Modern Health Issues Essay Example

health and diseases known as the risk factor.

On the other hand high intake of a healthy variety of veggies, fruit and meat as well as exercise is a positive influence as well as a protective factor (Australia’s Health, 2004). Our social determinants are strongly influenced by our social policies, psychological environment, up bringing, education, income, unemployment, friendships/relationships, social exclusion, drugs and alcohol, access to services and supplies and healthy ways of transport.These main social factors are all interrelated and have an impact on each other factor as well as other determinants in the model. The solid facts are the factors outlined above and these are aimed at reducing inequalities in health within communities (Marmot, 2005). The social gradient plays a great role in the health of Victorians as it strongly affects their health outcomes in the present and for the future.

As people on the lower end of the social scales usually have at least twice the risks of serious illness and premature death than those that are near the top end.Income, wealth, level of education, social influences, is more or less what determines our social status. People that are rich and have a good education tend to have better health outcomes than people who are poor (Keleher & Murphy, 2006). That reason being the wealthy people are the better access to resources such as health related goods and services being better food, housing recreation and health care, psychological benefits (aust heath, 2003).

One of the disadvantages of poor education, insecure employment in our society is that people tend to associate themselves amongst other people in the same conditions and therefore find themselves in a

rut with little chance of helping themselves out. This is why there is a strong emphasize on education in Victoria as it opens up good future opportunities and income potential and provides knowledge and skills to improve ones health (aus health). Because of an aging population and high level of claims in private health insurance in Victorian families will pay up to $150 more than other states are to blame (Jones, 2005).The reasons are due to access to health services in rural areas as well as cities as people are more reluctant to visit their GPs as they are able to afford it (Riley, 2001). This shows that Victoria is one of the States with a higher social gradient. Stress Stress prolonged can cause long term stress arisen from social and psychological situations that bring about anxiety, insecurity, low self esteem, social isolation, lack of control of work and home (WHO).

Due to stress there is an alarming increasing rate in depression, heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure and increase susceptibility to infection, which affects the health of Victorians. More than 50% of Victorian GPs said this health issue was more or less stable amongst Victorians. 84 % of GPs felt Victorian patients were better informed about health issues to make sensible decisions in regards to their health. (Papadakis, 2005) so our stress levels with our awareness should be on the rise not the opposite.There are a lot of implications caused from stress, stress responses triggers stress hormones that affect cardiovascular and immune system which affects the bodies by raising heart rate, diverting blood to muscles and increasing both anxiety and alertness.

Workplace stress is increasing

right along side with the work load… it is driving up the costs of health care and a huge impact on on absenteeism, personal turnover and accidents.Burn out refers to a set of symptoms that individuals may develop during prolonged exposure to high levels of work stress and negatively affected mental and physical fitness, job satisfaction, and perceived performance. (collie, 2005). 3. early life..

the effects of early development lasts a life time. Foetal Development,… nutrition, smoking, and drugs, stress, Exercise, Prenatal care Infant life…nutrition, cognitive, sensory, emotional stimuli. Evidence… slow growth and lack of emotional support during early life raise the life time risk of poor physical health and reduced physical, cognitive and emotional functioning in adult hood.Family structure.. is known to affect childrens physical and mental health.

. On almost every statistical indicator of wellbeing, Australia's children are going backwards for the first time in recorded history -- and that spells trouble for the citizens, taxpayers and policy-makers of the future. ``This is the first generation in the history of Australia where children's health doesn't improve over time,'' concurs Frank Oberklaid, who heads the centre for community child health at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital. `Whether it's obesity, asthma, mental health, behavioural problems, child abuse, this generation of children [is] worse off than the last generation. How long will we let that happen? '' As the wellbeing of children has deteriorated, social researchers have thrown up a body of scientific evidence demonstrating how brain and social development in our first few years predetermines much of our adult achievement -- including the ability to learn, to hold down a job, maintain a relationship and stay free

of drug addiction.As a result, the call by Stanley, Oberklaid and others to fix problems in the earliest years of childhood -- before they become a taxpayer burden in welfare benefits, remedial schooling and jail beds -- has taken on fresh urgency.

(Schubert, 2003) 4. social exclusion -Absolute poverty – lack of basic necessities of life -Relative poverty – poorer than most in the society (<60% median income) -Denied access... education, housing, transport Can result from… racism, discrimination, Stigmatization, Hostility, unemployment -Prevents participation in education, gaining access to services -longer time the exclusion the greater the health impact - people move in and out of poverty - Poverty and social exclusion increase risk of… divorce, disability, illness, addiction - social exclusion creates misery and cost of lives People who have lived most of their lives in poverty suffer particularly bad health… Homeless people often suffer from a range of mental and physical health problems and suffer the highest rates of premature death.

socially isolated people die at two to three times the rate of people surrounded by friends… study of 1500 Victorians revealed that financial security and personal safety were valued more highly than feeling needed by somebody else… (Riley, 2001) -Suicide rates are higher in rural areas in vic (Riley, 2001) 5. work. 6. unemployment 7. social support 8.

addiction 9. food 10. transport REFERENCES Australia’s Health. (2004).

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