The first episode if the documentary series “Unnatural Causes” discusses the modern system of healthcare in the United States and the causes of health inequalities between different groups of the population. It is commonly believed that the absence of the universal health coverage is the main cause of high mortality and morbidity rates in the US. However, the episode presents facts indicating that there are other, possibly more dangerous factors causing these issues. Several concepts are addressed in the episode to identify the exact factors that contribute to poor health of the majority of US citizens, and the interrelation between wealth levels and health state are drawn. This essay will analyze two of these concepts, socioeconomic status (SES) and stress, and the interconnections between them in terms of health and well-being in the US.
Socioeconomic status is discussed by many specialists in the video as one of the main factors contributing to an individual’s health. Being among the main social determinants of health, SES involves aspects such as education, income, and type of job. The video shows that in some areas in the US, life expectancy is 3, 5, and even 10 years shorter than in others (Unnatural Causes 6:15). Undoubtedly, the socioeconomic status of the majority of people in those areas is directly intertwined with these indicators.
As Professor Kawachi, an epidemiologist, states in the video, the person’s behaviors themselves are “determined by their economic status” (Unnatural Causes 3:25). This means that one’s ability to lead a healthy lifestyle and have a healthy diet depends heavily on their access to income, education, and other social determinants of health (Unnatural Causes). A study conducted by Michael Marmot showed that the lower “the grade of employment was, the higher the risk of every major cause of death”, such as heart disease and stroke (Unnatural Causes 9:48). This evidence leads to the second important determinant if population health: stress.
The episode discusses in detail the interconnections between socioeconomic status and stress. The latter is presented as a direct outcome of the problems associated with low SES. For example, people who are struggling to support themselves and their families financially constantly release high levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, which leads to chronic stress. The study conducted by a psychologist Sheldon Cohen showed that the more education and income people have, the less cortisol they release during the day (Unnatural Causes 30:50). Having studied the effects of stress on human bodies, Cohen has found that stress negatively affects an individual’s immune function. Obviously, stress is experienced by all people, whether they have a low- or high- income position at work (Unnatural Causes). Nevertheless, those who have more control over their life at home and at work can cope with stress and minimize its negative effects in a much healthier way.
It can be concluded, therefore, that socioeconomic status and stress are highly interconnected. While low income and level of education increase the amount of cortisol released regularly, high rates of these factors indicate that a person can manage stress in their daily life in a more efficient way. Numerous studies conducted and presented in the first episode of “Unnatural Causes” show that this connection is extremely important to understand and research in order to address the problem in health inequalities in the US.
Work Cited
Unnatural Causes. “In Sickness and in Wealth.” Kanopy – Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries, 2008, Web.