There are many causes of health inequalities. Discuss Flashcards
Introduction
There are many causes of health inequalities and this essay will provide a detailed analysis on the effect of these causes. Some factors which cause health inequalities are housing and external environment, diet, exercise and lifestyle choices. Although all of these factors are considered when looking at the causes of health inequalities, I believe that lifestyle choices is the most important cause of health inequalities. This is because lifestyle choices are a decision people choose to make and this is a factor that if worked on, it could be controlled
Lifestyle choices
The first cause of health inequalities is lifestyle choices. Smoking affects people from a more deprived background more than those from a richer one. Evidence for this includes that 5% of rich people smoke compared to 25% of poor people. There is also the statistic that poor people are 7 times more likely to get lung cancer than rich people. These statistics show that poor people are much more likely to suffer the health problems which come from smoking. Collectivists may argue that people often smoke due to escapism as stress levels can be high in low-income households, however there are alternative options which relieve stress and will have less impact on one’s health. This is important in causing health inequalities because if poorer people are much more likely than rich people to smoke, this directly leads to much higher rates of smoking related illness and death In poorer people compared to rich. Richer people drink more on average than poorer people. However it is important to consider poverty when talking about the effects of hazardous consumption of alcohol. This is because drinking alcohol on top of the cumulative effects of deprivation can make poor people more likely to suffer the negative effects of alcohol. The cumulative effects such as ACES, diet and housing and external environment. Poor people are more likely to experience ACES which affect the immune system. Poor people are less likely to be able to afford a healthy diet. Living in deprived areas and poor living conditions will affect their health negatively. This is important in causing health inequalities as it means poor people are already at more disadvantage than rich people if they choose to make these lifestyle choices increasing the risk of illness and death compared to rich people who are not as negatively affected.
Housing and external environment
Another cause of health inequalities is housing and external environment. Lower income families are more likely to live in sub – standard housing with problems such as dampness, poor ventilation and overcrowding and this can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. Evidence of this from shelter includes that children living in sub – standard housing are a third more likely than other children to suffer respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Children in poor housing often lack the indoor and outdoor space to play safely. Play parks in deprived areas are often misused and vandalised making it unsafe for children. There has also been a link discovered between mental health and being close to derelict land. Areas of deprivation are more likely to be closer to derelict land meaning poor people have poorer mental health. Being close to derelict land means lower self esteem and pride causing poor mental health. For example in Possil park 100% of people live close to derelict land. The broken windows effect is when people do not care about their surroundings where they live because it is broken and run down. The impact this has is that living in poor housing and the external environment can lead to poor mental and physical health.
Diet
Another cause of health inequalities is diet. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruit and veg and foods that are low in saturated fat and salt. These foods can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Deaths from heart disease are nearly 5 times higher in poorer areas. This is due to the affordability of healthy foods. For many families the amount spent on food is whatever is left over after all essential bills have been paid. So poorer families will have less variety to choose from due to their budget. Some healthy foods such as fresh fruit, fish and veg are often perceived as being more expensive so many families opt for ready meals which are often high in saturated fats and salts. Healthy food may also be a struggle to some people due to lack of healthy options available In deprived areas, if local shops do not regularly stock them. Many people don’t have the access to adequate public or private transport to get to shops that do. Due to less accessibility it may not always be down to choice that poorer people eat a poor diet it is just because of their circumstances. Eating a good diet is important because it increases your chances of having good health and well-being and decreases the chance of diseases. However some people don’t have the option to eat a healthy diet due to affordability , availability and accessibility. For example individuals with a household income of £10,000 or less (39%) said groceries were a strain on finances.
Exercise
Another cause of health inequalities is exercise. Regular exercise has beneficial physical effects such as muscular strength and bone density and also on mental health as it can reduce stress levels, anxiety and depression. 38% of people in the poorest areas do not take part in any sport. It may be argued that this is a lifestyle choice people make however the link between many people not doing sports in poorer areas can also be due to low self-esteem and negative mental health. Some people might not exercise due to the affordability of certain types of exercise e.g., activities for children such as dance lessons, membership fees and equipment such as golf clubs. In some deprived areas it may also not be considered an appealing or safe environment to exercise. Gender may also play a part in this as it is more likely that women are caring for their children meaning less free time to go exercise. Men were more likely than women to meet physical activity guidelines in 2021 (73% and 65%). The impact of this is that lots of people will not meet the recommended levels of exercise – guidelines aged 19-64 years at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. And strength exercises on two or more days a week. This is important because exercise has beneficial effects meaning overall if many people aren’t getting enough exercise, it will negatively affect them in physical and mental aspects. The govt should make exercise more accessible for people in all types of class to reduce the risk of this.
Conclusion
In conclusion housing and external environment, diet, exercise and lifestyle choices are all factors which explain some causes of health inequalities. Housing and external environment causes people to be more likely to develop respiratory problems and also leads to low self-esteem and pride. Poor people are less likely to be able to afford, access or find available healthy food options negatively affecting their health. Poor people are less likely to exercise, and women are also less likely to be able to exercise which has impacts on their mental and physical well-being. However, I believe that lifestyle choices is the most important cause of health inequalities. This is because smoking and drinking as we are all aware negatively affect health and people in poor areas who know about this and still continue to choose to drink, and smoke are only increasing the risks of bad health by choosing to do so as this is a choice. They are wasting this money which could be going towards a better diet, more exercise resources or improving their living conditions.
