Quote: "We should not be able to do that."
In this documentary, it was discovered that by looking at your income level, looking at your access to public resources, and looking at your high school completion level, your life expectancy can predicted. "We should not be able to do that!" It is generally thought by many that if people would simply make more time for exercise, chose healthier food options and get plenty of rest, humans will be able to extend their life expectancy. However, scientists are now finding that having too much cortisol from heightened stress levels that are directly related to your type of employment (or lack thereof), the amount of resources you are able to afford, and the amount of control you have over your environment play a larger part in your life expectancy than we originally believed.
Quote: "Economic policy is health policy."
A century ago, our life expectancy as Americans was 48 years of age. With more resources added to the nation including social programs, as well as better healthcare, the life expectancy went up for all people. However, since 1980, we have been going, as a nation, in the opposite direction. We have slashed social programs and reduced taxes on the wealthy. The rich have gotten FAR richer and the the gap between Rich and Poor has widened dramatically. We are one of the most unequal nations of the world's richest democracies. Therefore, it is not healthcare that is directing our disintegrating health as a nation necessarily, but the economic policies that our nation is putting in place. As the policies become more equal, the health of the nation goes up. As economic policies protect the rich and leave behind others, becoming more unequal, our health deteriorates. Therefore, equal and beneficial economic policy should BE our health policy.
Quote: "Power is a public health issue."
We are the richest country in the world, however, we are far behind many other nations in terms of economic policies that create good health. Other nations support their citizens with daycare, free education through college, and good healthcare for all. America's has so many people in their prime working ages dying of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and other related illnesses. They can't get an education. Fast food, quick marts, and liquor stores are more readily available to them than healthy grocery stores. They suffer from hypertension. Lack of power is creating a public health issue by shortening the lives of the people who have less access to power. The next generation of young people in America may be the first generation to see a shorter life span than their parents did. American Life Expectancy Isn't it inefficient to have people who could be contributing to America's economy to be caught up in the hospital with issues that are related to high levels of cortisol stemming from the fact that they have less power and control over their circumstances than their neighbors in the neighboring towns do?
Meghann-your quote about economic policy and health policy being one in the same brings such important insight and highlight to the fact that those who are making this policy are the same ones who benefit from it and from the calculated power imbalance created and perpetuated by the policies those in power continue to create or choose not to create.
ReplyDeleteMeghann- The quotes you chose resonated with me as well. The fact that your parents owning a home when you were growing up plays a role in your life expectancy is downright disturbing.
ReplyDelete!" It is generally thought by many that if people would simply make more time for exercise, chose healthier food options and get plenty of rest, humans will be able to extend their life expectancy. However, scientists are now finding that having too much cortisol from heightened stress levels that are directly related to your type of employment (or lack thereof), the amount of resources you are able to afford, and the amount of control you have over your environment play a larger part in your life expectancy than we originally believed.
This statement resonates with me. Watching those people working for the same company in different positions and seeing the life expectancy of their neighborhoods due to resources and stressors. When it was stated that we should not be able to accurately determine life expectancy based on a neighborhood that it is not natural.
Meghann- Awesome job on your post! I loved the picture I actually used the same one for my post. Something that really stood out to me in your blog this week was the last quote, "Power is a public health issue." I liked how you discuss the life expectancy rate and discuss the lack of funding in areas like food, education, etc.. I think this is a huge social issue that as a country needs improvement. We are suppose to be the richest country in the world but are not offered the same "fairness" as some of the other countries around us.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that we are even having this conversation in the USA. For such a wealthy nation, why do we continue to have these economic and health disparities? Power is a public health issue, too bad the power of the people is withheld in public policy.
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