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AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of factors that affect health and wellbeing. This revision pack contains the factors that affect health and wellbeing (AO1) and exam questions relating to this assessment objective.
COMPONENT 3: HEALTH AND
WELLBEING
Essential content in this revision pack A: Factors that affect health and wellbeing A1 Factors affecting health and wellbeing Learners will explore how factors can affect an individual’s health and wellbeing positively or negatively. This links to, and extends, knowledge and understanding of life events covered in Component 1, but here the focus is on health and wellbeing.
- Definition of health and wellbeing: a combination of physical health and social and emotional wellbeing, and not just the absence of disease or illness. Physical and lifestyle factors that can have positive or negative effects on health and wellbeing: o genetic inheritance, including inherited conditions and predisposition to other conditions o ill health (acute and chronic) o diet (balance, quality and amount) o amount of exercise o substance use, including alcohol, nicotine, illegal drugs and misuse of prescribed drugs o personal hygiene. Social, emotional and cultural factors that can have positive or negative effects on health and wellbeing: o social interactions, e.g. supportive/unsupportive relationships, social integration/isolation o stress, e.g. work-related o willingness to seek help or access services, e.g. influenced by culture, gender, education. Economic factors that can have positive or negative effects on health and wellbeing: o financial resources. Environmental factors that can have positive or negative effects on health and wellbeing: o environmental conditions, e.g. levels of pollution, noise o housing, e.g. conditions, location.
- The impact of life events relating to relationship changes and changes in life circumstances. Exam Questions related to this content.
Genetic inheritance Physical and lifestyle factors have positive and/or negative effects on health and wellbeing. One example of such a factors is genetic inheritance. Genetic inheritance Some conditions or diseases are inherited, which means they are passed down from one generation to another. One example is haemophilia, which only affects males. This would affect the PIES needs in males. A male with this disease would need to make sure he does not cut himself, as his blood would not clot. As a result, he would have to think carefully about:
- What type of work to apply for(physical)
- Which type of leisure activities to avoid (social) This would affect him emotionally and intellectually, because he may be worried and distracted by his condition. How genetic conditions are inherited Most of us 23 pairs of chromosomes in each of our body cells. One chromosome from each pair is inherited from our birth mother and one from our birth father. These chromosomes contain the genes inherited from our birth parents. There may be different forms of the same gene (alleles) caused by mutations (changes) in the DNA code. A faulty gene can cause a condition to be inherited. There are two kinds of inheritance:
- Dominant - if a gene is dominant a child inheriting it from only one birth parent will have the condition-for example, Huntington’s disease.
- Recessive - if the gene is recessive a child would develop the condition if it was inherited from both birth parents - for example, cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anaemia. Some conditions (such as Down ’s syndrome) are caused by having more or less than 23 pairs of chromosome. Other conditions (such as coronary heart disease) can be caused by a combination of genes and environmental factors. For example, you can inherit heart disease, but lifestyle factors such as what kinds of food you eat a weather you smoke or drink alcohol may increase your risk.
Physical Intellectual Emotional Social
- Chest Infections
- Damaged lungs
- Blocked digestive system
- Joint, bone and liver problems - Timed missed from school through illness and treatment - Can cause distress - Can make an individual feel different from their peers - May prevent person from joining in activities with others - May lead to social isolation Predisposition to other conditions Predisposition means someone is more likely to suffer from a particular condition due to:
- Genetic factors
- Environmental factors
- A combination of both
Ill health Ill health is a physical and lifestyle factor that can have positive and/or negative effects on health and wellbeing. Ill health can also be acute, chronic or sometimes both. Chronic or acute Illness may be chronic or acute. An illness may:
- Affect physical fitness
- Restrict access to varied learning activities(intellectual)
- Cause emotional distress
- Remove some social opportunities. All of these things affect health and wellbeing. Whatever illness a person has, their needs still include all those of healthy person. However, they have important additional needs (especially access to services) either in the short term for an acute illness, or long term for a chronic illness. If these needs are met through an enabling environment, the impact of the illness may be decreased.
Acute illness comes on quickly, is short
term and can be cured.
