The community you reside within is a part of your identity. Even if you don’t meet your friends every day You are aware that your choices affect those who are around you. We’re all part of the same and you wouldn’t do had it in any other way!
Helping your community improve and help others is typically top of the list on your agenda. Therefore, when the word “community health” crossed your radar, you needed to learn more. What exactly is community health? What is it and how does it impact the lives of people within your locality?
Health in the community is at the interplay between economics, healthcare and social interactions. However, a lot of people do not realize the significance that this type of health care has in their lives. Come along as we discuss the effects of community health on your neighborhood and how is possible to do enhance it.
What is the term “community health?
The field of community health is a specialty in medicine that concentrates on the mental and physical wellbeing of the inhabitants within a particular geographic area. This crucial aspect of public health consists of initiatives that help residents keep their health in check and improve it and to prevent transmission of diseases, and prepare for natural catastrophes.
“Working at the community level promotes healthy living, helps prevent chronic diseases and brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people in need,” says by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A healthy community requires people to think beyond themselves and accept “collective responsibility,” says Caleb Backe, health and wellness specialist for Maple Holistics. “It’s not just about the healthcare system, but focuses on the importance of leading a generally healthy lifestyle in order to protect the community as a whole.”
The health of the community is inextricably linked to personal wellness. “Good community health equates to healthy people, as a community is the ecosystem or environment in which people live,” says Thomas G. Bognanno, chief executive officer of Community Health Charities. “It’s difficult to be healthy personally if your community is unhealthy.”
The wide-ranging impact of health in the community
Health in the community is not based on the old saying “You take care of you; I’ll take care of me.” Instead experts in public health believe on the fact that health in communities can have a wide-ranging impact, and sometimes shocking, on the health of an individual and even beyond.
“Community health impacts everything–educational achievement, safety and crime, people’s ability to work and be financially healthy, life expectancy, happiness and more,” Bognanno says. “Health impacts every other facet of life, from a child’s ability to learn to an adult’s ability to work, so health is critical for education and financial well-being.”
The impact of health on the quality of life may also affect the desire to take part in civic activities such as voting, social events and leisure activities, as per Healthy People 2020 An initiative of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 2
Communities that are aware of public health may even help decrease the level of inequality among their residents. “[Community health] also helps to reduce health gaps caused by differences in race and ethnicity, location, social status, income and other factors that can affect health,” according to health officials at the CDC. 1
The consequences of not taking care of the health of communities
The lack of attention to community health can result in various complex issues that aren’t simple to fix. For instance security and crime issues that stem from a lack of attention to health in the community can rapidly become an ongoing cycle that keeps repeating itself. “Repeated exposure to violence and crime could result in an rise in adverse health outcomes. Children who are exposed to violence could be more aggressive beginning in the upper elementary school years,” reports Healthy People 2020.
Chronic illnesses, like heart disease and diabetes may also rise when a community’s overall health is in decline. “An unhealthy community tends to be obese and struggle more from chronic diseases and other health challenges,” Bognanno states.
These chronic diseases are not just a factor in reducing life expectancy but also have a profound impact in the economic system. According to the CDC states that 90% of the national healthcare costs are for those suffering from chronic health issues.
The prevention of the spread of infectious disease is a major goal of health services for communities. If they are not in place, the communities might be faced with diseases that put vulnerable populations such as those over 65 at risk.
“If a community has to recover from an emergency event, such as a natural disaster, reducing the spread of disease becomes a crucial part of the recovery process,” Backe declares.
Factors that can improve the health of communities
Enhancing the health of communities is a massive project that requires cooperation from health workers from the public sector as well as local governments volunteers, and ordinary citizens. The end results of their work could be in a variety of ways. “Communities benefit from walking trails and bike paths, from access to healthy food and playgrounds, from accessible healthcare services, schools and places of employment, as well as affordable housing,” Bognanno adds.
Education is also a major part in maintaining the health of communities. Health fairs and ad campaigns that emphasize the risks of health risks such as exposure to tobacco as well as poor nutrition and inactivity may help bring awareness to the importance of living an active way of life. In addition, the CDC have been focusing on promoting nutritional guidelines for schools and enhancing the amount of physical education that children get.
Individuals are able to take on the responsibility to ensure the health of their communities by donating their time at health fairs, or blood drives, or contacting local officials to create more green spaces and walking trails, and ensuring their personal health. “The collective responsibilities that individuals have for their communal health can lead to positive interactions within the community as a whole,” Backe states.
Make a stand for your community’s health
What’s the term community health? You now know that it’s an important aspect of public health and is an area that every person can contribute to improving. For more information on the ways that public health professionals can improve the health of individuals across the country, take a the time to read this ” 6 Invaluable Ways Community Health Workers Improve Our Lives.”