week 1 lo 1

Summary

This lecture explores the concept of health, tracing its evolution from a focus on the absence of disease to a more holistic view. The World Health Organization defines health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being. The lecture contrasts the biomedical model, which focuses on treating physical symptoms, with the biopsychosocial model, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors. It discusses chronic diseases, emphasizing the role of behavior changes, such as diet and exercise, in improving health outcomes, particularly in Australia, and highlights the disparities in perceived health among Indigenous Australians.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍⚕️ Health is more than the absence of disease; it includes complete physical, mental, and social well-being, as defined by the World Health Organization.
• 💉 The biomedical model of health focuses on physical pathology and treating disease, but lacks attention to psychological and social factors.
• 🌍 The biopsychosocial model considers biological, psychological, and social factors, offering a more holistic view of health.
• ⚖️ Health has multiple dimensions, including physical, social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health, all of which contribute to overall well-being.
• 📉 Since the 1900s, mortality rates have decreased by 73%, with a shift in the leading causes of death from infectious diseases to chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer.
• 📊 Around 50% of Australians suffer from at least one chronic disease, with many experiencing multiple conditions like diabetes and asthma.
• 💪 Positive health behaviors, such as exercise, diet, and avoiding smoking, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
• 🚭 Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can be controlled to improve health, but some factors, like the environment, are non-modifiable.
• 🏆 More than half of Australian adults rate their health as excellent or very good, though there’s room for improvement in areas like diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
• 🤲 Indigenous Australians report lower rates of perceived good health, with only 39% rating their health as excellent or very good, highlighting health inequalities that will be discussed in future lessons.

Q & A

What is the World Health Organization's definition of health?

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

How does the biomedical model of health define health?

The biomedical model defines health as the absence of disease, and it assumes that if the underlying physical causes are treated, health will be improved.

What is the key difference between the biomedical model and the biopsychosocial model of health?

The biomedical model focuses on the physical causes of illness, while the biopsychosocial model takes a holistic view, considering biological, psychological, and social factors in determining health.

What are some of the dimensions of health mentioned in the lecture?

The dimensions of health include physical health, social health, intellectual health, emotional health, spiritual health, and environmental health.

How has the leading cause of death changed in Australia since the 1900s?

In the 1900s, tuberculosis was a leading cause of death, but today heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are among the leading causes due to improvements in healthcare, hygiene, and environmental factors.

What are some of the chronic diseases affecting a large portion of the Australian population?

Chronic diseases affecting Australians include arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, and mental and behavioral disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, what percentage of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer can be prevented by lifestyle changes?

The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancers can be prevented by eliminating risk factors like lack of exercise, smoking, and poor diet.

What are modifiable risk factors, and can you provide some examples?

Modifiable risk factors are behaviors and lifestyle choices that can be changed to improve health. Examples include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and increasing physical activity.

What are non-modifiable factors, and how do they impact health?

Non-modifiable factors are aspects of health that cannot be changed, such as genetic predispositions or environmental conditions. These factors can still influence overall health, even though they are beyond an individual's control.

How does the perception of health differ between Indigenous Australians and the general Australian population?

While more than half of Australian adults rate their health as excellent or very good, only 39% of Indigenous Australian adults perceive their health as excellent or very good. Various factors, including health inequalities, contribute to this disparity.