The Reasons Of Increased Disease In Large American Cities
The number of households earning less than an annual salary of $15, 000 grew by 37 percent between 2000 and 2016 (Moyer). This is an alarming statistic to the medical field. Many of these people cannot afford basic medical care or nutritional foods. When someone cannot get medical care, they are put at a higher risk for infection and disease. Michigan, along with several other states, has suffered disease outbreaks. All of the states that suffered outbreaks have higher populations of homeless people. Homeless people have tendencies to fall sick to illness because they do not have access to basic cleansing products. Health can be viewed as many things, but it can be broken into three main categories: physical, mental, and social.
Detroit, Michigan had suffered a large hepatitis A outbreak in January of 2018, it had infected over 770 people (Moyer). Hepatitis A is highly contagious and can be spread through close contact of an individual who has already been infected with the disease. “81 percent of those in Michigan were hospitalized due to liver damage and 25 people died (Moyer).” Hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and in severe cases can cause liver failure. If left untreated, this will cause death. However, this disease is not just subject to Michigan. Many other states in America such as California, Utah, Wyoming, and Kentucky have had a hepatitis A outbreak (Moyer). All of these outbreak hotspots share one characteristic, huge populations all living in close quarters. Even if the majority of the population can afford to get vaccines, there is a part of the population of people who can’t afford to be treated due to fee-for-service. Fee-for-service can be defined as “payment to a physician to diagnose and treat a patient’s medical problems.” The enormous debt one hospital visit can put a person in keeps many people from visiting the hospital.
There are many reasons for increasing disease in larger cities, among those reasons, our countries income inequality is one of the main causes. The social class the suffers the most from disease is the lower middle class. They are placed into this category due to low income and lack of education. Social class: according to Weber, a large group of people who rank close to one another in property, power, and prestige.” People in the social class live in very poor conditions. Because of the poor conditions, they are prone to illness. “People that live in these areas have unclean conditions, have limited health care, must work when sick, and have poor nutrition.” Many of the lower-class individuals work in the food industry. When they are almost forced to go into work sick because they can’t afford to miss out on a lower paycheck, they put us at a higher risk for developing these illnesses.
Another cause of increased disease in larger cities is the homeless population. The nation's homeless are put at the highest risk for infectious disease for several reasons. They are either living on the streets, where they do not have easy access to basic toiletries and sanitary items, or they are staying in crowded, homeless shelters with similar problems. They are often surrounded by coughing, sneezing, sick people. The homeless have no way to afford treatment from a hospital or physician. Because they live in very close quarters, disease spreads at a fast rate. Social health and Physical health are very closely related. However, mental health issues can also arise from social and physical aspects.
Another epidemic America is facing is obesity. “A 2017 survey of 2, 000 supermarkets across the U. S. found that, per serving, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables cost twice as much as unhealthy foods.” People that are categorized in the lower class have a hard time providing for themselves, if they have a family, the stress of the hard times can become unbearable. These people are forced to buy the unhealthy foods because they cost much less than healthier food. This is causing many people to become obese.
Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety can result from all the added stress of worrying about getting food on the table or becoming obese. “In any given year, some 15 million American adults — about 5 to 8 percent of the population — have at least one episode of major depression, also known as a major depressive disorder, and only 60 percent of these people reportedly receive appropriate treatment” Depression is a treatable disease, but not everyone can afford to be treated. When mental illnesses are left untreated, they can worsen and cause some to become suicidal.
Health can be viewed as many things, but it can be broken into three main categories: physical, mental, and social. Physical health is directly connected to social health. Economically, not everyone has been as blessed as others. This economic gap has led to fewer doctors’ visits, which leads to disease outbreaks and even mental illness. Depression is one of the many mental illnesses that this country is experiencing yet is still going untreated. The effects of not visiting a doctor when you are ill, cannot only impact you but also the others you are around in your daily routine.
