11 HHD Unit 2 Outcome 2 ADULTHOOD DETERMINANTS

11 HHD – Unit 2 Outcome 2 ADULTHOOD DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

DETERMINANTS �BIOLOGICAL – genetics, body weight, blood pressure and blood cholesterol �BEHAVIOURAL – smoking, physical activity, food intake, alcohol and drug use, sexual practices �PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT – housing, workplace safety, neighbourhood safety and access to health care �SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT – media, level of education, employment status and income, the workplace, community belonging, living arrangements, social support, family and work-life balance

BIOLOGICAL BLOOD PRESSURE: q Also known as Hypertension q Major risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and even blindness q Causes – obesity, excessive alcohol, inadequate physical activity, poor diet, high salt intake, stress q 8% contribution to total burden of disease (2003) q Blood is being pumped through the arteries with more force than normal, leading to damage over time q 120/80 = normal BP q 120 represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart squeezes blood out during a normal beat (systolic pressure) q 80 represents the pressure as the heart relaxes and refills with blood before the next beat (diastolic pressure)

BIOLOGICAL BLOOD PRESSURE (cont) q Normal: less than 120/80 q High-normal: between 120/80 – 140/90 q High: >140/90 q Very high: >180/110 q Q: How can BP have a positive or negative effect on the health of Australian adults?

BIOLOGICAL � BLOOD CHOLESTEROL q Major risk factor for CHD and stroke q Cause – a build up in the blood vessels of plaque, often from too much saturated fat in the diet → restricts blood supply to the heart, organs and tissues; genetic predisposition q Risk factors – inactivity, poor diet, genetics q Requires constant monitoring of food intake and health checks throughout the adult lifespan q Common among older Australians q 6% of the total disease burden (2003) q Q: What dietary advice would you give to an adult regarding maintenance of good blood cholesterol levels?

BEHAVIOURAL SMOKING: � Currently, smoking is the cause of the greatest burden of disease among adults. � Major risk factor for – lung cancer, CHD and stroke � Passive smoking exposure throughout life becomes evident in adulthood – lung cancer, wheezing, coughing, breathing difficulties � More common in the low socioeconomic � More men smoke than women � Smoking rates are highest among the 24 -25 year ages group � Lung cancer is 10 times more likely in smokers than non-smokers � Trend - 23% of adults smoked (2000), now 20% of adults smoke (2003)

BEHAVIOURAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE: q Excessive alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for morbidity, mortality and long term health conditions (liver disease/cirrhosis, diabetes, some cancers, increased injury risk) q It is a significant factor in suicides, drownings, burns and motor vehicle fatality q Risk of death is higher at any level for men than it is for women (risk taking!!) q 82. 9% of Australians (2007) had drunk alcohol in the past year. 60% of these are low risk. 8% are high risk.

BEHAVIOURAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE (cont): q Adult recommendations q Male and female – no more than 2 standard drinks on any occasion. Have 2 AFDs per week. q Low levels of alcohol consumption may be a protective factor for hypertension, stroke, gallstones. >75 yrs receive the greatest protective effect q Social/emotional – high risk drinkers experience more psychological distress (depression and anxiety); violent behaviour; conflict with those closest to them q Strategies/campaigns – “Don’t make your night out a nightmare”; bartender education; higher drink prices. . .

BEHAVIOURAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE: (cont) q In Australia around 13% of the population has used illicit drugs q 2003, 31% of drivers killed in Victoria had illicit drugs in their system q Directly and indirectly linked to ill health q Health conditions – HIV/AIDS, overdose, Hepatitis C, suicide, poisoning, self-inflicted injury, chronic bronchitis, increased risk of cancer, organ and brain damage, sleep disorders, weight loss, high BP, psychological problems and a range of psychological/mental illnesses.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT WORKPLACE SAFETY: q Work. Safe Victoria monitors and regulates Victoria’s workplace safety q Aims: to prevent workplace accidents and injuries; enforce occupational health and safety laws; workplace injury insurance for employers; helping injured workers back to work; managing workers compensation claims q Main types of injuries: overuse or strain injuries q Common causes of injuries: equipment, machinery, movements (bending, twisting), work deadlines that stop rest breaks q Read article “working age males most likely to suffer eye injury” (Oxford) q Complete “In focus – workplace safety” and activity 12. 8 workplace bullying

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE: q Needed to maintain optimal health, including prevention, education and q q treatment Medicare is the Australian government system of national health care Low income earners may be entitled to a health care card (concessions and discounts) Varies greatly depending on the lifespan stage (childbirth, aged care) Barriers to receiving health care – q q q q q low SES or unemployment geographic location level of mobility access to transport specialised care may be further away recognizing that there is a health problem cost of care ethnicity values and attitudes toward individual health

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT MEDIA q Types of media: o o print (newpapers, mags. . . ) electronic (TV, radio, internet: wesites/bogs/podcasts/pop-ups) q May have a positive or negative effect on H&D o Eg. Negative - ↑rates of obesity. This correlates with the advertising of fast foods, marketing targeted at children’s after school TV time slots, misinterpretation of information o Eg. Negative – poor body image. Individuals feeling that they do not measure up to the portrayed images being presented eg. Size 6 models → ↓self worth, ↓self esteem, ↑stress levels � MEDIA:

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT MEDIA: �Adult Drivers – see following ppt q May also have a positive effect on H&D o Eg. Positive – Quit Campaign and reduced smoking rates o Eg. TAC ads to reduce road deaths

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION: q Higher levels of education often = higher employment q People with higher education: maintain a better level of health (quality housing, food, private health cover), and have better “health literacy” make more informed choices about their health are generally employed and have higher levels of security Time and effort into education = time and effort into health reduced risk taking behaviour(s)