Chronic illness comes on gradually, is
long term (more than 3 months) and generally can be treated but not cured. Cold Flu Pneumonia Broken bones Rickets Measles Mumps Appendicitis Indigestion Heartburn Heart attack Asthma Cystic fibrosis Diabetes Osteoporosis Haemophilia Kidney disease Emphysema Heart disease Epilepsy Hypertension Bipolar disorder Some illness or conditions are acute but may develop because of a chronic condition. For example, a person may have osteoporosis (a chronic condition that weakens bones) making their bones fragile and more likely to break. Broken bones are an acute condition. Similarly, a person with chronic heart disease (caused by partially blocked coronary arteries) will suffer from angina (chest pains), which can be controlled by medication. If their arteries become completely blocked it will cause a heart attack, an acute condition. Short term is less than 6 months. Long terms is 6 months or more.
Exercise We need exercise to ensure we maintain our health and wellbeing. Exercise is a lifestyle factor that can bring many benefits. Benefits of exercise Exercise improves our strengths, stamina and suppleness, as well as our muscle and body tone. It helps us to:
- Concentrate
- Relieve stress
- Relax and feel good
- Gain personal satisfaction
- Socialise with other (for example, in a gym or a running club). Getting enough exercise is essential and can help prevent heart disease and stroke - two of the UK’s top five killers. Doing at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity a week, in 30 minute sessions, improves health. Any type of exercise - for example, using the stairs instead of a list-helps your heart to be healthier. Moderate exercise causes your heart to beat faster, increases your breathing rate and makes you sweat. It can also lower your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Some ‘smart’ devices can help you to monitor your exercise. They do this by keeping track of, for example, your steps and the speed at which you walk and run. This means that you can check your activity level each day or week. Taking exercise
- Going for a walk or a jog is free and you do not have to commit to set times.
- Joining a gym or taking a class such as boxercise will cost money. However, some might say that paying for an exercise class makes you more likely to commit to exercise.
- Swimming and cycling are excellent holistic aerobic activities.
- Joining a team (for example, football or netball) may provide a social side in addition to the exercise. Some people are happier to take their exercise alone. For others, it is an opportunity to meet new people or pair up with a friend. Remember, whatever exercise you take part in, your brain will release hormones called endorphins, which provide a feeling of wellbeing. Even those with limited mobility can take exercise. For example, residents in care homes are frequently offered gentle standing or armchair exercise. Armchair activities can help people with conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis and high blood pressure to exercise without putting any strain on their knees or hips. Not taking exercise Lack of exercise can lead to conditions such as: Stiffening of the joints Coronary heart disease Poor stamina, strength and suppleness Poorly developed heart and skeletal muscles Obesity Sluggish blood flow Stroke Osteoporosis
Substance use Substance use, such as alcohol, nicotine, illegal drugs and misuse of prescribed drugs, has a negative effect on health and wellbeing. Regular use can lead to long- term health problems. Alcohol Alcohol is socially accepted in many cultures. However, if it is not controlled, it can become an addiction for some people. Excessive drinking of alcohol can cause many illnesses and problems, but it taken in moderation, alcohol is viewed as pleasurable. The first full guidelines on alcohol consumption since 1995, published by the UK Government in January 2016, say that:
- any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer
- Men and women who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units a week - the equivalent of six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine
- People should not save up their units and drinks the min one go (binge drinking). Nicotine Smoking tobacco, usually in cigarettes, is legal but banned in public places. All smoking materials now carries a government health warning. Key terms Nicotine is a powerful, addictive drug found in tobacco. Addiction is not having control of doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you. Illegal drugs and misuse of prescribed drugs Substance abuse includes:
- The unsafe use of solvents
- Taking illegal drugs such as cannabis or ecstasy
- Misusing prescription drugs Substance abuse can have profoundly damaging affecting on your body. These include a loss of control of your actions and damage to organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys. Many people become addicted to illegal drugs or even prescription drugs if they are misused. Substance misuse and damage to the body could also result in death.
