Human health and factors affecting it
The health of an individual and society as a whole is determined by a number of factors that affect the human body, both positively and negatively. According to the conclusions of the experts of the World Health Organization, four main groups of factors determining human health have been identified, each of which has a positive and negative impact, depending on the points of application:
- Genetic inheritance;
- Medical support;
- Lifestyle;
- Environment.
The influence of each factor on human health is also determined by age, gender, and individual characteristics of the organism.
Genetic factors determining human health
A person's capabilities are largely determined by his genotype - a set of hereditary traits embedded in the individual DNA code long before birth. Nevertheless, genotypic manifestations do not appear without certain favorable or negative conditions.
The critical timing of fetal development is due to violations of its genetic apparatus during the laying of organs and body systems:
- 7 weeks of pregnancy: cardiovascular system - manifested by the formation of heart defects;
- 12-14 weeks: nervous system - improper formation of the neural tube leads to congenital pathology, most often as a result of neuroinfection - cerebral palsy, demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis, BASF);
- 14-17 weeks: musculoskeletal system - hip dysplasia, myotrophic processes.
In addition to genetic changes, epigenomic mechanisms are of great importance as factors determining human health after birth. In these cases, the fetus does not inherit the disease, but, being exposed to harmful effects, perceives them as normal, which subsequently affects its health. The most common example of such a pathology is maternal hypertension. High blood pressure in the mother-placenta-fetus system promotes the development of vascular changes, preparing a person for living conditions with high blood pressure, that is, the development of hypertension.
Hereditary diseases are divided into three groups:
- Gene and chromosomal abnormalities;
- Diseases associated with impaired synthesis of certain enzymes in conditions requiring their increased production;
- Hereditary predisposition.
Gene and chromosomal abnormalities, such as phenylketonuria, hemophilia, Down syndrome, appear immediately after birth.
Fermentopathies as factors determining human health begin to affect only those cases when the body cannot cope with increased stress. This is how diseases associated with metabolic disorders begin to appear: diabetes mellitus, gout, neuroses.
A hereditary predisposition appears under the influence of environmental factors. Unfavorable ecological and social conditions contribute to the development of hypertension, gastric and duodenal ulcers, bronchial asthma and other psychogenic disorders.
Social factors of human health
Social conditions largely determine people's health. An important place is occupied by the level of economic development in the country of residence. Adequate money plays a twofold role. On the one hand, all types of medical care are available to a rich person, on the other hand, health care is replaced by other matters. Poor people, oddly enough, are more likely to strengthen their immunity. Thus, the factors of human health do not depend on their financial situation.
The most important component of a healthy lifestyle is the correct psychological attitude aimed at a long life expectancy. People who want to be healthy exclude factors that destroy human health, considering them incompatible with the norms. Regardless of place of residence, ethnicity, income level, everyone has the right to choose. Being isolated from the benefits of civilization, or using them, people are equally capable of observing basic rules of personal hygiene. In hazardous industries, the necessary personal safety measures are provided, the observance of which leads to positive results.
The well-known concept of acceleration belongs to the social factors of human health. The level of development of a child of the XXI century far surpasses his peers of the XIX and early XX centuries. The acceleration of development is directly related to the achievements of technological progress. The abundance of information encourages the early development of intelligence, skeleton and muscle mass. In this regard, in adolescents, there is a lag in vascular growth, which leads to early diseases.
Natural factors of human health
In addition to hereditary and constitutional characteristics, environmental factors influence human health.
Natural effects on the body are subdivided into climatic and urban. Sun, air and water are not the most important components of the environment. Energy effects are of great importance: from the earth's electromagnetic field to radiation.
People living in areas with a harsh climate have a greater margin of safety. However, the costs of vital energy in the struggle for survival among northerners are incomparable with those people who live in conditions where favorable natural factors of human health are combined, such as the effect of the sea breeze, for example.
Environmental pollution from industrial development can be genetically affected. And this action is almost never beneficial. Multiple factors that destroy human health contribute to shortening life, despite the fact that people try to lead a healthy lifestyle. The impact of harmful environmental substances today is the main problem for the health of residents of megalopolises.
Constitutional factors of human health
The constitution of a person means a feature of the physique, which determines the tendency to certain diseases. In medicine, the following types of human constitution are shared:
- Asthenic;
-
Common factors affecting human health Hypersthenic;
- Normosthenic.
The most favorable type of physique is normosthenic.
People of the asthenic type of constitution are more likely to be susceptible to infections, are poorly resistant to stress, so they often develop diseases associated with disorders of innervation: peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma.
Persons of the hypersthenic type are more susceptible to the development of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders.
According to WHO, the main (50-55%) factor influencing human health is his lifestyle and living conditions. Therefore, the prevention of morbidity in the population is the task not only of medical workers, but also of state bodies that ensure the level and duration of life of citizens.
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