Health Inequalities

Health Inequalities

1. Race

   • Pakistanis and Bangladeshis more prone to heart disease and diabetes- 5x more likely to suffer
   • Asians smoke and consume alcohol less
   • Chinese and Blacks eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day higher
   • Less likely to engage in physical activity
   • Culture impacts- Ramadan means Muslim diabetes sufferers can't take medication

2. Gender

   • Women live longer
   • Men less likely to go to doctor
   • Women have higher death rates of illnesses relating to age
   • Men more likely to die from heart disease and lung cancer

3. Lifestyle

   • Smoking
     • 10 million adults smoke in UK
     • 22% men and 19% women
     • 14% managerial 33% manual work
     • Easterhouse spend £584 on cigarettes out of average salary £16000. Bromley, Kent average salary £50 000 spends £67
   • Alcohol
     • Kills 40 scots a week
     • Costs NHS Scotland £1.1 billion
     • Factor in 20-30% of all incidents
   • Obesity
     • Scotland 2nd most obese developed nation
     • 1 in 5 Glasgow toddlers obese
     • Glasgow 20% men and 25% women
     • Costs NHS £500 million
     • 38% do no physical activity

4. Age

   • More likely to experience long standing illness eg arthritis
   • Elderly need twice as much medical care
   • Life Expectancy lower in Scotland- Up to 3 years lower
   • Currently 10 million over 65- projected to be 19 million by 2050

5. Geography

   • Bearsden residents will live 10 years longer than Drumchapel
   • Postcode Lottery
   • Babies born to mothers in deprived areas have low birth weights
   • NHS Scotland costs up to £10 billion per year