Personal hygiene Poor personal hygiene is not only unpleasant but can affect your health and wellbeing. The importance of personal hygiene Our bodies offer the correct temperature and moistness for bacteria to grow. Our bodies also provide food in the form of dead skin cells and chemicals in our sweat. We are exposed to bacteria every day. Although many bacteria are harmless, some cause disease. Bacteria can be passed on from one person to another and through food. Bacteria can travel when you: Cough Sneezing but not washing your hands Scratch Rub your face Fiddle with your hair Pick spots Personal hygiene is very important because it helps us to reduce the number of bacteria that live on us. Regular personal hygiene includes cleaning our teeth at least twice a day, having a daily shower or bath, washing your hair regularly and keeping our finger and toe nails trimmed. Conditions caused by bacteria We all have various barriers to stop bacteria entering different parts of your bodies. These barriers include skin, tears, mucus and stomach acid. However, if there are too many bacteria, one of our normal barriers will become damaged in some way and we become infected. Some bacteria attack body tissues or realise poisons that make us feel ill. They can cause illness such as:
- Food poisoning
- Tetanus
- Sore throats
- Tuberculosis, or TB
- Whooping cough
- Meningitis
- Syphilis Caring for others When caring for others you will need to get physically close to them. If either of you have offensive odour or bad breath it is unpleasant and may stop better communication taking place. In turn, this could affect:
- Your relationship with the person you are caring for
- Their health and wellbeing. As a carer you may also have to touch people, both to comfort them and to treat them. Infection can be spread this way if, for example, you do not wash your hands properly before (and after) you touch them. Young babies or older people are less resistant to disease and can suffer more damage from bacteria on to them. If a person is immobile for some of their time, pressure on the skin from the hard surface of a bed or wheelchair can cause an ulcer. The ulcer interrupts the blood supply to affect area of skin, so the skin no longer receives infection-fighting white blood cells. A pressure ulcer, or bed sore, can form and become infected with bacteria, leading to:
- Extreme discomfort
- Blood poisoning
- Tissue death, and
- Even death. This is why it is important that the person’s skin is kept clean and dry and they are moved regularly to different positions.
Social interactions There are many social, emotional and cultural factors that affect health and wellbeing, one of which is social interaction. Social interaction Our social needs include the opportunity to:
- Mix with others in an appropriate environment
- Have access to leisure facilities and activities It is important that we have family and friends and belong to groups or a community. These social interactions provide us with a sense of belonging and a feeling that we are accepted. There are many types of social interaction. Relationships The quality of our relationships influences how we feel about ourselves throughout our lives. There are many types of relationships:
- Some are formal, such as with our boss at work
- Others are informal, such as with family and friends. We form our first relationships with our parents or carers. We usually make our first friends as children. We make more friends through:
- School and higher/further education
- Interests and work
- Other parents, when we have children of our own
- Activities we may take up during retirement. In fact, we continue to meet new people and make new friends throughout our lives. Supportive/unsupportive relationships Our family and friends affect our health and wellbeing. When relationships are supportive, they can provide:
- Physical support and assistance
- Intellectual stimulation
- Emotional support and happiness
- A social life.
When relationships are not supportive, they can:
- Hurt and upset us
- Influence us to do things we maybe would not do, such as smoke or turn to crime
- Make us unhappy and could distract us from learning experiences
- Make us feel lonely and bad about ourselves. Social integration/isolation Our relationships affect whether we feel integrated into a community or isolated from it. Some relationships can lead to social integration - for example, becoming actively involved in a community. One example is working to support a charity, which might result in:
- Physical work, such as helping to build benches for a community garden
- Intellectual stimulation, such as problem solving
- Emotional fulfilment through a new sense of purpose
- Social opportunities to make new friends.
