Introduction:
People spend most of their time at home; this emphasizes the potential impact housing can have on a person's health. Poor housing can cause many health hazards. The relationship between poverty and improper housing is usually cyclic, as poverty is the primary cause of inadequate housing and may contribute to different health conditions, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, nervous system disorders, and cancer. Poor quality of houses can be associated with an increased risk of exposed tobacco smoke, accidents, disturbed sleep, and slow mental growth. It can lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease in later life.
What Are the Effects of Improper Housing on Health?
The quality of housing refers to the social and physical environment of the home’s location. People at more risk of the effects of improper housing conditions include older adults, children, disabled people, and people with long-term illnesses. Different factors determine the quality of housing, like the quality of air, safety of the house, spacing, and the presence of possible irritants. Poor housing can lead to chronic health conditions, mental health, and injuries.
Key factors that affect housing and health are:
There are four categories from where the health hazards come:
1. Biological - They include allergens from dust mites, rodents, and mold and increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
2. Physical - These include improper ventilation, the hazards causing injuries, and improper temperature. These hazards contribute to physical injuries, excessive cold or heat exposure, and respiratory illnesses.
3. Chemical - These include carbon mono oxide, lead, asbestos, radon, etc. Exposure to these can lead to neurological health problems, the development of cancers, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses.
4. Social - Social conditions like fear of crime, poverty, overcrowding, etc. These may increase the risk of infectious diseases and can affect mental health.
Housing Stability - The quality, safety, affordability, and neighborhood can influence housing stability. Without good stability and housing support, people may risk experiencing housing instability and can become homeless.
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Quality and Safety - Lower quality and safety of housing increase the risk of health problems.
- Affordability- A safe, good-quality, affordable house can positively impact a person's health. High-quality housing can result in major sacrifices and eventually have a negative impact on overall health.
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Neighborhood - The lower-income neighborhoods will have fewer amenities. They will need more access to good quality schools, jobs, transport facilities, etc.
How Does Poor Housing Affect Children, Adults, and Older People?
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Children and Young People - Increased risk of respiratory illness, poor infant diet, physical injury, easily transmissible diseases, missing immunizations, and emotional and behavioral mental health problems.
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In Adults - Mental health problems, respiratory illness, tobacco harm, physical problems, alcohol, and drug misuse, and suicide.
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In Older People - Emotional problems, physical injuries, especially from falls, mental problems, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illness, social isolation, overall health deterioration, tobacco harm, and alcohol misuse.
What Is the Relationship Between Chronic Diseases and Improper Housing?
Cold, damp housing is associated with asthma and respiratory illness. Conditions like tuberculosis and respiratory illness are more common in overcrowded houses. Other factors include income, socioeconomic class, smoking, and unemployment. Damp houses provide a nurturing environment for rats, mites, viruses, and cockroaches.
Will Improper Housing Cause Infectious Diseases?
There are different reasons why improper housing can cause infectious diseases. The low standard of housing includes the absence of hot water, lack of safe drinking water, improper disposal of waste, inadequate storage of food, and intrusion by insects and rats; all of these lead to the spread of infectious diseases. Crowding and overcrowding can cause the transmission of tuberculosis and other respiratory infection and contribute to morbidity.
Can Improper Housing Affect Mental Health?
Substandard housing can affect mental health and nutrition. Damp, moldy, and cold indoor temperature can be associated with anxiety and depression. Also, excessive indoor temperature is linked to irritability and social intolerance. Poor housing can lead to poor self-development. Crowding is associated with psychological distress among women.
What Are the Injuries Caused Due to Improper Housing?
In substandard houses, there is an increased risk of injuries that can take place. There is a risk of burns and falls because of low sill heights, unprotected upper-story windows, slippery surfaces, and poorly designed stairs with improper lighting.
What Are the Effects of Improper Housing on Childhood and Nutrition?
Studies have shown that the lack of affordable housing has been linked to inadequate nutrition, especially among children. The temporary housing for homeless children lacks cooking facilities, leading to poor nutrition.
How Does Neighborhood Affect Our Health?
Apart from the quality of our house, the location and neighborhood also play an important role. The neighborhood-level effects on health have been documented, which include injuries, respiratory diseases, poor birth outcomes, cardiovascular diseases, human immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, anxiety, depression, etc. Improper air quality can also affect our health. People living in the area are surrounded by vehicles, bus depots, airports, and major roads and can face mental disturbance. The presence of sidewalks on streets, green spaces, and gardens can be beneficial and improve the quality of health and surroundings.
Conclusion:
Housing plays an important role in a person's physical and mental health. The quality, location, safety, and stability directly impact the person's health.
