Factors affecting Health

Factors affecting Health

1. Poverty

   • WHO report 2008 - showed a difference in life expectancy of 28 years between poor and affluent areas in Glasgow
     • Due to poor diet and lack of excercise
   • Poverty affects health due to poor quality of social housing
     • often affected by damp which can lead to conditions such as asthma
   • The housing and surronding area can have a harmful; impact on the mental well-being of the child as these areas are usually materially deprived and have high rates of drugs

2. Unhealthy eating and obesity

   • Around 64% of Scots are overwight
     • NHI study shows: Obesity may shorten life by up to 14 years
     • Being obese shortens life and affects health due to the diseases related to weight problems
   • However,
     • a good diet is limited by low income as it is harder to buy the more expensive healthier option
       • the 5-a-day campaign had less impacts on poorer areas
       • 12 packets of crisp < 6 apples

3. Smoking

   • 13,000 smoking related deaths in Scotlad alone each year
     • In 2014, the cancer research report showed that since 1974 Scottish lung cancer rates have doubled
   • However
     • It is a class issue - in 2010, 47% of adults in deprived areas smoked
     • Also the smoking ban introduced in 2006 has reduced smoking in scotland from 48% - 23% from 2003-15
       • Thus, even though smoking affects health dramatically it is not as big a problem as it used to be

4. Culture

   • Islam doesn't allow consumption of alcohol
   • Ethnic minorities are less likely to drink, Bangladeshi and black Carribean men are more likely to smoke thna other groups
     • significant impact on health
   • Ethnic minority members may fail to access health services due to poor english skils
   • However
     • groups with similar incomes to the white population record health levels close to the white population
     • But groups such as pakistanis, who earn less, record health levels that are 50% worse than the white population

5. Conclusions

   • Poverty is the most significant factor influencing health, as a lot of other favctors are more prevalent in the lower classes of society