Key Determinants of Health: Lifestyle and Behavior
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One of the determinants of health described in Blum’s model is lifestyle and behavior. Lifestyle includes individual behaviors that increase the risk of developing certain illnesses. The main lifestyle factors include diet, physical activity, and the use of substances such as cigarettes and alcohol (Graham & White, 2016). 1st Corinthians 6:19 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” (English Standard Version, 2001). This verse illustrates the importance of taking care of our bodies since they are God’s temple.
Diet has a significant impact on an individual’s health status. People who consume diets with low nutrients and high calories experience a high risk of developing illnesses such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes (Gottlieb et al., 2019). The Bible encourages Christians to glorify God in all their actions, including eating and drinking. 1st Corinthians 10:31 states, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (English Standard Version, 2001).
The level of physical activity that people engage in daily influences their health. People who lead sedentary lifestyles tend to develop chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular illnesses. They also have a risk of developing hypertension, cancer, anxiety, depression, and lipid disorders which result in poor health outcomes. Smoking increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. People who smoke for long-term periods tend to live low-quality lives due to poor health and should be advised to get professional help to quit the habit. Binge drinking and heavy drinking are very harmful and are risk factors for chronic illnesses such as stroke and hypertension. Heavy drinkers often develop liver cirrhosis which often leads to liver failure and reduced life expectancy. An individual’s lifestyle is influenced by the people they interact with. For example, children born in families where unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles are the norms tend to pick up such habits that may easily extend to adulthood. Conversely, children who grow up in families that maintain active lifestyles and eat healthy food are more likely to develop healthy lifestyles (Gottlieb et al., 2019).
Healthcare administrators are in charge of daily operations in healthcare facilities such as hospitals. They ensure that healthcare professionals have what they need to take care of patients. Healthcare administrators work with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that they can access quality care. They also monitor budgets and ensure that financial resources are utilized effectively (Linnander et al., 2017). The impacts of lifestyle determinants of health illustrate that healthcare administrators must ensure that the staff can assess lifestyle factors when engaging with patients. Andermann (2017) explains that nurses and physicians should be able to screen patients to identify specific determinants of health that affect them and to develop treatment plans that help improve their lifestyles. Moreover, health administrators should ensure that they adjust the services provided to help improve the patients’ lifestyles. For example, patients should have access to professionals such as dietitians who can help them develop affordable and healthy diet plans. Andermann (2017) adds that patients should also be educated about the importance of physical activity especially those who lead sedentary lives. For patients with substance use disorders, treatment using therapy and medication should always be available as required. Health administrators should also gather information about community agencies that can help patients live healthy lifestyles and coordinate with them to provide comprehensive care.
Apart from patients, Christian health administrators should ensure that the staff also leads healthy lifestyles. As per Orgel and Cavender (2018), healthcare staff may not have time to exercise or eat healthy food due to tight schedules. They are also at risk of developing mental health issues due to high workloads and compassion fatigue. As they oversee the daily operations, health administrators must ensure that their staff also has time to engage in physical activities and access healthy meals. Healthcare staff should have flexible schedules that give time for self-care. The staff should be provided with healthy food in the cafeteria and the workplace should be smoke-free. Health administrators should also ensure that the staff has access to mental health services to prevent mental health issues that may arise.
The Bible views the human body as precious and encourages us to take care of it. Romans 12: 1-2 states, “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”(English Standard Version, 2001). Based on this verse, Christians should strive to keep their bodies healthy by making healthy choices so that they may live longer and serve the Lord.
References
Andermann, A. (2017). Taking action on the social determinants of health in clinical practice: a framework for health professionals. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 188(17-18), E474-E483. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160177
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Gottlieb, L., Fichtenberg, C., Alderwick, H., & Adler, N. (2019). Social Determinants of Health. Journal of Healthcare Management, 64(4), 243-257. https://doi.org/10.1097/jhm-d-18-00160
Graham, H., & White, P. (2016). Social determinants and lifestyles: integrating environmental and public health perspectives. Public Health, 141, 270-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2016.09.019
Linnander, E., Mantopoulos, J., Allen, N., Nembhard, I., & Bradley, E. (2017). Professionalizing Healthcare Management: A Descriptive Case Study. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 6(10), 555-560. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2017.40
Orgel, R., & Cavender, M. (2018). Healthy living for healthcare workers: It is time to set an example. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(5), 539-542. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487318757022