Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

Physical health - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Regions closer to the equator are closer to the Sun
        -> receive more UVR than regions further from the equator
      - vitamin D
        
        In regions where UVR is diffuse, light skin allows enough UVR to get through skin
        
        in regions where UVR is concentrated, dark skin allows just enough UVR to manufacture vitamin D, thus preventing breakdown of folic acid which is crucial for brain development
        
        our bodies require the right amount of UVR to manufacture Vitamin D
      - sunlight reaches the Earth with diff levels of UVR depending on location
  - - - lactase persistence->ability to break down lactose into simple sugar, slowly accumulated in gene pool of special regions
      - while everyone has the same biological potential to process lactase, this potential does not unfold similarly in everyone, resulting in some being lactose intolerant
      - domestication of cows eventually led to the practice of consuming dairy products
  - - - innate biological
        
        research on cultural neuroscience reveal genetic diff in social sensitivity
      - acquired biological
        
        research on immigrants reveal role of cultural learning effects
- - - - Larger portion sizes
      - Suburban sedentary lifestyle
      - greater availability of high-calorie food (eg. fast food)
      - mindless eating
        
        seeing others eat more -> more likely for us to eat more as well
        
        mirror neurons make us copy maladaptive behaviours of others unconsciously
    - - calories & weight
        
        3500 calories translate to 1 pound of fat
        
        Mindlessly adding 100 calories per day without burning any more calories will result in adding 1 pound per month
      - cultural diff in what ppl say when they stop eating
        
        French translates to "I do not have hunger"
        
        subtle difference in attitudes between "eating to quench a physical need" and "stuffing oneself up"
        
        english-> "I'm full"
      - American vs French
        
        French paradox
        
        French cuisine have diets very high in fat but they have lower rates of heart disease
        
        Diff in attitudes toward food
        
        french spend longer time than Americans eating their food -> view eating as more leisurely and enjoyable
        
        Americans have larger portion sizes
    - - cannot be attributed to genetic accounts cos countries have not experienced influx of people carrying overweight genes
      - more likely due to cultural changes
  - - - US mortality & income
        
        with almost every increase in income, mortality rates are lower and these diff emerge even among those whose incomes are at the highest levels
      - possible expln on link between SES & health
        
        lower SES more likely to engage in unhealthy habits & behaviours BUT even when these are controlled for there's still a diff between SES and health
        
        poverty affects cognitive resources
        
        less able to make sound decisions that impact future health outcomes
        
        refuted by UK civil servant study
        
        lower SES have less access to healthcare
        
        lower SES have more hazardous work environments
        
        stress
        
        Stress itself weakens the immune system
        
        living in New York City
        
        even visiting NYC predicts higher stress and weaker immune system. Leaving NYC predicts a drop in stress levels
        
        life compared to other cities
        
        overloaded with information
        
        associated with lower sense of control
        
        associated with lower interpersonal compassion
        
        faster pace of life
        
        more vulnerable to heart attacks
        
        leads ppl to engage in unhealthy habits
        
        sense of control & health
        
        Could explain perhaps low SES have poorer health due to less perceived control of their life
        
        nursing home study
        
        results
        
        those with opportunities for control required fewer medicine and lived longer than those in no-intervention group
        
        residents given control over minor life events eg. watering plant
      - UK civil servant mortality study
        
        compared to top administrators, members of executive class, clerical staff and unskilled labourers were more likely to die
        
        mortality is not due to diff access to healthcare since its free for all
        
        refutes argument that lower SES have more hazardous work situations since all the UK civil servants worked in an office
- - - - France
        
        French doctors prescribe more long rests & spa visits
        
        Dirt & germs can strengthen one's terrain -> focus less on daily bathing
        
        body is the "terrain" and emphasise sense of natural balance
      - US
        
        recommend more surgery than every other country in the world
        
        germs are key threats to health-> prescribe more antibiotics than anywhere else
        
        describe body as a "machine" by metaphor, to fix or replace bad parts
    - - such metaphors may unintentionally highlight combative aspect of cancer treatment & undermine role of self-limitation
      - study
        
        2 conditions
        
        cancer described with neutral metaphor
        
        cancer described with enemy metaphor
        
        results
        
        enemy metaphor
        
        dramatically reduced generation of self-limiting strategies
        
        resulted in highly imbalanced health decisions
        
        metaphors can shape what we think about health and affect bhvr
        
        exposure to neutral metaphor
        
        balance of self-bolstering & self-limiting strategies
        
        participants shown an article about cancer & asked to generate strategies against cancer
      - "fighting cancer", "Survivors" emphasise power, strength, masculinity and taking aggressive actions towards an enemy
    - - doctors often trained within their own cultural context
      - hence they combine medical knowledge with culture-specific metaphors or assumptions about health