Independent Research Week Twelve, Post Two (Synthesis & Connection)

  Health inequity - America's chronic condition? - Esteban Lopez

    When in comes to health care in the United States, it is much like the Hunger Games - may the odds be ever in your favor. This is because for most people in the United States, especially BIPoC individuals, there is little to o chance for equity when it comes to interacting with the health care system. The United States lags behinds every other industrialized nation when it comes to health indicators. The United States is 42nd in average life expectancy, 26th for infant mortality (previously 6th in 1953), but first in obesisty. 

    However, before jumping into the realities of health inequities in the United States, it must be defined. Health inequities are systemic, ingrained, and unjust barrier that prevent a segment of the population form the opportunity of health leading to health disparity. This can be caused by multiple different things. Oftentimes, there is a shortage of doctors in hospitals in low-income and BIPoC communities, and when they are there, the wait times can be extremely long. A lack of affordable housing access can force community members to live within extremely close confines, which increasing the risk of infectious disease. Health disparities are also impacted by stop and frisk laws, Voter ID laws, and mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenses.lack of doctors in hospitals in low-inome and BIPOC communities. These have all led to health disparities throughout BiPoC communities. For example, black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Latinos are most likely to die from chronic kidney disease than their white counterparts. In Native American communities, obesity rates have reaches 42%. All of these examples are curical in understanding the implications of health inequities. However, this week's research focuses on birthoutcomes for Black women. 

    Black women in the United States have a 3-4x higher rate of negative birth outcomes. This can include premature birth, low birth weight, and child death due to all cause infant mortality. Research has also found that this is not based on genetics. African women who have never been to the United States have similar birth outcomes of white women in the United States. However, if their children are to move tot he United States, their estimated birth outcomes would drop to those of Black American women.  

    So what is causing this? The answer is cortisol. Cortisol is a fight or flight response hormone that shoots sugars to your muscles to allow for quick action and reaction, especially to danger. Evolution has perfected its role in the human body, and it is great in short and small amounts, but not great constantly. Cortisol has been linked to have low-birth weight, and is released during pregnancy, which can result in premature birthing. Cortisol has consistently been linked with experiencing racial bias. Black, Latina, and Native American women all have higher cortisol levels than their white counterparts, with Black women having the highest. However, it has been found that support groups for BIPoC pregnant women has been able to decrease overall cortisol levels and help create better birth outcomes. 

    The solution to this issue comes in three parts, as it is not a one-step-fix-all type of situation. For individuals, the focus must be on dealing with the daily stress of living in a country with racial bias. By practicing biofeedback when feeling anxious (empty mind, focus on breathing) and meditation, overall cortisol levels drop. Furthermore, by creating a social support network, BIPoC women can better cope with racial bias and stress both before, during, and after pregnancy. The health care community must also take steps to address this issue. Health care workers must learn and be trained to treat patients in a culturally competent manner. Health care workers must know how to offer BIPoC patients ways to deal with stress and anxiety, and doctors must be paid for value, not just service. By working to create positive health outcomes for individuals, doctors are working to create more successful communities. Lastly, communities must also put in the works, as opposed to waiting for others to do it. By investing money, time, and energy into solving health equities, you are investing money, time, and energy into the health and success of communities.