Stress We will almost certainly have come across the word ’stress’ or know what it feels like to be stressed. Learning to control stress can help to improve health and wellbeing. Stress Stress occurs when you have to respond to demands made on you. It cause the body to secrete hormones, the main one being adrenaline. These hormones trigger a ‘fight or flight’ response, which enables you to respond instantly - especially in life and death situations. Unfortunately, the response to these hormones can also cause some people to overreact to situations that are not life threatening. One example includes being stuck in a traffic jam, which could lead to situations such as road rage or physical violence. Everyone gets stressed from time to time and a small amount of stress might even be good for us. For example, you may feel stressed just before an exam, but stress will make your brain response more quickly to the demands being made on it. Similarly, if you are about to perform in public your brain’s response to stress may help you to focus more quickly and rise to the occasion. Stress becomes a problem when it is:
- Very intense (caused perhaps, by a bereavement, relationship problem or redundancy)
- Experienced over a long period of time (perhaps due to illness). The stress may affect you:
- Physically - you may notice tension in your body
- Intellectually - by being distracted and losing concentration
- Emotionally - by being upset and unhappy
- Socially - by finding it harder to mix with others. Adrenaline:
- Increases the rate and strength of our heartbeat
- Increase our breathing rate
- Increases our blood pressure
- Shifts the distribution of the blood from the skin and digestive system to the muscle
- Dries up the secretions responsible for digestion
- Converts stored glycogen into glucose. Short term effects Long term effects
- Feeling cold
- Less sensitive to pain
- More sensitive to touch
- Tense muscles
- Faster breathing
- Dry mouth
- Flared nostrils
- Wide eyes
- Pale face
- Body hair standing on end
- Faster heartbeat
- Butterflies
- Urge to pass water(urine)
- Diarrhoea
- Sweaty hands
- Sleeplessness
- High blood pressure
- Irritability and becoming withdrawn
- Loss of appetite
- Heart disease/ulcers/eczema/asthma
- Poor circulation
- Nervousness
- Accidents
- Breakdowns
- Aching muscles/body tension
- Headaches
- Poor sex life
- Anxiety
- Violent tendencies
- Mood swings
Willingness to seek help or access services The act of seeking help is a social, emotional and cultural occurrence that affects health and wellbeing. This might be influenced by various factors such as culture, gender or education. Culture The health and wellbeing of a person, and their willingness to access help or services, are influenced by values, traditions, way of life and beliefs of the society or group into which the person is born. For example, in some cultures:
- It is not the custom for men to be open about their personal health or family circumstances because it could be seen to reflect badly on the family
- Diet may be restricted at certain times, which could affect someone recovering from illness
- The use of first names is only acceptable from close family members and friends, so an individual might be offended if they are addressed in this familiar way.
- Many older people in the UK, regardless of culture, find it disrespectful if care assistants, for example, call them by their first names. They would prefer if someone asked them what they would like to be called. Gender Gender can affect willingness to seek help or access services.
- Men may be reluctant to consult a doctor for something they find embarrassing, such as having a prostate examination
- Men may feel awkward seeking help with conditions such as depression, anxiety and obesity. They may try to cope on their own rather than talk about their feeling with a professional.
- Women may prefer not to see a male doctor. Some cultures may even prevent women having close contact with men other than their husbands. All of these gender issues could mean that some individuals delay seeking or accepting necessary help. Education Research shows a clear link between education and a willingness to seek help or access services. A better-educated person is more likely to be aware of and look out for signs and symptoms. They understand the need to seek help early for some conditions - for example, a breast lump. A better- educated person will be aware of which services are available. Those with less knowledge might adopt a more negative approach to health and wellbeing. They may think that, because they feel fine now, they do not need to access health monitoring services. Research suggests that better-educated people are more likely to try illegal drugs. However, they are also more likely to give them up because they are aware of the risk of addiction. Effects on health and wellbeing If a person is unwilling to seek help or access services, it will negatively affect their health and wellbeing. For example, they may leave it too late to discuss a health issue with a service provider.
- The illness or condition might then become worse or even life threatening (physical)
- They may not understand how to cope (intellectual)
- They may become worries (emotional)
- They may be too ill to see friends (social).
What an adequate income allows us to do: Afford leisure services Socialise with friends Buy luxuries Live in a house with a garden Pay the rent or mortgage Eat a balanced diet Heat our homes Travel to make use of the National Health Service (NHS) and community health facilities Afford nice clothes Live in the suburbs of a town or in the countryside Afford a car and holidays Poverty Some people live in absolute poverty. This means that, despite benefits being available, they do not receive enough money to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing or housing. Others live in relative poverty. This means that although they have enough money for the essentials to live, they have less than other people. This will limit their life choices. They also have more chance of suffering ill health and have fewer opportunities for personal development. Their children might:
- Miss out on, for example, school trips, new warm clothes and sleepovers
- Do less well at school, which could mean they will earn less when they are working adults. Poverty affects one in four children in the UK today. There were 3.9 million children (28 percent of children) living in poverty in the UK in 2014-15.
Environmental conditions It is important to escape stories about pollution of one kind or another. Negative environmental conditions can affect people in a number of ways. Pollution Pollution is the act of introducing harmful substances or irritants that cause damage to living organisms into the environment. We all need clean air, water and proper waste disposal facilities, but our modern way of living means that our air and water can sometimes be affected by chemicals and other products.
