an in-depth understanding of the 3 most common chronic conditio...

Lecture 9: Longevity, Stress and 3012PSY Adaptation Learning Outcomes 1. Understanding of the factors that influence longevity 2. Ability to describe 5 key issues in adult health and illness Have an in-depth understanding of the 3 most common chronic conditions in older age 3. Describe the steps in the transactional model of stress and coping 4. Identify the key risk and protective factors for ill health in older age 2 How Long Will We Live? How Long Will We Live? Genetic factors Environmental factors Ethnic Differences Gender Differences How healthy are you?  Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Brief on Health 2022 Provides a summary of health in Australia Summary findings: Life expectancy for baby boy was 81.2 years and for a baby girl it was 85.3 years Hospitalisations have increased $202.5 billion dollars was spent on health Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government.  Effect of COVID-19 on our Health Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government.  Burden of Disease Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. Australia’s health 2020: in brief. Australia’s health series no. 17 Cat. no. AUS 232. Canberra: AIHW.  Coronary Heart Disease Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) reported as the, “leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia,” (AIHW, 2022, p. 28). Two major forms: Heart attack Angina In 2020-21, 571,000 Australians had CHD CHD death rate has fallen since 1980 Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government.  Cancer 2018 – contributed to 18% of the total burden of disease In 2022, it is estimated that: Approx 162, 000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Australia Most common types of cancer diagnosed: Males – prostate cancer Females – breast cancer “Five-year cancer survival rates are increasing” (AIHW, 2022, p. 29)  could be due to improvements in detection, treatment, & screening programs. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government.  Dementia In 2021 – 386, 200 to 472, 000 Australians were living with Dementia Sadly, both cases and deaths are rising due to Australia’s ageing population Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s health 2022: in brief, catalogue number AUS 241. Australia’s health series number 18, AIHW, Australian Government Health Issues and Ageing Reductions in immunity Influenenza Pnuemonia Respiratory tract Injury Chronic Conditions Medication Disability Stress  Injury During 2014, there were over 100k hospitalisations due to falls in people aged 65 and over. Average time spent in hospital from falls increases from 4 (65-69) to 17 (85+) Chronic conditions / non-communicable disease Chronic conditions are characterised by their long-lasting effects. Once present, they tend to persist throughout a person’s life. ABS data show: 50% of Australians have at least 1 of 8 selected common chronic conditions 70% 65+ had a chronic disease 50% aged 65–74 had to cope with 5 or more chronic diseases, increasing to 70% of those aged 85+  Arthritis and Osteoporosis 14% of Australians have arthritis in comparison to 60% of 75+ women and 42% of 75+ men 3% of Australians have arthritis in comparison to 23% of 65+ women and 5% of 65+ men  Cardiovascular Disease 22% of Australians have some form of CVD vs 54% 65- 74 and 66% of 75+ Aged 65+ 66% of heart failures 71% strokes 9x more likely to have CHD than 45– 54-year-olds Cancer Accounts for 31% of all deaths in Australia Risk of being diagnosed with cancer by 85 1 in 2 for men, 1 in 3 for women Disability 18% of people in Australia have a disability, and 5.8% have a severe or profound disability 53% of those aged 65+ have a disability 20% have severe or profound activity limitation Model of Disability Functional Health and Disability Medication Pain management Effectiveness of medication Side effects and interactions Adherence  Given the frequency of chronic disease in later life, what proportion of Australians aged 75+ rate their health as good, very good or excellent? Stress and Coping Our health is shaped by  Stress The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, or stressors, that we view as challenging or threatening  Coping The processes that are involved with managing the demands (internal and external) of life events and situations that are self-appraised to be stressful  Adaptation Developmental changes that are the result of experiencing and eventually managing stress Stress and Coping Lazarus and Folkman (1984) Appraisal  Primary appraisal  Secondary appraisal  Reappraisal Coping  Problem focused  Emotion focused Primary Appraisal 1. Irrelevant / Non- significant 2. Benign or positive 3. Stressful Secondary Appraisal Can you deal with it? Evaluate internal and external options and assess or reappraise Threat Harm-loss Challenge Coping  Problem-focused coping: Attempts to deal with the stressor  Emotion-focused coping: Attempts to deal with one’s feelings about the stressor  Transactional Model of Stress We become stressed when demands (pressure) exceeds resources Resources for Effective Coping: Health and energy, positive beliefs, social skills, material resources personal control, and social support Age and Stress 1. Coping strategies change 2. Sources of stress change  Stress and Ageing We get better at dealing with stress throughout the lifespan This is good, because we need it  Illness, death, loss, more common in later life Chronic stress results in increased secretion of cortisol Raises blood sugar and blood pressure and increases inflammation and immune system resistance to infection ALSO suppresses telomerase activation in immune system cells so that telomeres are no longer protected during cell division  Outcomes of Stress  Bonanno Patterns of coping  Chronic Disruption  Delayed  Recovery  Resilience  Hardiness  Self-Enhancement  Meaning  Positive emotion and laughter  What can we do? Postponement of ill health and disease involves 4 strategies: 1. Prevention of risk factors for ill health 2. Reduction of the prevalence of risk factors (before ill health occurs) 3. Prevention of progression of ill health after onset 4. Reduction of morbidity Key Risk Factors Smoking Heavy drinking Physical inactivity Depression Social isolation Fair or poor perceived health Lack of meaning Low mastery Low SES