The health status of individuals is paramount to all individuals because it determines their quality of life. The government ensures that society has adequate and accessible healthcare facilities, equipped with machines and medicines besides qualified doctors, nurses, and other professionals. However, the way individuals do, perceive, value, believe, and think about the causes of diseases, risk factors, and treatments significantly impacts their health. Evaluation of the relationship between culture and health can help understand disparities in well-being among people in similar environments.
People’s culture influences the type of food they purchase and the way they prepare it, which is a vital determinant of health. Some communities’ cultures involve eating foods with unbalanced nutrients, consuming more carbohydrates and fats, increasing the risks of various illnesses (Hernandez & Gibb, 2019). Additionally, a less balanced diet decreases bodies’ ability to fight diseases, leading to poor health. The industrialized and urbanized cultures have also reduced access to healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits, contributing to a high rate of lifestyle-related conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Culture also influences the decision to seek healthcare services and the interaction between patients and caregivers. Some communities can interpret the signs of psychological problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as craziness, inhibiting any effort to look for psychiatrists’ services. Equally, cultural differences between doctors or nurses and patients can influence the interpretation of certain causes and treatments of diseases, affecting health outcomes and the patients’ overall well-being (Hernandez & Gibb, 2019). Moreover, culture impacts understanding and practicing health promotion activities such as exercising to reduce weight. For instance, being overweight is desirable and a sign of health in some communities.
Conclusively, health is fundamental because it defines an individual’s quality of life. A strong relationship exists between culture and health because of an individual’s values, beliefs, and perceptions of diseases, causes, and treatment methods and procedures. People’s culture is one factor that affects their decision about food they and preparation methods, as well as patients’ decisions to seek healthcare services and their interactions with caregivers.
Reference
Hernandez, M., & Gibb, J. (2019). Culture, behavior and health. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2020(1), 12-13. Web.