pubh 2

Chronic disease

A condition that lasts 1 year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limits activities of daily living.

Challenges in preventing chronic diseases

Long latency periods, behavioral factors, environmental exposure, lack of symptoms in early stages, and social determinants.

Common risk factors for chronic diseases

Tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and obesity.

Leading cause of death in the U.S.

Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.

1 cause of preventable death in the U.S.

Tobacco use.

Why is awareness alone not enough for public health success?

Behavior change requires supportive environments, policies, and systems, not just information.

Interventions at the individual level to reduce smoking

Cessation programs.

Interventions at the interpersonal level to reduce smoking

Peer support.

Interventions at the organizational level to reduce smoking

Smoke-free policies at work.

Interventions at the community level to reduce smoking

Anti-smoking campaigns.

Interventions at the policy level to reduce smoking

Tobacco taxes and advertising bans.

Why does context matter for behavior?

Environmental, cultural, and situational factors shape choices beyond personal motivation.

What influences eating habits beyond willpower?

Food deserts, marketing, portion sizes, cost, time constraints, and social norms.

Percentage of the U.S. that fails to meet dietary guidelines

Over 75%.

Benefits of regular physical activity

Reduced risk of chronic disease, better mental health, improved sleep, stronger bones and muscles.

Why prioritize cardiorespiratory fitness over fat loss?

It has stronger links to reduced mortality and better overall health outcomes.

Physical activity recommendations for adults

150+ minutes moderate aerobic activity per week.

Physical activity recommendations for children

60+ minutes daily.

Epidemiology of injuries

Injuries are a leading cause of death for ages 1-44 in the U.S., with males more affected than females.

How do injury risks differ by age/gender?

Young males have higher rates; elderly have higher fall-related injuries.

Challenges in injury reporting

Underreporting, inconsistent definitions, and lack of standardization.

Difference between unintentional and intentional injuries

Unintentional = accidents; Intentional = self-harm or violence.

The 3 E's of injury prevention

(Definition not provided in the notes.)

Education

Driver's ed

Enforcement

DUI laws

Engineering

Seatbelts, airbags

Primary prevention for MV injuries

Road safety laws, safe vehicle design.

Secondary prevention for MV injuries

EMS response and trauma care.

Tertiary prevention for MV injuries

Rehabilitation and disability support.

Most poisoning deaths causes

Drug overdoses, especially opioids.

Challenges in fentanyl overdose prevention

Potency, contamination of drugs, stigma, and limited treatment access.

Types of gun violence

Suicide (most common), homicide, accidental.

NRA's primary objective

To defend Second Amendment rights and oppose gun control legislation.

Mental health

Emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Mental illness

Diagnosable mental disorders that affect thinking, mood, or behavior.

DSM-5

Diagnostic manual used to classify and diagnose mental disorders.

Relationship between physical and mental health

Poor mental health can lead to physical health problems and vice versa.

Barriers to mental health treatment

Stigma, cost, lack of providers, cultural barriers, and insurance issues.

Demographic shift in the U.S.

Growing older adult population due to longer life expectancy and aging baby boomers.

Challenges with the aging population

Increased healthcare needs, chronic disease burden, caregiver shortages.

Unique challenges of Alzheimer's and dementia

Memory loss, long-term care needs, caregiver strain, safety risks.

Maternal mortality

Death during pregnancy or shortly after due to pregnancy-related causes.

Severe maternal morbidity

Unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant health consequences.

Trend in U.S. pregnancy-related mortality since the 1980s

It has increased.

U.S. maternal mortality rate comparison globally

It is higher than in most other developed countries.

Public Health Framework for Reducing Health Inequities

A model showing how social determinants shape health outcomes through systems, structures, and policies.

Upstream vs. downstream in public health

Upstream: Policy-level and structural interventions (e.g., poverty reduction); Downstream: Individual-level treatment and care (e.g., clinical services).