Health Determinant Essay

According to the book “Delivering Health Care in America”, it is important to consider health determinants that affects one’s well-being, and to understand these factors for constructive ways to improve health. The Blum’s Model of Health Determinants is a model proposed based on influences – environment, lifestyle, heredity, and medical care that, according to Blum, are interconnected and, to reach improvement in health, all four wedges must be considered.
The environment factor involves physical, socioeconomic, sociopolitical, and sociocultural points to be considered. The physical factors include air pollution, food and water contaminants, radiation, toxic chemicals, wastes, disease vectors, safety hazards, and habitat alterations. Socioeconomic factors are due to the fact that in general, people with higher education also have higher incomes, therefore better health care access. Poor areas have population with worse
Among them, a poor diet is one of the most concerning factor nowadays. There are many diseases that develop from bad eating habits such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. The practice of a good diet allied with adequate physical exercise can reduce the risk of many health issues.
Heredity also influence in well-being and health status. An individual is predisposed to certain diseases due to genetic factors. There is not much one’s can do to about the genetics he or she inherited, but a good lifestyle and behavior can help. Medical care plays a determinant role in health. The use of high tech medical care, medicines, and medical research are important, however, if allied with primary care, can improve significantly health and well-being of a population. The accessibility of quality primary care to the whole population can reduce mortality and increase life