What is Health To wish to become well

What is Health? “To wish to become well is a part of becoming well. ” ~ Seneca • Health = state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. • ARE WE HEALTHY? • Disease = is an abnormal change in the body’s condition that impairs important physical or psychological functions 1

Chapter 8 – Environmental Health and Toxicology 2

Environmental Health "If you want to learn about the health of a population, look at the air they breath, the water they drink, and the places where they live. “ - Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, in the Fifth Century BC. 3 3

What is Environmental Health Science? The field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease. 4 4

Environmental Health Science The definition of "environmental health" has broadened to include the environment we create for ourselves (by smoking or not smoking, and by our diet, for example). It also includes the medicines and otherapies we are prescribed, our occupations and places of work, and our lifestyles: Are we couch potatoes or joggers? Listening to loud music or keeping the volume down? Abusing illicit substances or cautiously abstaining? http: //www. niehs. nih. gov/oc/factsheets/ead/healthy. htm 5

Health Disease Healthand Disease Factors affecting health: • Diet/nutrition • Infectious agents – germs • Toxic chemicals • Physical condition • Stress • genetics Keeping track of health: • Health agencies (WHO) keep track of non-fatal outcomes of disease Morbidity = illness v • DALYs = disability adjusted life years As well as what people die from v Mortality = death 6

Global Disease Burden • Global disease burden – measure of what people suffer from and the cost associated with treating v Chronic diseases account for 60% of total deaths each year v Infectious diseases (such as diarrhea), malnutrition, and birth-related complications are still part of the global disease burden in developing countries 7

Global Disease Burden HOWEVER…. • Heart disease, cancer and depression are fast becoming the leading source of disability and deaths worldwide v Wealthy people used to be the only ones who suffered from these diseases 8

• 08_01. jpg 9

Funding Health Care • Heaviest burden of illness borne by poorest people who cannot afford a healthy environment or adequate health care. v WHO estimates 90% of all disease burden occurs in developing countries where less than 10% of all health care dollars are spent. - Worldwide, only 2% of people with AIDS have access to modern medicines. 10

Infectious Diseases • For most of human history, the greatest health threats have been pathogenic organisms, accidents or violence. v Majority in countries with poor nutrition, sanitation, and vaccination programs. Ø Flu Ø Giardia Ø Guinea worms Ø Malaria 11

Flu Protozoa Guinea Worm 12

Emergent Diseases • An emergent disease is one never known before, or has been absent for at least 20 years. v An important factor in the spread of many diseases is the speed and frequency of modern travel. - SARS West Nile Virus HIV/AIDS Cholera Ebola 13

Recent Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases 14

Ecological Diseases • Domestic animals and wildlife also experience sudden and widespread epidemics. v Distemper in seals in western Europe. v Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and elk in North America. v Sudden Oak Death Syndrome in California. 15

16