Question 1: Define the term 'health indicator' and explain its importance in health and social care.

Answer: A health indicator is a measurable variable that provides information about the health status of an individual or population. It helps in assessing health needs, planning services, and monitoring health outcomes.

Question 2: List three common physical health indicators used to assess an individual’s health status.

Answer: Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol levels.

Question 3: Describe how blood pressure readings can indicate potential health problems.

Answer: High blood pressure (hypertension) can indicate risk for heart disease and stroke, while low blood pressure (hypotension) may suggest underlying health issues or risk of fainting and falls.

Question 4: Explain the significance of BMI as a health indicator. What are its limitations?

Answer: BMI measures body fat based on height and weight and can indicate if someone is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Its limitations include not differentiating between muscle and fat and not accounting for distribution of fat or ethnicity differences.

Question 5: Identify two mental health indicators that are commonly used in health assessments.

Answer: Levels of stress and depression symptoms.

Question 6: Describe a scenario where a change in a person’s weight could indicate a health concern.

Answer: If a person unexpectedly loses a significant amount of weight over a short period, it could suggest an underlying health issue such as an illness, malnutrition, or mental health problems like depression.

Question 7: Sketch a simple diagram illustrating a basic health check-up process. Label the key components involved.

Answer: A correct sketch would include a person undergoing measurements such as blood pressure cuff around the arm, a scale for weight, and a stadiometer for height, with labels indicating each measurement point.

Question 8: Discuss why monitoring indicators like blood sugar levels is important for individuals with diabetes.

Answer: Monitoring blood sugar levels helps manage diabetes by preventing complications, adjusting medication or diet, and maintaining overall health.

Question 9: Explain how social factors can influence health indicators such as obesity or hypertension.

Answer: Social factors like socioeconomic status, access to healthy foods, education, and lifestyle choices can affect health indicators. For example, limited access to healthy foods may lead to obesity, and high stress levels associated with social deprivation can contribute to hypertension.

Question 10: Write a brief paragraph summarising why regular health monitoring is essential for maintaining good health.

Answer: Regular health monitoring allows early detection of health issues, enables timely intervention, and helps individuals make informed lifestyle choices to maintain or improve their overall health status.