Health Chapter 19

Health State of complete physical, mental, and social well- being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmityState of complete physical, mental, and social well- being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity Because health is relative, can be viewed in social contextBecause health is relative, can be viewed in social context

Culture and Health The communities people live in have an impact on their healthThe communities people live in have an impact on their health Culture contributes to differences in medical care and how health is definedCulture contributes to differences in medical care and how health is defined Culture influences the relative incidence of a disease or disorderCulture influences the relative incidence of a disease or disorder

Social Class Lower classes have higher rates of mortality and disabilityLower classes have higher rates of mortality and disability Crowded living conditionsCrowded living conditions Substandard housingSubstandard housing Poor dietPoor diet StressStress Unable to afford quality health careUnable to afford quality health care Occupations tend to be more dangerousOccupations tend to be more dangerous

Race and Ethnicity Health profiles of racial and ethnic groups reflect social inequality in U.S.Health profiles of racial and ethnic groups reflect social inequality in U.S. Distressing mortality rates for African AmericansDistressing mortality rates for African Americans Some Mexican Americans and Latinos adhere to cultural beliefsSome Mexican Americans and Latinos adhere to cultural beliefs Curanderismo : form of holistic health care and healing Curanderismo : form of holistic health care and healing

Gender When compared with men, women live longer, but as a group, women appear to be in poorer healthWhen compared with men, women live longer, but as a group, women appear to be in poorer health Lower rates of smoking and drinking and less dangerous occupationsLower rates of smoking and drinking and less dangerous occupations More likely to seek treatmentMore likely to seek treatment From conflict perspective, women vulnerable to medicalization of societyFrom conflict perspective, women vulnerable to medicalization of society

Age Most older people in U.S. have at least one chronic illnessMost older people in U.S. have at least one chronic illness Health problems can affect quality of lifeHealth problems can affect quality of life Older people vulnerable to certain types of mental health problemsOlder people vulnerable to certain types of mental health problems Older people 5 times more likely to use health services than younger peopleOlder people 5 times more likely to use health services than younger people

Holistic Medicine Therapies that consider the person ’ s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual characteristicsTherapies that consider the person ’ s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual characteristics NIH opened Office of Alternative Medicine in 1992NIH opened Office of Alternative Medicine in % of U.S. public uses alternative medicine46% of U.S. public uses alternative medicine 80% of people who live in the poorest countries use some form of alternative medicine80% of people who live in the poorest countries use some form of alternative medicine

Mental Illness in the United States Medical illness : disorder of the brain that disrupts a person ’ s thinking, feeling, and ability to interact with others Medical illness : disorder of the brain that disrupts a person ’ s thinking, feeling, and ability to interact with others Shortcomings of U.S. mental health systemShortcomings of U.S. mental health system Officials poorly prepared to detect mental health issuesOfficials poorly prepared to detect mental health issues Mental health services limited in availabilityMental health services limited in availability Stigma of mental illness discourages people from seeking helpStigma of mental illness discourages people from seeking help

Cognitive Therapy The situationYour Initial Thought How you FeltWhat you should have thought

AIDS AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life- threatening infections and cancers. The virus can be spread (transmitted): through sexual contact (including oral, vaginal, and anal sex), blood (via blood transfusions -extremely rare in the U.S.- or needle sharing), and from mother to child (a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her breast milk).AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life- threatening infections and cancers. The virus can be spread (transmitted): through sexual contact (including oral, vaginal, and anal sex), blood (via blood transfusions -extremely rare in the U.S.- or needle sharing), and from mother to child (a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her breast milk). AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages in the United States.AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages in the United States. In 2008, there were approximately 33.4 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children under age 15.In 2008, there were approximately 33.4 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS, including 2.1 million children under age 15. Common bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses that usually do not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems can cause fatal illnesses in people with AIDS.Common bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses that usually do not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems can cause fatal illnesses in people with AIDS.

Male adult/adolescent annual AIDS rates per 100,000 population, for cases reported in 2000, United States

Problems With US Healthcare The total annual premium for a typical family health insurance plan offered by employers was $12,680 in 2008.The total annual premium for a typical family health insurance plan offered by employers was $12,680 in Approximately 50 percent of personal bankruptcies are due to medical expenses.Approximately 50 percent of personal bankruptcies are due to medical expenses. Approximately 25 percent of employed individuals choose employment based on better health benefits.Approximately 25 percent of employed individuals choose employment based on better health benefits. Retirees will need an estimated $635,000 (per couple over age 65) to cover healthcare costs in retirement.Retirees will need an estimated $635,000 (per couple over age 65) to cover healthcare costs in retirement. 75% percent of total health care spending in the United States in 2007 went towards the treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and asthma. Approximately half of all chronic diseases are linked to preventable problems including smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.75% percent of total health care spending in the United States in 2007 went towards the treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and asthma. Approximately half of all chronic diseases are linked to preventable problems including smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Medicare and Medicaid Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older. It was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the bill-signing ceremony President Johnson enrolled former President Harry S. Truman as the first Medicare beneficiary and presented him with the first Medicare card, and his wife Bess, the second.Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older. It was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At the bill-signing ceremony President Johnson enrolled former President Harry S. Truman as the first Medicare beneficiary and presented him with the first Medicare card, and his wife Bess, the second. Medicaid is the health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. Among the groups of people served by Medicaid are certain eligible U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including low-income adults and their children, and people with certain disabilities. Poverty alone does not necessarily qualify an individual for Medicaid. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health- related services for people with limited income in the United States. Because of the aging Baby Boomer population, the fastest growing aspect of Medicaid is nursing home coverage.Medicaid is the health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. Among the groups of people served by Medicaid are certain eligible U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including low-income adults and their children, and people with certain disabilities. Poverty alone does not necessarily qualify an individual for Medicaid. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health- related services for people with limited income in the United States. Because of the aging Baby Boomer population, the fastest growing aspect of Medicaid is nursing home coverage.

Healthcare Reform Law