Impact of Different Factors on the Chances of Surviving and Recovering from Serious Illness - Essay Example

I. INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to identify the chances of survival and recovery rate from serious illness based on the effects of the age group, geographical location and level of wealth in UK. The impact of each factor on the chances of survival of individual would be taken into consideration. In addition, examples are provided of three illnesses i.e. high blood pressure, malaria and brain tumor. Lastly, the study focused on comparing the three factors and their influence on the survival and recovery rate from the earlier mentioned serious illness. II. IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS ON THE CHANCES OF SURVIVING AND RECOVERING FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS a. Effect of Age Group Although, high blood pressure is considered to be an old age problem but worryingly 35 percent of individuals in UK aged 16-34 are suffering from high blood pressure. Moreover, the 8000 people tested for blood pressure revealed that almost one in twenty has severe or very severe raised blood pressure (Kelly, 2010). In general, the chances of having blood pressure rise with the rise in age group. The chances of survival and early recovery from blood pressure are quite higher for people aged 16-34 whereas; the chances of survival and recovery are quite impossible with the growing age. Malaria is another prominent disease in UK. Altogether, 1.3 million UK residents visit malaria endemic each year. The chances of survival and recovery for teenagers, young adults and adults are quite high whereas; for older people the chances are considerably low. Brain tumor in UK is also on the rise. With the passage of time, people with brain tumor have shown significant growth in numbers. Age plays a dominant role in the survival and quick recovery of the person. In general, persons aged 10-35 have higher chances of survival and recovery while the chances of survival and recovery of 35+ declines with the increase in age. b. Effect of Geographical Location Geographic location plays a dominant role in the chance of surviving and recovery from serious illness. The level of care provided to the patient depends highly on the geographic location which means that peoples suffering from malaria, brain tumor or high blood pressure would have fewer chances of survival and recovery in remote locations. Meanwhile, the chances of survival and recovery would significantly increase in developed and technologically advanced locations. c. Effect of Level of Wealth The level of wealth to be spent on the care of serious illness (i.e. malaria, brain tumor or high blood pressure) surely impacts the survival and recovery rate of person in UK. This eventually means that if a person is ready to pay higher than the usual amount, the level of care provided to the patient in the hospital would be increased. As a result, the chances of survival and recovery would significantly increase. On the other hand, inability to pay the costs associated with the care of persons would lead to decline in survival and recovery rate. III. EXAMPLES OF THREE ILLNESSES WITH REFERENCE TO THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS ON THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL a. High Blood Pressure Blood pressure is considered to be an old age problem due to increase in use of unhygienic and unhealthy diet. In addition, the mental stress also increases the chances of high blood pressure in old age. The survival and the recovery rate of old aged people from high blood pressure are quite low. On the other hand, the individual aged 16-34 are suffering from blood pressure as well which evidently is a worrying factor in UK. Due to the age factor, the survival rate along with the recovery rate of the person significantly increases. This means that the younger the individual, the higher the chances of survival and recovery. Change in destination also plays an essential role in the survival and recovery of persons suffering from high blood pressure. BHF Heart Statistics (2008) has revealed that Yorkshire and the Humber have 64 percent men with untreated normotensive blood pressure level and only 7 percent are treated. In addition, only 8 percent are treated with hypertensive blood pressure level while the untreated men accounts for the remaining 20 percent. The data is pretty much the same for North East England, North West England and East Midlands. Change in destination can significantly increase as well as decrease the survival and recovery rate from blood pressure (BHF Heart Statistics, 2008). The level of wealth plays a dominant role in the survival and recovery of persons from high blood pressures. The higher the person is willing to pay for the treatment, the higher the chances are that the person would be provided with special care. This significantly enhances the possibility of survival and early recovery and vice versa (BHF Heart Statistics, 2009). b. Malaria The doubling figure of malaria patients from the year 2000-2009 is a clear sign that UK is in harm’s way. From 2010 and onwards, UK witnessed 99 cases of malaria. This significantly shows that global warming is making UK vulnerable and is regularly hit by malaria outbreaks. (Public Health England, 2013) Age plays a dominant role in the survival of the malaria patients. Although, the disease is quite severe but the willingness of people aged 15-35 to survive is far greater than any other age group. The willingness to survive and to enjoy the life significantly influences the survival and early recovery from malaria. Whereas, the people aged 35-50 still have some willingness to survive. Their recovery and survival rate are not much fascinating as compared to earlier age group. But the people from this group usually survive but the recovery rate is quite slower and less ineffective. Lastly, the survival and recovery rate from malaria attacks for people aged 50+ are the lowest. The change in climate and the rising malaria diseases in UK are both an alarming situation for UK (Prince, 2008) . Destination plays a major role in the survival and recovery rate of the malaria patients (Doward, 2013). This eventually means that for the survival and recovery of the person suffering from malaria, an effective destination is required in terms of hospitals and quality of service. Technologically advanced areas have superiority over remote areas. This means for effective care and treatment of malaria