SDoH

Question 1

Social Determinants of Health

Answer 1

• Obesity:
  o Women in low-income households → 1.5x more likely to be obese.
  o Risks: Diabetes, GERD, fatty liver, cirrhosis, gallstones, and certain cancers.
• GERD:
  o Affects 5 million Canadians weekly.
  o Risk factors: Obesity, age, smoking, family history, food choices, hiatus hernia.
• Lactose Intolerance:
  o Affects 7 million Canadians → Leads to cramps, bloating, diarrhea.
  o Moderate dairy intake advised to avoid calcium/vitamin D deficiencies.
• Celiac Disease:
  o Autoimmune; 330,000 Canadians affected (only 110,000 diagnosed).
  o Untreated → Malnutrition, osteoporosis, colon cancer.

Question 2

Digestive Health in Canada

Answer 2

• Peptic Ulcers:
  o High prevalence globally, linked to:
   NSAID use, smoking, alcohol.
   **H. pylori **infection (75% of First Nations people).
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):
  o Crohn’s Disease:
   Onset: 20s, peaks by 30.
  o Ulcerative Colitis:
   Onset: Throughout adulthood.
  o IBS: Affects 5 million Canadians.
  o IBD increases colorectal cancer risk.
• Infectious Diseases:
  o Hepatitis A linked to poor sanitation, water safety in Indigenous communities.

Question 3

Protecting the Liver

Answer 3

• Preventive Steps:
  o Safe practices: Avoid sharing needles, unprotected sex.
  o Environmental awareness: Ventilate during chemical use.
  o Diet: Avoid obesity and fatty liver disease.
  o Alcohol: Limit intake (max 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men).
  o Medications: Avoid unnecessary or excessive use (e.g., acetaminophen with alcohol).
  o Vaccination: Protect against hepatitis A and B.
• Risk Factors for Hepatitis:
  o HAV: Spread through contaminated food/water, poor hygiene.
  o HBV: Spread via blood/body fluids, unprotected sex, tattoos.
  o HCV: Spread primarily via blood, e.g., transfusions before 1992, drug use.