Foundations of Personal Health

Chapter One

Lecture Outline

Leading Causes of Death in US Advances in Public Health Modern Concept of Health Definition of Health Six Dimensions of Wellness Factors that Influence Wellness Wellness & Salutogenesis Benefits of Laughter Human Genome and Health & Quality of Life

Leading Causes of Death the in the U.S.

Actual Causes of Death the in the U.S.

Public Health Achievements of the th Century 20 Advances in Public Health

What is Wellness?

The ability to live life fully with vitality and meaning

A state of complete mental, physical and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmary Determined by the decisions you make about how you live your life

Who Stays Well & Why?

Antonovsky (1979) salus

Salutogenesis He wanted to focus his model on health rather than on disease Model stems from work with refugees (WWII) Self of coherence: comprehensibility, manageability, meaningfulness

http://www.holistichealthm.com/2010/02/salutogenesis-salutogenic-model.html

Six Dimensions of Wellness

The Six Dimensions of Wellness I

Physical wellness Emotional wellness Intellectual wellness Spiritual wellness Interpersonal / Social wellness Environmental wellness

Ideally you strive for complete BALANCE in all of these facets

Six Dimensions of Wellness II

Physical Emotional

Six Dimensions of Wellness III

Physical Emotional Intellectual

Reward System Associated with Humor

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter

Laughter has been shown to:

Berk & Tan, 1996, Loma Linda University of CA

Six Dimensions of Wellness IV

Physical Emotional Intellectual Spiritual Social Environmental

Factors that Influence Wellness

Heredity Environment Behavior

Example: Heart disease

Interaction of Behavior and Environmental Factors

Breast cancer

Genes associated with a womans risk only explain a small proportion Survey data from 1999-2000: 65% of adults in US are overweight; 31% are obese quality of life, risk of disease 60% increased incidence among Americans since 1990 Not due to sudden change in our genes, but to obesity, poor dietary choices, lack of physical activity, smoking

Obesity

Diabetes

What We Have Learned from Mapping the Human Genome

Errors in genes 3000-4000 hereditary conditions

Sickle-cell disease, Huntingtons disease, cystic fibrosis

Altered genes

Heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes an individuals risk

Disease results from interaction of many genes with environmental and behavioral factors

Using the human genome to improve health and quality of life

Personalized risk assessment Pharmacogenomics Gene therapy

Effects of GDNF Infusions in Parkinsons Disease Patients

Gill et al., 2003

Limitations of Human Genome

Because disease results from interaction of many genes with environmental and behavioral factors

More difficult to develop tests and therapies for disorders with complex causes

Ethical Issues

Summary

Wellness incorporates physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions Heredity, environment, health care play a role in wellness and disease Behavior can mitigate disease. Lifestyle changes, improving the environment can affect your health