Crash Course Public Health Lecture Notes

Introduction to Health

• Health is often viewed as a personal journey:
  • Choices about diet, exercise, and self-care.
  • Personal experiences (e.g., food poisoning) shape our understanding.
• Health is a plotline in a larger public health narrative.
  • Co-authored by thinkers, scientists, caregivers, and policy makers.

Defining Health

• Origin of the term:
  • Old English "hale" (wholeness).
  • Linked to greetings in the Middle Ages.
• Historical Context:
  • Hippocrates (classical Greece) wrote about health.
  • Modern hospital features developed during the Islamic Golden Age (8th-14th century).
• Modern Definition:
  • 1946 WHO: Health = complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just absence of disease.
  • This definition can be unrealistic (e.g., high blood pressure).
• 21st Century Perspective:
  • Treat health as a capacity or reserve, varying by individual.
  • Importance of restoring health when depleted (rest, lifestyle changes, medical care).

Understanding Public Health

• Public Health Definition:
  • Promotes and protects health of communities.
  • Focus on preventing disease and prolonging life.
• Analogy of a Cliff:
  • Cliff represents good health; ambulances represent medical care after falling.
  • Emphasizes investing in preventative measures (fences, trampolines) to reduce health crises.

Roles of Public Health Experts

• Types of Experts:
  • Restaurant inspectors, policy makers, disease researchers, and anyone addressing health at the population level.
• Population Focus:
  • Identifying patterns and distributions of diseases to address health issues effectively.

Example: Lung Cancer

• Doctors treat individuals; public health experts consider broader implications (e.g., smoking regulations).
• Public health strategies can be more effective than treatment.
• Investigating health inequities (e.g., disparities in lung cancer rates among different demographics).

Health Inequities

• Differences in health outcomes due to social/economic conditions are called health inequities.
• Addressing these inequities is central to public health's mission.

Community Example: Vanessa City

• Identified Issue: High heart disease rates linked to lack of access to healthy food.
• Solutions:
  • Short-term: Establishing food access sites and providing transportation.
  • Long-term: Developing tax incentives for grocery stores and supporting community gardens.
• Gradual improvements observed in health outcomes.

Economic Value of Public Health

• Preventative health measures are often less costly than treating conditions.
• Example: Childhood vaccinations save significant medical costs.
• Public health is a financial investment in saving lives and reducing costs.

Challenges in Public Health Funding

• Public health often underfunded outside of crises.
• The U.S. spends only about 0.5% of healthcare budget on disease prevention.

Conclusion

• Public health is a collective effort; everyone has a role to play.
• Next steps involve learning more about public health strategies and individual contributions.