Factors Influencing Health Heredity, Environment, Behavior and Access to Care Objective: Students will identify the roles played by heredity, environment, behavior and access to care in causing illness.

Health Not just the absence of disease but the overall well-being of your body, your mind, and your relationships with other people. Physical, Mental/Emotional, Social

Genetic Influences-Heredity Direct Influence Race Gender Genetic transmission of disease Can you change your heredity?

Environmental Influences The environment influences our health in many ways — through exposures to physical, chemical and biological risk factors, and through related changes in our behavior in response to those factors.

Environmental Influences 1. Infectious disease / communicable diseases 2. Toxic substance exposure 3. Culture 4. Family Composition / Economic Status / Educational level of parents 5. Access to Care

Access to Care The timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes. Access to health care, also where you live, learn, work, play and worship

Behavioral influences Influences we have the most control over Our actions, decisions, what we choose to do / or not to do Lifestyle Habits are hard to break

Factors Influencing Health

Group Work Assigned groups of 3 It is expected that all members are participating in the discussion. Helpful Roles –Reader –Recorder –Spokes Person Case studies Health history of family-Sept 30 th

Direct exposure Radiation exposure –Cosmic radiation from the sun –Terrestrial radiation found in nature (soil, water and vegetation) –Man made sources (Tobacco, TVs, Medical X-rays, Smoke detectors, Lantern mantles, Nuclear medicine, Building materials) –Occupational (X-ray technicians) Compute your own radiation exposure at _mm_06.pdf

Direct exposure continued Violence exposure –Media violence Desensitization due to violence exposure in real-life, video games, television, movies, and the internet –Real violence witnessed violence, threat of violence, repeated bullying, perceived safety, and criminal victimization. Consequences include post traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug use, and depression.