Introduction to Personal Health: Dimensions, Determinants, and Behavior Change

Introduction to Your Health

Concept of Health and Wellness

Health is defined as the overall conditional state of a person’s physical and mental well-being, regardless of the presence or absence of disease and injury. Wellness represents the ability to make decisions to obtain optimal health and is a dynamic process involving multiple interconnected dimensions.

• Health: The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

• Wellness: An active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

Dimensions of Wellness include:

• Physical Wellness: Physical activity, nutrition, and actions impacting the body.

• Intellectual Wellness: Mental engagement and critical thinking to pursue knowledge and curiosity.

• Emotional Wellness: The ability to develop and apply coping mechanisms to life’s challenges.

• Financial Wellness: Understanding monetary systems and managing expenditures.

• Occupational Wellness: All-encompassing aspects of professional life in the workplace.

• Environmental Wellness: The physical environment in which a person resides and works to maintain.

• Cultural Wellness: Embracing one’s culture while appreciating and respecting others.

Life Expectancy and Disease

Life Expectancy and Life Span

Life Expectancy is the average number of years a person is statistically expected to live, while Life Span is the maximum number of years a person could theoretically live (the oldest recorded age is 122 years).

• Life expectancy has increased significantly since 1850 due to vaccines, antibiotics, and health policy initiatives.

• Life Span = Healthful Life + Disease Life

Factors influencing life expectancy include genetics, sex, economic status, and access to healthcare, but not characteristics like hair color.

Types of Diseases

• Chronic Disease: A long-lasting health condition that may require continuous medical attention (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer).

• Infectious Disease: Caused by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc.), some of which are communicable through person-to-person interactions and the environment (e.g., influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS).

Population Health

National Health and Its Importance

Population health refers to the collective wellness and health of a population. A healthy population is essential for productivity, creativity, and innovation, while an unhealthy population strains resources and increases healthcare costs.

Leading Contributors and Causes of Death

Leading contributors are lifestyle factors that increase the risk of dying from specific diseases, while leading causes are the specific diseases or conditions responsible for death.

Leading Contributors	# of Deaths (annually)	% of Deaths (annually)	Leading Causes	# of Deaths (annually)	% of Deaths (annually)
Tobacco	480,000	18.0	Heart Disease	703,000	23.0
Diet	400,000	15.0	Cancer	608,000	22.0
Alcohol	90,000	3.5	Accidents	227,000	6.0
Microbes	80,000	3.0	COVID-19*	186,552	5.4
Firearms	30,000	1.1	Stroke	165,400	5.2
Illicit Drug Use	25,000	1.0	Chronic Lower Respiratory	147,400	5.0
Motorized Vehicles	20,000	0.8	Alzheimer's Disease	120,000	4.2
Unsafe Sex	15,000	0.8	Diabetes	101,200	2.9

Additional info: Table values inferred from CDC and NLM data.

Determinants of Health

Overview of Health Determinants

Determinants of health are a range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that affect an individual’s health. The Healthy People 2030 initiative emphasizes a broad approach to these determinants.

• Individual Behavior

• Biology & Genetics

• Social Factors

• Health Services

• Policy-making

Individual Behavior (Modifiable Determinants)

Individual behavior is a key determinant of health and is considered modifiable, meaning it can be changed to improve health outcomes.

• Lack of Physical Activity

• Poor Diet/Nutrition

• Excessive Alcohol Use

• Tobacco Smoking

Most chronic diseases are caused by a small number of modifiable determinants. For example, physical activity of 150 min/week reduces risk of death by 33%.

Biology and Genetics (Nonmodifiable Determinants)

Biology and genetics are nonmodifiable determinants, meaning they cannot be changed by the individual. These include age, sex at birth, race/ethnicity, and health history.

• Older age increases risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Sex at birth can influence risk for certain diseases (e.g., males: cardiovascular diseases; females: autoimmune diseases).

• Race/ethnicity can be a risk factor (e.g., African Americans: hypertension).

• Health history, such as previous infections, can affect disease risk.

Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants are non-medical factors that affect health, including economic stability, education, built environment, and community relationships.

• Economic Stability: Ability to afford healthy food, healthcare, and safe living conditions.

• Education: Prepares individuals for good work opportunities and fulfilling lives.

• Built Environment: Access to parks, pedestrian paths, and healthy food options.

• Community: Supportive relationships improve health; unsafe neighborhoods and discrimination reduce it.

Health Services

Access to quality health services is essential for maintaining and improving health. Uninsured or underinsured individuals are at greater risk due to lack of care.

• Essential services include doctor visits, vaccinations, and screenings.

Policy-making

Government policies can significantly impact public health through regulations, access to healthcare, and public safety laws.

• Examples: Fines for not wearing seatbelts, bans on smoking in public places, universal healthcare policies.

Understanding Behavior Change

Models of Behavior Change

Behavior change is the process of developing healthy habits while overcoming unhealthy ones. Two major models are used to understand this process:

• Health Belief Model (HBM): Focuses on four perceptions that influence health behaviors:

  • Perceived seriousness

  • Perceived susceptibility

  • Perceived benefits

  • Perceived barriers

• Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change): Outlines six stages individuals go through when changing behavior:

  • Precontemplation

  • Contemplation

  • Preparation

  • Action

  • Maintenance

  • Termination

SMART Goals for Behavior Change

Setting SMART goals is a key strategy for successful behavior change:

• Specific: Clearly defined activity

• Measurable: Progress can be tracked

• Attainable: Realistically achievable

• Realistic: Practical given circumstances

• Time-bound: Has a clear deadline

Example: "I will lose 10 lbs by March 10th by running 3x a week for 30 mins and eating in a caloric deficit of 500."

Key Strategies for Mastering Health Behaviors

• Increase awareness of current behaviors and determinants

• Contemplate and understand motivation for change

• Develop self-efficacy and internal locus of control

• Prepare for change with small steps and support systems

• Take action, learn from setbacks, and adjust strategies as needed