Ch. 15-The Body, Medicine & Health I. Health The way we perceive and treat our bodies reflects our socialization and cultural norms. a. cultural patterns define health, eg. Obesity b. cultural standards of health change over time, eg. Smoking, sun exposure c. a society’s technology affects health, infectious vs chronic illness d. social inequality affects health-low income often die early-in some countries less than 50 years old, high income die later often of chronic illness II. The Social Determinants of Health and Illness Important determinants of health outcomes include nutrition, clean water, lifestyle choices and social position. Stress can affect health. The best predictor of one’s health is whether or not you are wealthy. During the 20th century, U.S. life expectancy increased by 30 years due to social reforms (such as wage and labor laws, housing codes) and increased prosperity. Social Class and Health: There is a relationship between social class and health – the lower one’s social class, the poorer one’s health is likely to be. This relationship holds across countries and over time. Specific causes include: Living conditions – such as poverty, pollution, cultural value placed on risky behaviors like smoking or drinking and drug use – that affect health. Limited access to information on healthy lifestyles, and limited disposable capital to invest in such lifestyles. The presence or absence of health care in general, and high-quality health care in particular, plays a huge role in health inequalities. Race and Health: racism plays a major role in health-related issues; the relationship between race and health is closely related to that between social class and health. Racism and discrimination often block opportunities that would enable blacks to seek more prestigious occupations where better health insurance is available. Dealing with racism takes toll on the body (stress). African-American infants are more than twice as likely to die as white infants (see www.unnaturalcauses.org). There is institutional discrimination that operates within the health care system. (breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and race) Racial minorities are often subjected to poor living conditions where exposure to contaminants and pollution is more likely. Latino paradox-recent Latino immigrants have the best overall health than the rest of the U.S. population. This advantage disappears with the next generation. (see www.unnaturalcauses.org) Gender and Health: While women live longer, there is a widespread, although not fully accepted, view that they have poorer health than men during their lifetimes. Women live longer than men. Women are more likely to be treated until their condition improves. Women seek health care more often than men. There is medicalization of normal life processes such as childbirth or menopause, while other crucial areas such as coronary disease in women are ignored. Health Care Reform in the US: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 was enacted into law to begin to address the kinds of problems in the health care system that are related to social class differences. However, many political factions have decreased the strengths of the Act, and insurance companies have maintained their profit margins and lobbying positions as well. Many companies are keeping employees at less than full-time work to avoid providing health insurance. Growing Global Inequality Women and children tend to be the most vulnerable in terms of health disparities, due to many factors, including poverty, limited access to health care services, low educational attainments, and inadequate sanitation, nutrition, and housing. In many parts of the world there is limited access to clean water.