Population Health - Prevention and Control of Disease/Illness

Leading Health Indicators (LHIs)

Addresses factors impacting major causes of death and diseases including suicides, homicides, drug overdoses, obesity, hypertension, and cancer risk factors

Major Public Health Problems - Communicable Diseases

Waterborne, foodborne, sexually-transmitted

STD

Major Public Health Problems - Chronic Illnesses

Cancer, heart disease, diabetes

Major Public Health Problems - Acute Injuries

Firearms, suicide, drug overdose

Communicability

Ability to spread from one individual to another

Pathogenicity

Ability to cause disease

Virulence

Ability to cause severe diseases

(Antibiotic resistance and toxins can increase virulence)

Direct Transmission

Directly from reservoir to host

Ex: Cold, tetanus, HIV

Indirect Transmission

Uses intermediary (vector/fomite)

Ex: TB; Lyme disease

Communicable Diseases

Disease spread from human to human

Infectious Disease

Disease caused by pathogen

Waterborne Illness

Otitis externa (Swimmer’s ear)

Legionnaire’s disease

Norovirus

Giardiasis

Foodborne Illness

Norovirus

Salmonella

Campylobacter

(Prevent with proper cooking and cleaning techniques)

Zoonotic Illness

Spread between animals and humans

Ex: Zoonotic influenza

Salmonellosis

West Nile virus

Plague

Vector Illness

Living organism that can spread agents

Ex: Ticks

Mosquitoes

Fleas

Chronic Illness

Leading cause of death and disability in U.S.

Prevention: Smoking cessation; healthy diet; exercise; limiting alcohol; regular screening; adequate sleep

Drug Overdose

often involves opioids

Risk factors: History of substance abuse; mental illness; chronic pain; negative life events

Prevention: Naloxone; education

Suicide

10thh leading cause of death in U.S.

2nd in adolescents and young adults

Prevention: Strengthen economic support; create protective environments; promote connectedness; expand access to mental health care

Firearms

132 people die each day in the U.S. due to gun violence

Risk Factors: Mental health issues; depression; intimate partner violence; children access to firearm; conflict and anger management skills

Prevention: Legislation; gun locks; education; mental health intervention