Essay
M1- Explain how current health strategies impact on an individual’s health
- Module
- Unit 24 - Public health
- Institution
- OCR
M1- Explain how current health strategies impact on an individual’s health
[Show more]
Content preview
Unit 31M1- Explain how current health strategies impact on an individual’s health
What are health strategies, what are the current ones and how do they impact individual’s health?
Below I will answer such questions and gain an understanding of how strategies influence us and our
health as a whole.
Current health strategies and their impact on individual’s health
To help answer this task I will use current health strategies and explain them and how they impact
individual’s health. I will use the current strategies choosing health, 5 a day, anti-binge drinking, safe sex,
sun protection, be active and diabetes and after explaining them, explain how they impact health.
5 a day
5 a day is a very effective health strategy that you may be aware of. 5 a day is a national campaign
developed in the UK to encourage the consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each
day. This strategy may be seen worldwide also, and countries such as Australia and Canada have their
own take on the strategy following a worldwide recommendation by the WHO, World Health
Organisation that individual’s should intake a minimum of 400g of fruit and veg per day.
You may have seen the 5 a day campaign on billboards in the newspaper or even on the television, in an
attempt to spread the message nationwide. In current 2021, the strategy is still seen too this day, all you
need to do is go on the NHS’s website and it will be there. The 5 a day strategy took off like a flash and it
has been seen to be adapted and used by many individuals across the UK.
The strategy has been advocated by many government programs, and initiatives such as the change4life
program developed by Public health England to tackle obesity and the eat well plate, where it is stated
that you should “eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day”. The strategy is
not new, nor is it old, but it has had its impact on the nation and utilizing it can defiantly impact health.
Impact on health
It is clear according to extensive scientific research that eating lots of fruit and veg it good for your
health. Increasing vegetable and fruit intake to the recommended or desired level has a variety of health
benefits. The benefits are undeniably proven by science, and does not only eating lots of fruit and veg
give you the needed vitamins and minerals to grow and function but also reduce the risks of many types
of cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The benefits of picking up an apple or
asparagus are endless.
Eating a diet full of healthy fruits and veggies does not only benefit your health, but it also reduces
healthcare dependency, due to better general health and also increases life expectancy and improves
wellbeing and general health. Someone who eats a diet full of fruit and veg, can live a life of longevity,
and be less suspectable to illnesses and conditions related to and caused by unhealthy diets such as
diabetes and some cancers.
The impacts of having a fruit and veg packed diet are all positive, not only is fruit and veg flavoursome,
but also full of rich antioxidant’s, vitamins and minerals to help us keep our body healthy and fight off
disease and ill-health.
, Safe sex
Safe sex is a message displayed across the world, with many strategies and initiatives in place to
promote it and prevent unsafe sex. Public Health England, class safe sex as a public health matter and
encourage safer sexual activity in a range of articles, documents, campaigns and initiatives. Unprotected
sex can come with many complications, it can spread the communicable disease HIV, an infection
caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, commonly found in unprotected sex.
Unprotected sexual intercourse also comes with its other negatives with one of them being unwanted
ill-health. In a recent Public Health England study and report, the diseases chlamydia and gonorrhoea
were listed as the most common bacterial STIs in England and labelled by PHE as a priority for
prevention. Alone in the UK in 2016, there were an astonishing 141,000 diagnoses of chlamydia and
gonorrhoea, which shows us something must be in done. Aside from the sexually transmitted diseases,
that may occur in unprotected sex, unprotected sex can also lead to unwanted pregnancy and have
adverse effects on health and emotional wellbeing. In an attempt to promote safe sex, the UK
government, have introduced initiatives and worked on behalf of charitable organisations, to convey the
message of safe sex, and promote and encourage it.
Unprotected sex is seen as an ongoing problem in the UK and to crack down on it the government have
done much work by offering free condoms for 13-24 year olds, emergency contraception, HIV & STI
testing and various sexual health clinics. The strategy to promote safe sex, and increase rates of safe sex
is an ongoing battle, however, following the strategy and protecting yourself during intercourse can
have great health impacts and keep you safe.
Influence on health
It’s a no brainer that having safe sex is the way to go, in a time where disease and hideous infection is so
prevalent. Safe sex can protect us from infection and diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, human
papillomavirus and herpes, all of which can cause poor bad health and unnecessary treatment. If we
protect ourselves during sex, we are not only doing ourselves a favour and reducing the possibly of
catching a STI, or STD, but we are also doing the National Health Service a favour by reducing healthcare
dependency and reducing unnecessary healthcare intervention, which can cost time and money.
If we have safe sex, we can prevent unwanted pregnancies, and diseases and infections detrimental to
health and wellbeing. While sex can be exciting, its important to do so with protection to not only
protect yourself, but the person you are participating with in sexual interaction. I convey the message
that it is important to have safe, protected sex because no one wants end up with a virus such as HIV,
which can damage your immune system and weaken your bodies ability to fight of everyday diseases. To
protect ourselves from a weak immune system, unneeded medical attention and unwanted lifechanging
events, its important to have protected sex for the greater good of health and public health across the
nation. All in all, safe sex can influence our health positively, as it can prevent us from ill-health,
dependency, weakened immunity and a future of ill-health.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller blankspeech88. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53340 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now