Unnatural Causes
I recently watched a really good PBS documentary, Unnatural Causes, that explores the relationship between income level and health problems. Pretty enlightening. Some key takeaways,
- Social class has a significant effect on health. People with lower income generally have more health problems due to less access to resources and opportunity. For example, in poorer neighborhoods you have more liquor stores and fast food restaurants than any other businesses. How is a person living here suppose to eat a healthy diet? A person in these areas probably relies more on public transportation. Add working two jobs and there is little time for exercise. Then there is that constant stress and fear from not earning enough and not knowing what is going to happen tomorrow resulting in constant elevated levels of cortisol -> high blood pressure -> not good.
- History: Post depression government introduced social reform that reduced wealth inequality and that gradually led to longer living in Americans. Black rights reform improved lives for African Americans. However, since the 80s the income inequality gap has widened again.
- People in the upper income bracket average ~10 yrs longer lifespan vs people in the lowest income bracket since they have access to better food and actually have more time to exercise and are more mentally and emotionally stable.
I am kind of torn on that last bullet. I am far from wealthy but my income is also not the worst. Am I really healthy? I think I have reasonable money saving habits so I don't really feel -that- much pressure when it comes to finances. Before I was able to work from home, I found it very challenging to make time to exercise but I argued with myself that at the time it was honestly more of my own choice and not so much of me not having a choice at all. Same goes for access to good food. I use to not cook at all and eat out a lot and it was often calorie dense food. But again, that was my choice. I am not even close to being a great cook now but nowadays I am much more conscious about diet so I'll bake more chicken or salmon and make basic vegetables like broccolli and try to limit my junk food.
But I think to myself what if something other than income could significantly alter my lifestyle that could trigger more stress, make it more difficult to exercise and cause me to eat Mickey Ds 5 days of the week? For example if someday I have to commute again and if it's a long one, I honestly do think it would have a detrimental effect to my health. Still pondering on this..
- Social class has a significant effect on health. People with lower income generally have more health problems due to less access to resources and opportunity. For example, in poorer neighborhoods you have more liquor stores and fast food restaurants than any other businesses. How is a person living here suppose to eat a healthy diet? A person in these areas probably relies more on public transportation. Add working two jobs and there is little time for exercise. Then there is that constant stress and fear from not earning enough and not knowing what is going to happen tomorrow resulting in constant elevated levels of cortisol -> high blood pressure -> not good.
- History: Post depression government introduced social reform that reduced wealth inequality and that gradually led to longer living in Americans. Black rights reform improved lives for African Americans. However, since the 80s the income inequality gap has widened again.
- People in the upper income bracket average ~10 yrs longer lifespan vs people in the lowest income bracket since they have access to better food and actually have more time to exercise and are more mentally and emotionally stable.
I am kind of torn on that last bullet. I am far from wealthy but my income is also not the worst. Am I really healthy? I think I have reasonable money saving habits so I don't really feel -that- much pressure when it comes to finances. Before I was able to work from home, I found it very challenging to make time to exercise but I argued with myself that at the time it was honestly more of my own choice and not so much of me not having a choice at all. Same goes for access to good food. I use to not cook at all and eat out a lot and it was often calorie dense food. But again, that was my choice. I am not even close to being a great cook now but nowadays I am much more conscious about diet so I'll bake more chicken or salmon and make basic vegetables like broccolli and try to limit my junk food.
But I think to myself what if something other than income could significantly alter my lifestyle that could trigger more stress, make it more difficult to exercise and cause me to eat Mickey Ds 5 days of the week? For example if someday I have to commute again and if it's a long one, I honestly do think it would have a detrimental effect to my health. Still pondering on this..
posted by baconandeggs at 10:43 PM
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