CANDIDATE NAME :Anopa C Magoronga
CANDIDATE NUMBER :z0410321
1)Social determinants of health are the conditions which people are born,grow
up ,live ,work,age and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.They include factors
like stress ,social support ,food ,addiction and housing .
STRESS emotional pressure suffered by human beings or other animals .Social
circumstances can cause long term stress,anxiety ,low self esteem , social isolation
and home life can affect one’s health powerfully .Stress can increase the chances of
poor mental health and premature death .Long periods of anxiety and insecurity
activates a cascade of one’s stress hormones that affect the cardiovascular
system .Turning the stress hormones too long and for a very long time is most likely
to carry multiple costs on health .It can therefore cause problems that include
depression ,diabetes ,a harmful pattern of cholesterol and fats in the blood ,high
blood pressure ,heart attacks and strokes .In human beings the quality of the social
environment is very important to health .
Social support ,is the back up one gets from the family ,friends and community .
Family friend ,good social relations and stron supportive networks improve health at
home ,in the community and at work Goood social relations and strong supportive
networks contribute to good health .Social support helps to give people the
emotional and practical support they need .Social networking of communication and
mutual obligation makes people feel loved ,cared for and valued .This has a strong
protective impact on health .Support is important on both levels of the individual and
the society .Social isolation and exclusion usually lead to increased rates of untimely
deaths and poorer chances of survival after having chronic diseases .People who
get less emotional social support from family members and friends are most likely to
encounter less well being ,more depression .higher levels of chronic diseases and a
greater risk of pregnancy .Last but not least , the bad aspects of close relationships
can lead to poor mental health and physical health .
NUTRITION AND FOOD ACCESS ,having healthy food available and affordable
allow people to make healthier food choices .When health food is not affordable
people settle for foods that are higher in calories and lower nutrition value .The
shortage of a good diet cause malnutrition and deficiency diseases . Excess uptake
of food contribute to cardiovascular diseases ,diabetes ,obesity and dental
caries ,The affordability of food makes more difference to what people eat than
health education .Heart diseases ,strokes and cancer are associated with a
nutritional transition .Overconsuption of energy – dense fat and sugars produce more
obesity .Obesity is common among the poor as compared to the rich .
TRANSPORT ,walking ,reduced driving and cycling are forms of healthy transport
backed up by better public transport .Cycling ,walking and the use of public transport
promote health in different ways namely providing exercise ,reduce air
pollution ,reduce fatal accidents and increase social conduct .Because of the new
technology there is reduced exercise involved in jobs and household chores .People
need to find new ways of creating exercise in their lives .This can be by increasing
cycling .walking .expanding public transport and reducing reliance on cars .Regular
exercises protect the body against heart disease and by limiting obesity ,reduces
the onset of obesity .it instills a sense of well being and protects elderly from
depression .Road deaths and serious accidents can be reduced by decreasing the
use of road traffic .Walking ,cycling and a greater use of public transport ,would
encourage social interaction on the streets whereas cars have isolated people from
each other .Social isolation and and lack of community interaction are strongly
associated with poor health .Decrease in road traffic means reducing harmful
pollution from exhaust .Cycling and walking reduce the use of non –renewable fuels
and intent not lead to globall warming .There will be less diseases from air
pollution ,make little noise and are preferable for the ecology .Bicycles ,which are
manufactured locally have a good ‘’ecologicall footprint ‘’ – incontrast to cars .
