The Psychology of Decision Making and Risk - Essay Example

Order 216507 Deadline: 2008-04-06 15:23 Pages: 4, 1200 - 1500 words Sources: 10 Topic: The Psychology of Decision making and Risk People often take risks in relation to their health. How can risk related research help to prevent or minimise these risks The health is considered to be the most precious gift for every individual, although it requires special care people often tend to be careless in their health related issues which causes persistent problems later on. According to Kolbe, Lloyd et.al.[2004], in United States around three-quarters of populace above 25 years of age face fatalities in which 41% are caused by stroke and other heart diseases, 24% by cancer, 4% by (COPD) chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like asthma and bronchitis and 3% caused by diabetes. Maximum number of these cases occurs due to the health risks people take without realizing their grave outcomes. Use of tobacco, improper nutrition, obesity and latent lifestyle are accessed to be some major risk factors common in early adolescence. Most often people opt for such risks to be accepted in the society, since these perilous acts have become a requirement to fit in the elite assemblage. Hence the need to counter such issues has further augmented in recent years. The recent years have witnessed a marked increase in the study of human risks factors involving health, its reasons as well as the techniques to counter them. People take intentional and unintentional health risks that affect the body in soon after. The reason is often being low esteem or just to create a high in an otherwise normal life. Youngsters today engage in unhealthyand dangerous practice like drug overdoses and precarious intimacy with multiple partners gauging the level of protection and as a result face severe complications eventually [Jessor, 1998]. Ingenuously, unhealthy eating habits have made obesity the common problem of today, ranging from a child to adults the sedentary lifestyle has further boosted this issue. Journals and researches are targeting such conditions in society and helping them to cope with it by incorporating good eating habits and comprise regular exercise. Losing as little as five percent of the total body weight lowers the risks for several diseases since overweight individuals are exposed to a number of health risks like type 2 diabetes coronary heart disease and stroke metabolic syndrome certain types of cancer sleep apnea osteoarthritis gallbladder disease fatty liver disease Pregnancy complications. [Do you know the health risks of being overweight, n.d.] It has been estimated that men are more susceptible to deaths as a result of alcohol related problems globally. In 1997, 3290 alcohol related deaths occurred in Australia of which 70% were men [Alcohol and men's health, n.d.]. There are health guidelines issues by the concerned authorities which must be kept in mind before taking such risks that ultimately result in inexorable complications. However, women and adolescents who drink increasingly are at threat as well, therefore researches are being conducted that provide health information to public so that they are well aware of the risks involved in such conditions. As much as premeditated risks are causing hazards for health, environmental problems are also jeopardizing human health these days. Several researches conducted at LBNL have illustrated the sub-lethal consequences of ecological contamination especially in aquatic ranges. Dumping of toxic wastes in lakes and trash burning has induced multiple affect s on the environment that eventually impinges the human health. People should be vigilant regarding the environmental issues and cooperate with the concerned authorities to counter them. Researchers like Dr. Doug Barofsky and Jennifer Field etc. [centre research, OSU] tests and introduces the care measure that should be taken to protect one from the harmful environmental effects. Schools can play the most important part in inducing an appropriate lifestyle and care by introducing health plans and guidelines to be followed and hence ensure a healthy life. Areas like health literacy, health behaviours and outcomes, educational outcomes and social outcomes are being addressed by organizations nowadays, usually addressing students and young adults. The unremitting attempt to become popular in school or to be accepted in a certain clique often compels the individual to undertake behaviour that might be harmful. This is the major cause of student health crisis most common in parties, where people motivate each other to engage in access drinking and trying detrimental drugs. Such circumstances result in serious casualties and often deaths. Another vicinity, faced with high risk factor is the workplace, where people are exposed to a number of health hazards, according to the management of health safety at work regulations 1999, companies are mandatory to asses, identify and appoint the health risks present in the work area and take proper measures regarding them [Promoting good health, n.d.]. Never ending work and peer pressure instils muscular and nervous disorders in men and women alike. The workplace is also categorized as the place where workers are most actively exposed to infections and contagious diseases. However people are not very concerned regarding this problem and as a result often contract sickness. The progressing nations today are becoming aware of the perils of health related risks, therefore they are designing regulations to target such concerns; for instance the Minister of Health devised a travel health program for their citizens. These guidelines aim to counter the risks of importing new diseases and infections in the country through journeys from one place to another, illustrating the importance of vaccines and preventive medicines before a travelling abroad [Travel health, 2006]. According to the report, water intake is the highlight of transferring infections in body therefore it is a prerequisite to be immune to diseases like 'Malaria, caused by infected mosquito bites in many tropical countries; Yellow fever, caused by infected mosquito bites in Central Africa and South America; Dengue fever, caused by infected mosquito bites in many tropical countries; and Schistosomiasis, caused by a parasite in fresh water in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.' Diseases like cancer are increasing the mortality rate around the world, inducing some important changes and modifications in life can help to subordinate the risk of developing this noxious ailment as well as many other diseases. Impeding the use of tobacco, incorporating a healthy diet intake in accordance to the nutrition guide, balancing exercise and sustain the appropriate weight can help any individual to be cosseted by the common and severe ailments. Risk behaviours like unsafe sexual practices, exploiting drugs, over-exposure of sun all cause intense damage to the body and may germinate infectious diseases like HIV/ Aids, HPV etc. Persevere safe sex; certify the use of authentic immunizations via sterile needles and acquiring proper medical assistance can assure a healthy and blissful existence [Cancer prevention, 2006]. Previously the research was targeted towards particular subjects involving legal issues like drug use and insecure lifestyles of individuals, however now more areas are being covered to further induce a peril free living. Multiple surveys and investigations are conducted in active locales like schools and workplaces to create awareness in all age groups and devise counter therapies to certify better health and life plans. However, it must be noted that health counselling is not sufficient since psychological well being is also a vital factor in over all fitness. People abstain from risks and dangers when they are psychologically at ease and relax and engage in negligence when upset or psychologically unwell. REFERENCES Australian department of health and ageing, (n.d) Alcohol and men's health [Online] available at [accessed on 3 April 2008] Health Canada, (15 December 2006) Travel Health [online] available from :< http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/travel-voyage_e.html> [accessed 5 April 2008] Joan M. Daisey, Risk-Related Research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (n.d.) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Online available at [accessed 4 April 2008] Kolbe, Lloyd ; Kann, Laura ; Patterson, Beth ; Wechsler, Howell ; Osorio, Jenny ; Collins, Janet. ECNext:Public Health Reports (01-MAY-04) Enabling the nation's schools to help prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer, COPD, diabetes, and other serious health problems.(Practice Articles) available at [accessed on 4 April 2008] Occupational Disease [n.d.] [accessed 31 January 2008] Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, (Sep 27, 2006) Cancer prevention: 7 steps to reduce your risk [online] By Mayo Clinic Staff, available from [accessed 5 April 2008] National institute of environmental health sciences, (n.d.) Center Research, [online] Oregon State University [OSU] available from [accessed 4 April 2008] Promoting good health (n.d.) [Online] available at [accessed on 3 April 2008] Richard Jessor (1998) New Perspectives on Adolescent Risk Behavior: Risk-taking (Psychology) in adolescence [Online] Cambridge University Press available at [accessed on 3 April 2008] Weight-control Information Network. (n.d.) Do you know the health risks of being overweight [Online] NIDDK available at accessed 4 April 2008] Read More