patients, the hospitals must be equipped with latest technology to make the survival and recovery rate effective. The level of wealth also plays an influential role in the survival and recovery of the person. The greater amount of wealth can surely bring the person suffering from malaria into the hospital’s attention. Moreover, the willingness of person to reduce the side effects of malaria also relies highly on the wealth. The greater the person is willing to spend; the greater would be the service. As a result, the person would be treated effectively to enhance the survival rate along with the recovery rate. On the other hand, a person with very little wealth could also be treated but not in the same way a wealthy and rich persons are treated. The survival rate along with the recovery rate is not much effective but these people do survive. c. Brain Tumor Brain tumor in UK is one of the most prominent diseases due to which several organizations have joined hands to help the patients. Almost 9,100 people are diagnosed with brain tumor in a single year. As many brain tumors are not recorded, the figure may even be more frightening. Almost, 25 people are recorded to have brain tumor in a single day. The survival and recovery of brain tumor relies highly on the age and health of the patient. To remove the brain tumor there are treatments such surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy but the treatment depends highly on the type and size of the tumor along with the age and general health. Adults diagnosed with brain tumor have very less survival and recovery rates. A research indicates that more than one third people (36 percent) diagnosed with tumor lived for at least a year. In addition, the facts and figures are quite depressing in long term as adult’s survival and recovery rate reveals that 15 percent of people live for more than 5 years and 10 percent live for more than 10 years (Cancer Research UK, n.d.). On the other hand, people under 40 have better chances of survival. The data revealed that the chances to survive tumor is 50 percent as 1 in 2 diagnosed with tumor lives for more than 5 years. Furthermore, 65 out of 100 children (65 percent) live for more than 5 years after diagnosis (Cancer Research UK, n.d.). Destination also plays a crucial role in UK. There are still areas and destinations in UK that does not have proper equipment for surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For the survival and recovery rate to increase, destinations (like London) with advanced technology should be taken into consideration. Wealth plays the least crucial role in the survival and recovery rate of the patient (The Brain Tumour Charity, n.d.). With the rising awareness regarding this issue, the charities along with the hospitals are working together to help the children and other people recover from the disease. Brain Tumor UK and Brain Tumor Charity have joined forces to fight the disease together. This indicates that wealth is not an issue for the survival and recovery of the people suffering from brain tumor. IV. COMPARISON OF THE THREE FACTORS IN TERM OF THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERING RATE FROM SERIOUS ILLNESS The influence of each factor on the survival and recovery rate from malaria, brain tumor and high blood pressure is quite effective and significant. It was identified that people with more than 50+ have the lowest chances for survival and recovery. This is basically due to high intake of wine and alcohol along with improper balanced diet. On the other hand, destination also plays an effective role in the survival and recovery from all three of the above mentioned illness. This reveals that illness could not be cured in remote areas with lack of proper equipment. For proper and effective treatment, technologically advanced destinations should be taken into consideration. Wealth also plays a dominant role in the recovery and survival of the patients. Brain tumor, malaria and high blood pressure requires immediate attention due to which the willingness of the person to spend money on the treatment is quite crucial. Although, these illnesses could be cured with less amount of money but the process would not be much effective. V. CONCLUSION Age, destination and wealth are some of the most prominent factors that are quite essential for the survival and recovery of persons in UK. The three factors could be regarded as directly proportional as one without another is useless and the survival along with the recovery from illness is quite dependent of these factors. References BHF Heart Statistics. (2008). Blood pressure levels, by sex and Strategic Health Authority, England 2008. Available from http://extras.bhf.org.uk/heartstats/Heartstats/RISK%20FACTORS/Blood%20pressure/Regional%20differences/Blood%20pressure%20levels%20by%20sex%20SHA%20England%202008%20T5.6.xlsx [Accessed July 20, 2013] BHF Heart Statistics. (2009). Blood pressure levels, by sex and equivalised household income, England 2009. Available from http://extras.bhf.org.uk/heartstats/Heartstats/RISK%20FACTORS/Blood%20pressure/Socioeconomic%20differences/Blood%20pressure%20by%20sex%20household%20income%20England%202009%20T5.7.xlsx [Accessed July 20, 2013] Cancer Research UK. (n.d.). Statistics and outlook for brain tumours. Available from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/brain-tumour/treatment/statistics-and-outlook-for-brain-tumours [Accessed July 20, 2013] Doward, J. (2013). Climate changes could bring malaria to the UK. The Guardian, Available from http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/may/05/uk-tropical-disease-malaria-threat [Accessed July 20, 2013] Kelly, T. (2010). One third of young people suffer from high blood pressure thanks to drinking and lack of exercise. Daily Mail, Available from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1298853/One-young-people-suffer-high-blood-pressure.html [Accessed July 20, 2013] Prince, R. (2008). Malaria warning as UK becomes warmer. The Telegraph, Available from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3325067/Malaria-warning-as-UK-becomes-warmer.html [Accessed July 20, 2013] Public Health England. (2013). Imported malaria cases and deaths, United Kingdom: 1993 – 2012. Available from http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733773780 [Accessed July 20, 2013] The Brain Tumour Charity. (n.d.). The facts about brain tumours. Available from http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/about-us/The-facts [Accessed July 20, 2013] Read More