Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are factors that include socioeconomic status, money, employment, education, social support, physical environment, and access to healthcare. SDoH are influenced by where people are born, live, and work. Some people are born into situations at a disadvantage and don’t have access to these factors. When these factors are linked to a lack of opportunity, health risks can occur. SDoH affects the nervous system by development and the ability to function. When a person has stress, they experience allostasis; a process of adapting to stress. As the body adapts, one may experience an increase of blood pressure, headaches, and GI problems. Additionally, the allostatic load influences the nervous system, which influences biobehavioral factors. Next, behavioral factors include things like physical activity, diet, and alcohol use. For example, a poor diet leads to the development of blood pressure problems, which leads to long-term consequences and an increased risk of stroke. Lastly, a social factor is no access to the gym, which leads to risky behaviors.

When someone is stressed, their adrenal glands produce high levels of cortisol, which leads to health issues. These health issues could include high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes. Specifically, high levels of cortisol diminishes the function of the PFC and reduces the number of connections in the hippocampus, causes memory problems. UTHSC’s OT program requires students to complete service and professional development hours, which serves to facilitate career preparedness. UTHSC prepares students to think from an upstream approach, one that considers a client’s living and working conditions, instead of just the diagnosis. Moreover, students learn how to ask important questions, break barriers, work together, and contribute to building health in the community. Now, I understand the importance of the context of a client’s life and can provide the best standard of care.