Unnatural Causes - In Sickness and In Wealth

“Unnatural Causes- In Sickness and In Wealth” 1. Income or socio-economic class, gender, religion, race, education level, ethnicity, occupation, political affiliation 2. Excess death is a number of premature deaths caused by a specific disease. It is important to study because it could be prevented, and public health workers or medical sociologists can work on prevention methods. Individuals who are more influent had more access to health care- a social gradient produced a health gradient. 3. The Whitehall studies indicated that excess death was lower when one was to hold a higher position in the company. Excess death was higher for those in lower occupational levels. A social gradient in health would mean that the more favorable your social determinants are, the more likely you are to have and maintain better health. 4. Transient stress leads to a fight or flight response, whereas chronic stress can alter brain pathways and increase levels of cortisol in the body. Those physiological changes can also in turn alter your immune system and increase your risk of illness. 5. This ability is an important factor of health because it can decrease levels of stress. If an individual knows and has control over what will happen in their life, they will not stress as much. Corey Anderson was constantly worried about his job, making his stress levels very high and gave him a tense and stressful home situation. Jim Taylor lived a very healthy life because he had power and wealth; this signifies the importance of social determinants in one’s overall health. 6. In the film, the black doctor would enter an elevator and notice people hiding their purses and clinging to their belongings although he was an individual of high-status and wealth. An example of everyday racism would be if an individual is watched particularly more than others in a store because of their race or ethnicity. An example of structural racism would be if someone were denied access to health care resources because of their race or ethnicity. These would affect health would create stress and increase difficulty to receive medical care. 7. In the UMBC community, there is a “no smoking” policy that applies to everyone regardless of social determinants which helps to promote healthy behaviors. Additionally, we also have more and more healthier eating options on campus as well. In other communities in Baltimore, there are food deserts where there is little to no access to healthier foods. Also, there may be richer neighborhoods that provide funding for healthy initiatives whereas poorer neighborhoods may not have that funding. 8. Additional stressors can be a concern of what kind of education the kids are receiving, consistent and adequate shelter or housing, whether or not they have access to health care and medical resources in case someone got sick. The higher you go in the class system, the lower the chance is to have exposure to these stressors but there is a higher amount of resources available to manage them. The current political situation, where someone grows up, and what family you are born into can all be societal forces that create and reinforce these stressors. Racism might impose a constant subconscious worry or anxiety, which would act as an additional stressor. 9. Being born into a wealthy family, having connection to people who could get you a job (networking), having access to healthy foods, having access to health care, access to good education- these are all examples of the “pile up” of cumulative advantage. Examples of disadvantage would be high drop out rates in school, no access to health care, no access to nutritious food, and a constant worry that follows these. The United States has influenced health inequities and health outcomes by implementing policies that are shaped around the economy; this in turn puts those at a higher disadvantage at more of a disadvantage and those who have the advantage at more of an advantage. Economic policies like the Affordable Care Act or policies that work with access would reduce health inequities and improve the overall health of most Americans. Increasing health education would also increase awareness; those who do not know how to get access to resources and health care could learn what they have available to them.