02_Health Concerns-2

Lecture 2 Health Concerns

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss trends in global health, including top causes of disability and death.

  • Analyze health trends in the United States and list top causes of death.

  • Compare health of U.S. citizens with other affluent nations.

  • Examine and apply theories about behavioral changes.

  • Learn ways to improve health behaviors.

Types of Diseases

  • Communicable Diseases:

    • Caused by infectious agents or toxins acquired from humans, animals, or the environment (e.g., contaminated food, air, water).

    • Examples: Infectious diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, measles, HIV/AIDS.

    • Preventable through clean water, sanitation, vaccinations and treatable with antimicrobial drugs.

  • Acute Illnesses: Last a short duration.

  • Chronic Illnesses: Last three months or longer.

  • Noncommunicable Diseases:

    • Illnesses that are not infectious or transmissible.

    • Examples: Heart disease, stroke, COPD, lung cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes.

Top Ten Causes of Death Worldwide (2019)

  • Ischaemic heart disease

  • Stroke

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  • Lower respiratory infections

  • Neonatal conditions

  • Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers

  • Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

  • Diarrheal diseases

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Kidney diseases

  • Categories: Noncommunicable, Communicable, and Injuries.

Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases

  • Major Risk Factors:

    • Tobacco use

    • Physical inactivity

    • Consumption of unhealthy foods (salty, fatty, sugary)

  • Statistical Terms:

    • Morbidity: Illness

    • Incidence: New cases in a certain timeframe

    • Prevalence: Total cases at a given time

    • Mortality: Death

    • Death Rate: Number of deaths from a condition.

Factors Responsible for Increased Population of Older Adults

  • Public health advancements:

    • Improvements in sanitation/hygiene, family planning, vaccinations decreased child mortality.

  • Economic growth post-World War II:

    • Higher birth rates during the 'Baby Boom' (1946-1964).

  • Decline in birth rates due to increased contraceptive access and reduced fears of child infections.

  • Increased life expectancy over time.

Population Pyramids

  • Comparison of population distributions for Angola and the United States (2023).

  • Representation of age and gender demographic distributions for both countries.

Health Spending by Country (2021)

  • Overview of healthcare expenditures measured in USD by several countries:

    • Notably higher spending in the United States compared to other nations.

Leading Causes of Death in 2021 for Americans by Age Group

  • All Ages:

    • Heart disease, Cancer, COVID-19, Unintentional injuries, Stroke, Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Chronic liver diseases, Kidney diseases.

  • Ages 15-24:

    • Unintentional Injuries, Homicide, Suicide, COVID-19, Cancer, Heart disease, Congenital disorders, Diabetes, Complicated pregnancies, Cerebrovascular issues.

Life Expectancy Trends among Countries (1980-2021)

  • Graph highlighting life expectancy at birth for the U.S. compared to several countries, indicating the trend over time.

Pillars of Good Health

  • Recommendations for maintaining good health habits:

    • Engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days a week.

    • Strength training twice a week.

    • Prioritize physical activity and spending time with loved ones.

    • Avoid tobacco and toxic substances.

    • Ensure sufficient sleep (about 8 hours).

    • Manage stress effectively and pursue personal passions.

Making Positive Behavioral Changes: Health Belief Model

  • Key Components:

    • Motivation as a driver for change.

    • Perceived Susceptibility: Belief in vulnerability to conditions.

    • Perceived Severity: Awareness of severe consequences.

    • Perceived Benefits: Understanding benefits of making changes.

    • Cost-to-Benefit Ratio: Evaluating if benefits outweigh the costs.

Factors Influencing Cost-to-Benefit Analysis

  • Perceived Barriers: Challenges faced in adopting new behaviors.

  • Self-Efficacy: Confidence in one's ability to make changes; influenced by past experiences.

  • Social Milieu: Importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals.

Transtheoretical Model: Stages for Behavior Change

  • Framework outlining processes of health behavior change:

    • Stages:

      • Precontemplation: No intention of change

      • Contemplation: Acknowledgment of a need for change

      • Preparation: Planning to take action

      • Action: Implementing behavior changes

      • Maintenance: Sustained behavior change

      • Termination: Complete confidence; behavior becomes routine.

Skills for Successful Changes

  • Set precise goals, divide them into manageable tasks.

  • Use strengths and maintain flexibility in approach.

  • Develop contingency plans and inform friends about goals for support.

  • Recognize and celebrate positive changes in behaviors.

S.M.A.R.T. Goals Framework

  • Specific: Clear and well-defined goals.

  • Measurable: Criteria for tracking progress.

  • Achievable: Realistic and attainable challenges.

  • Realistic: Relevant and appropriate goals.

  • Time-based: Set deadlines for achieving goals.

Key Takeaways

  1. Life expectancies and chronic disease burdens have risen.

  2. Infectious diseases are controlled in developing regions, but access issues still exist.

  3. The U.S. has the highest health expenditure globally.

  4. Citizens of affluent countries typically enjoy longer, healthier lives than Americans.

  5. Many leading causes of death in the U.S. are preventable.

  6. The Health Belief Model explains health-related decision-making.

  7. The Transtheoretical Model offers a structure for understanding behavior change.

  8. Various skills are crucial for successful behavior change.