Environmental factors
Land contamination from waste disposal Noise pollution – E.G. traffic, nightclubs Soil pollution from chemicals Air pollution - car and aeroplane fumes Air pollution from radiation Air pollution from industries Water pollution from sewage, pesticides and farming Air pollution Air pollution is a mixture of gases and particles that have been emitted into the atmosphere by human beings. The most common cause is the burning of fossil fuels to give energy. Air pollution in the UK has gone down significantly in recent years because of measures to reduce it. But pollution still exists and around the urban areas (towns and cities). Air pollution can:
- Cause aggravate respiratory conditions
- Irritate the eyes, nose and throat
- Severely affecting people with asthma and other breathing problems such as emphysema
- Including dust that comes from quarries, mines and factories
- Be carried from other countries - for example, in dust from the Sahara. Those who live near busy main roads, airports, seaports and industrial sites are more likely to be affected by air pollution. Events at which large numbers of fireworks are let off can also add to air pollution and smog. The causes of water pollution include sewage, wastewater, leakages from underground storage, agriculture chemicals and industrial waste getting into lakes and rivers, as well as the dumping of litter at sea. Pollutants from industrial sources include asbestos, which can cause cancer, and lead and mercury, which can poison us. Fresh air and water can improve health and wellbeing but a polluted atmosphere can make us ill (physical), stopping us accessing learning activities (intellectual), making us feel low (emotional) and stopping us going out with friends (social). On still, sunny days, the sun causes nitrogen dioxide and the ozone to create toxic smog. On cold, foggy days, pollution gets trapped close to the ground, building up to winter smog. Noise pollution Noise pollution is excessive noise that may harm the activity of human or animal life and affect health and wellbeing. The noise might come from an aircraft taking off, heavy traffic, or road-mending equipment such as drills. Sustained high noise levels can cause:
- High blood pressure • Hearing loss
- Sleeplessness • Increase in stress levels
Others may prefer to live in a town or city. If they can afford to live in a high quality spacious apartment or house, they are likely to notice a positive effect on their health and wellbeing. They are likely to be:
- Closer to work, with better transport links or even within walking distance (physical)
- Close to amenities such as libraries, theatres and museums (intellectual)
- Happy with their life as a result of the other factors listed (emotional)
- Close to friends (social).
The impact of life events relating to relationship changes We all have relationships of one kind or another. But what happens when those relationships end or change? Impact on health and wellbeing When a relationship changes, it affects our health and wellbeing. These changes can:
- Affect our self-esteem
- Increase our levels of stress and anxiety
- Cause us not to function well Entering into a relationship When you first enter into a relationship with someone who may one day become your partner you might:
- Be attracted to them (physical)
- Be distracted by thinking about them when you are not with them (intellectual)
- Feel nervous but happy (emotional)
- Enjoy their company as well as meeting their friends (social). Your new relationship may become serious. You may decide to marry or commit to the partnership in some other way. Marriage/partnership and parenthood Marriage/partnership is generally a very positive and happy event. Hopefully, it will lead to a settled and stable relationship with a partner. It can also offer you PIES development, perhaps though:
- Shared activities (physical)
- New opportunities (intellectual)
- Supporting and looking after each other (emotional)
- Developing new joint friendships (social) You may have children, who will keep you physically and mentally active, giving you love and affection. Children may change your social life to centre more than on the home and school. When your children have grown, you may have time again to focus on the two of you. You may take up new interests and friendships. Your self-esteem may be high because you feel more confident and capable as a result of your journey through your partnership. Divorce Divorce is generally a negative event. Even though you might feel relief at the ending an unhappy situation. It may still bring negative feelings and other consequences.
- You may enjoy the flexibility of being single and making your own choices (perhaps about what to eat and how to exercise). However, you may have less money, which could affect your general standard of living as well as your opportunities to take part in activities and socialise.
- Although you may be happier single, you may feel lonely and isolated from joint friends
- Your children may be relieved about a divorce/separation. On the other hand, they may also feel angry and their behaviour may become disruptive
- Your self-esteem could be affected because you may lose confidence and feel as though you have failed. Bereavement The death of a partner, parent, child or any other family member or friend can:
- Cause us to grieve
- Make our future uncertain
- Raise our levels of stress and anxiety
