Friday, February 12, 2010
Assignment #2
This article states that the most important public health achievements have occurred within the last 100 years. These achievements include Vaccination, Motor-vehicle safety, Safer workplaces, Control of infectious diseases, Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke, Safer and healthier foods, Healthier mothers and babies, Family planning, Fluoridation of drinking water, & Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard. This list was compiled to show people how much of an impact public health has had over the past century and how much safer it has made our lives. In my opinion Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard is the most important because it was a rising health problem and now that it has finally been addressed millions of lives are saved each year. This awareness shows people the dangers of using tobacco and prevents many from making the wrong choice and using tobacco. This achievement does not personally affect me, but many of the other ones such as motor-vehicle safety do affect me. A public health advancement that was not mentioned in this list is the chlorination of water which made drinking water safer for everyone in the States and improved sanitation.
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Steven - good post. I agree with you, the recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard is probably one of the more important (and recent) achievements. Why do you think some people still use tobacco, despite knowing the dangers clearly associated with it?
ReplyDeleteThe majority of people who begin to smoke are most likely young people who are influenced by either peer pressure or possibly parents who have still not given up smoking. If it is parents they are probably addicted to smoking or use it to calm their nerves and think they need it to get through the day, such as a coffee addiction. But I would think that peer pressure is a larger factor for young people who think it is cool or do it to fit in. This is their decision but it is largely influenced by others and they may or may not continue smoking after their first try.
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