VARIABLES [FACTORS]

INFLUENCING HEALTH
 VARIABLES

A. Internal variables

B. External variables

Internal variables

Are non modifiable variables, since they

cannot be changed.
1. Biologic
2. Psychological
3. Cognitive
Biologic dimension
Genetic make up:
Genetic makeup influences biologic
characteristics, innate temperament,
activity level, and intellectual
potential. It has been related to
susceptibility to specific disease,
such as diabetes and breast cancer.
Biologic dimension
 Sex

influences the distribution of disease.

Disorders more common among
females include osteoporosis
and autoimmune disease such as
rheumatoid arthritis. Those more
common among males are stomach
ulcers, abdominal hernias, and respiratory diseases.
Biologic dimension
Age
Distribution of disease varies with age. Some diseases like
whooping cough, measles are found only in infants and
children. Middle aged people are more prone to atherosclerotic
diseases, heart attack, diabetes etc.
Developmental level
Toddlers are at risk of accidents.
Adolescents are prone to risk taking behaviour and thus injury.
Psychological dimension
Psychological (emotional) factors influencing
health include mind– body interactions
and self-concept.
Psychological dimension
Mind body interactions
Mind–body interactions can affect health
status positively or negatively. Emotional
responses to stress affect body function.
For example, a student who is extremely
anxious before a test may experience urinary
frequency and diarrhoea.
Mind body interactions
Emotional distress may influence the immune system
through central nervous system and endocrine alterations.
Alterations in the immune system are related to the incidence of
infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
For example, women often use relaxation techniques to
decrease pain during childbirth. Other people may learn
biofeedback skills to reduce hypertension.
Self-concept
Self-concept is how a person feels about self (self-esteem) and
perceives the physical self (body image), needs, roles, and
abilities. Self-concept affects how people view and handle
situations.
Eg: a woman with anorexia who deprives herself of needed
nutrients because she believes she is too fat even though she is
well below an acceptable weight level.
COGNITIVE DIMENSION
Cognitive or intellectual factors influencing health
include
 lifestyle choices and
 spiritual and religious beliefs.
Lifestyle
refers to a person’s general way of living, including living
conditions and individual patterns of behaviour that are
influenced by sociocultural factors and personal
characteristics.
Lifestyle choices may have positive or negative effects on
health.
Negative health behaviour
Healthy behaviour
Overeating,
 Regular exercise
 getting insufficient exercise,
 Weight control
 being overweight
 Avoidance of saturated fats
are closely related to the
 Avoidance of excessive
incidence of heart disease,
arteriosclerosis, alcohol
 Abstaining from use of
 diabetes, and
tobacco products
 hypertension.
 Immunization updates
 Regular dental check-ups
 Regular health maintenance
visits for screening
examinations or tests
Spiritual and religious beliefs
 can significantly affect health behaviour.
Some religious groups are strict vegetarians; and restrict the
use of certain forms of medical treatment
External variables

External variables affecting health include the

 physical environment,
 standards of living,
 family and cultural beliefs,
 social support networks.
Environment
People are becoming increasingly aware of their environment and
how it affects their health and level of wellness. Geographic
location determines climate, and climate affects health.
Eg: malaria occur more frequently in tropical rather than
temperate climates
Environment
 Water, air, and soil pollution of the affects the health of cells.
 Some man-made substances in the environment, such as
asbestos, are considered carcinogenic.
 Tobacco causes cancer among smokers and non smokers
Environment
 Radiation

Eg: The improper or excessive use of medical x-rays, can harm

many of the body’s organs.

 Eg: Ultraviolet rays: Light-skinned people are more

susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun than dark-skinned
people.
Environment
Pesticides and chemicals used to control weeds and plant
diseases are contaminants in some animals and plants that are
subsequently ingested by people. In excessive levels, they are
harmful to health.
STANDARDS OF LIVING
An individual’s standard of living (reflecting occupation, income,
and education) is related to health, morbidity, and mortality.
Hygiene, food habits, and the ability to seek health care advice and
follow health regimens vary among high-income and low-income
groups.
STANDARDS OF LIVING
 In low income group, overcrowding, inadequate sanitation
services.
 Fires and violence may be frequent.
 children playing in streets and alleys leading to accidents.

 In high income group, high social pressure or occupational

roles predispose to stress-related diseases. Such roles may also
encourage overeating or social use of drugs or excessive
alcohol.
FAMILY AND CULTURAL
BELIEFS
The family passes on patterns of daily living and lifestyles to
offspring.
Eg: A man who was abused as a child may physically abuse his
own children.
A climate of open communication, sharing, and love
fosters the fulfilment of the person’s optimum potential.
FAMILY AND CULTURAL
BELIEFS
Each culture has ideas about health, and these are often
transmitted from parents to children.
Eg: People of certain cultures may perceive home remedies or
tribal health customs as superior to and more dependable than
the health care practices
SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS
 Having a support network (family, friends, or a confidant) and
job satisfaction helps people avoid illness.
 People with inadequate support networks sometimes allow
themselves to become increasingly ill
CAUSES OF ILLNESS
 Biologicalagents.
 Inherited genetic defects.
 Developmental defects.
 Physical agents.
 Chemical agents.
 Tissue response to irritations / injury.
 Faulty chemical / metabolic process.
 Emotional response to stress.
CAUSES OF ILLNESS
 Biological agents:
Microorganisms ill cause disease. Mycobacterium
tuberculosis causes TB.
 Inherited genetic defects:

Changes or mutations that occur in the DNA sequence of a

single gene cause this type of inheritance.
Eg: cystic fibrosis, alpha and beta thalassemia, sickle cell
anaemia.
Multifactorial inheritance disorders are caused by a
combination of environmental factors and mutations in
multiple genes.
Eg: heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease,
arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and obesity
 Developmental defects:
is a condition present at birth regardless of its cause. Eg: Cleft
palate

 Physical agents:
Radiation, UV rays, contact with hot and cold substances can
also lead to various occupational diseases like heat stroke,
decompression syndrome, skin cancers, Raynaud’s phenomena
 Chemical agents.
Inhalation of airborne chemical agents like lead, asbestos, carbon
monoxide results in rapid absorption, especially if the chemical is
inhaled into the lungs.
Eg: Asbestosis, skin cancers, depression, bone marrow suppression

 Tissue response to irritations / injury

Recurrent tissue irritations results in
inflammation of body parts and fever.
Eg: tennis elbow.
 Faultychemical / metabolic process.
When these chemical processes don't work properly due to a
hormone or enzyme deficiency, a metabolic disorder occurs
Eg: maple syrup urine disease.

 Emotional response to stress.

Is manifested in various forms like
high blood pressure, chest pain,
dizziness, diarrhoea, headache etc.
Risk factors of illness
 Genetic and physiological factors
A person with family history of diabetes mellitus
is at risk of developing the disease later in the life.

 Age

As age increases, susceptibility to disease

also increases in both sexes. Eg: heart disease
Risk factors of illness
 Environment:

The physical environment in which the person lives or works

can increase the risk of likelihood that a disease can occur.

 Lifestyle

Lifestyle practices and behaviours can

also have positive and negative effects
on the health.
Thank you