As health studies and research on human health have progressed, it has been generating their lexicon, exact terms to distinguish all the studied phenomena that help us continue with the investigations, which are more and more precise and more valuable each time.
The more the diseases and pathologies that we suffer have been studied, we have been able better to know the dangers and the causes of their appearance. The health risk is a term we use to refer to these factors that are potentially susceptible to causing disease.
If you want to know the Definition of health risk and know more about it in FastlyHeal, we will tell you.
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Meaning of health risk
The health risk is a measure used to determine the danger to the health of a specific group of people concerning a potentially dangerous situation such as exposure to environmental pollutants, a particular lifestyle, or an epidemic.
Health risk can be evaluated using functions and mathematical equations. Generally, to determine it, values such as the vulnerability of that group and the probability that these people are exposed to this dangerous situation are used.
Using the example of vaccination campaigns, it is better to understand the relationship between vulnerability and risk probability, establishing the final health risk.
In the short term, the vaccination campaigns carried out among the population reduce the vulnerability of this group since they make it more resistant to a risk factor such as a virus. In turn, in the long term, these same campaigns can marginalize and even eradicate an epidemic, that is, enormously reducing the probability of a corresponding decrease in health risk.
Risk factor’s
When we talk about vulnerability and probability, we do so concerning a specific risk factor, but what is a risk factor?
A risk factor is any specific situation or circumstance that increases the chances that a person or group can contract any disease or suffer from any health problem. A risk factor does not presuppose it has to happen; it simply implies that the people affected by it are more likely and have a greater health risk.
Applying the risk factors to a disease such as cancer, we can see that each type of tumor has specific risk factors. Therefore, being exposed to the sun without sun protection or spending too many hours in the sun is a risk factor for the appearance of skin cancer. Smoking tobacco is a risk factor for different types of cancer such as mouth, pharynx, lung, or kidneys; excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for liver cancer, etc.
Some of these factors, such as the ones we just mentioned, can be avoided since they have to do with lifestyle. However, others such as family history, age, or gender cannot be changed. The latter factors we call risk markers. An example of a risk marker such as being over 65 years old increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.
We invite you to read the following articles by FastlyHeal, where we explain the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.