Environmental factors

Environmental factors

Environmental factors relate to the physical features that surround us. These can be natural features or those built by people.

Housing

Aspect of housing

• Ventilation and hygiene

• Access to water and sanitation

• Sleeping conditions

• Security

• Pollutants

• Social needs

• Resources to encourage a nutritionally sound diet

• Design and safety. 

Housing - impact on health status

Impacts on health status

• A house that is damp due to leakage from pipes and has poor ventilation from lack of windows can promote the growth of mould and bacteria while poor ventilation can trap pollutants such as smoke that can irritate the lungs which can increase the risk of developing respiratory diseases such such as asthma. This increases the risk of respiratory conditions such as bronchitis.

• Poor and overcrowded housing may have poor ventilation due to the lack of windows and air vents. This allows airborne infectious disease such as influenza to spread more quickly.

• Overcrowded housing may lead to poor sanitation by increasing the spread of germs and limiting access to clean water and proper waste dispotals. With too many people in small space, sanitation facilities may be overused and poorly maintained, This increases the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as influenza.

Housing - impact on health and wellbeing

Impacts on health and wellbeings

• Good housing can promote restful sleep by creating comfortable environmental such as from thick walls that block noise from outside, which in turn promotes adequate levels of energy in the waking hours, enhancing physical health and wellebing.

• Noise and overcrowding can impact sleeping condition.

• Those living in overcrowded housing find it difficult to find their own space. This can leads to feeling of frustration, thus reduce the individual ability to effectively manage and express emotional actions and reactions.

• It can impact self-esteem and social interactions by reducing engagement in education and employment as people struggle to complete daily chores, including homework.

Work environment

Impact on health status

 

• UV exposure — those working outdoors are more exposed to UV radiation. This can increase the risk of skin cancer among these workers.

• Dangerous working conditions — People working on farms, fishing trawlers and mining operations, for example, often use heavy machinery, which can increase the risk of injuries

• Exposure to hazardous substances — hazardous substances such as paint, asbestos, fuels, gases, acids and corrosive chemicals are used in many workplaces, such as those used for manufacturing and building. Although the use of protective equipment can reduce the risks associated with handling such substances, they still contribute to morbidity and mortality in the workplace due to causes such as burns, poisoning, respiratory diseases and cancer.

 

Impact on health and wellbeing

 

• Can lead to injuries that impact all dimensions of health and wellbeing

• Increased stress and anxiety among employees if they are concerned about sustaining an injury.

Work environment - Health status

People who work in ganerous working condition such as in farming where use heavy machinery

One environmental is work environment. People who work in outdoor work environment are more UV radiation where excess UV exposure overtime can cause fault in cell as they divide and increase risk of skin cancer.

One environmental factor is work environment where people who work in manufactoring and building are exposed to many hazardous substances such as fuels and corrosive chemicals. This increase risk of work place injuries such as burns, poisoning, increasing morbidity and mortality rates.

Work environment - health and wellbeing

One environmental factor is work environment where a work environment that contain hazard such as in manufactoring containing the use fuel and corrosive chemicals may lead to concerns about sustaining injuries. This can increase levels of stress and anxiety (mental health and wellbeing)

One environmental factor is work environment where people may work with heavy machinery such as farmers and miners, which may involve heavy lifting, thus increase the risk of injuries such as fractures in knees. This can affect the individual’s physical capacity to perform daily tasks or activities.

Climate and Climate change

Climate relates to the long-term weather patterns of a particular area and includes rainfall, temperature, snow, wind or any other weather condition.

 

Impacts on health status

• Climate relates to the long-term weather patterns of a particular area and includes rainfall, temperature, snow, wind or any other weather condition.

• Events such as droughts and floods are common in some Australian climates and are expected to increase as a result of climate change. Access to resources such as water, food and health care can all be impacted when such events occur, increasing morbidity and mortality rates in affected areas.

Impacts on health and wellbeing

 

• Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods cause considerable stress and anxiety in affected areas and can prevent people from working towards their purpose in life, especially when usual activities must cease to allow people to address the associated impacts.

• As well as the loss of human and animal life that occurs with bushfires, houses and infrastructure can also be destroyed, limiting the availability of goods and services that are required for optimal health and wellbeing. Exposure to bushfire smoke can worsen existing health conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, further impacting health and wellbeing.

Climate change - health status

Event such as drought and flood may reduce access to resources such as water, shelter and healthcare where it contribute to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, which may lead to suicides, increasing mortality rates.

Climate change - health and wellbeing

Event such as drought and flood may reduce access to resources such as water, shelter and healthcare where an individual may feel socially insecure regarding their future, for examples housing situations, leading to increase levels of stress and anxiety (mental hw)

Urban design and infrastructure

Urban design and infrastructure relate to the features and structure of the suburbs, towns and regions and cities to which people live in.

• Geographical location of resources such as hospitals, schoosl and employment

• Infrastructure including roads and transports systems, electricity and communication systems, water , sealed roads and sanitation

Urban design - impact on health status, health and wellbeing

Impact on health status

• Being close to supermarkets, shops and hospitals, and having the means to reach these resources, can decrease morbidity and mortality rates, because people can access the resources required to obtain adequate food and health care.

• The location of health care can influence whether a person can access health care in times of need. This means conditons can go undiagnoised and untreated, which can increase morbidity and mortality rates for many conditions.

• Low SES suburbs often have a higher density of fast food outlets when compared to high SES suburbs. This makes energy dense food more accessible in low SES suburbs and contribute to this group consuming more of these foods. As a result, rates of obesity and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes are likely to be higher among this group, contribuiting to higher mortality rates experienced.

Impact on health and wellbeing

• If specialist health services or hospitalisation are required, family members often have to take time off work to transport those who are ill to these services. This adds additional costs and increases the level of stress and anxiety experienced.

 

• Living far away from resources such as schools and places of employment can reduce opportunities for social interaction, negatively impacting social health and wellbeing. It can also mean that people are not able to work towards their purpose in life, reducing spiritual health and wellbeing.

  

Infrastructure - Impact on health status, health and wellbeing

Impacts on health status

 

• Adequately maintained roads and traffic systems such as traffic lights, signage and road lighting can improve safety and decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality from road trauma.

 

Impacts on health and wellbeing

• Having access to adequate public spaces such as parks and gardens, and recreation facilities such as walking paths, cycling tracks and basketball and tennis courts, means people are more likely to be physically active. This can reduce the risk of mental health problems and obesity. They also provide people with opportunities for relaxation which can promote spiritual health and wellbeing by increasing a sense of peace and harmony.

• Digital technologies can assist in maintaining social networks, and this promotes social and mental health and wellbeing and can decrease the risk of mental illness. Internet connections can also promote education for those living outside major cities, helping to increase socioeconomic status by increasing opportunities for employment.

• Digital resources are increasingly being used to educate consumers in relation to health-related matters, for example, through internet symptom checkers, healthy living advice and online medical consultations, counselling and support. Together, these resources can improve health literacy and health outcomes.