USA - Health report: Income a 'really significant factor' in wellness
Health report: Income a 'really significant factor' in wellness
By Kristi L. Nelson
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted November 15, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
..........The biggest risk across the board may be being poor.
As income decreases, the survey shows, the percentage of people with health problems rises. If you're poorer, you're more likely to lose your teeth, be diabetic, have asthma, smoke cigarettes, have a stroke and feel worried, tense or anxious.
You're less likely to get enough sleep, exercise or social and emotional support, have insurance and go to the doctor when you're sick.
More than race, age and gender, 'all the different things we look at, income plays out as that really significant factor' influencing physical and mental health, said Dr. Kathy Brown, director of Community Assessment and Health Promotion for Knox County. 'It just reinforces how important the issue of poverty is. Although there are certain categories in which race is a huge factor, if you're low-income, regardless of race, you're more likely to have poor (health) outcomes … and (health care) access issues.'
In many categories the survey looked at, the dividing line seemed to be around the $15,000-$24,999 annual salary mark, with bad health indicators increasing even more once the annual income dropped below $15,000. The only thing comparable was education; those who lacked a high school diploma or equivalent were by far more likely to experience health problems and less likely to get regular care.
For example, 1.7 percent of Knox County adults with a household income of $50,000 a year or more, and 6.7 of those with annual income between $35,000-$49,999, reported having had all their teeth pulled because of infection, tooth decay or gum disease. But 14 percent of those with annual household income of $15,000-$24,999 had; at $15,000 and below, it jumped to 18.5 percent. More than a quarter of non-high school grads had had their teeth pulled...........
Knox County, Tennessee is fluoridated:NYSCOF
Fluoride doesn't do much to end social inequalities.
By Kristi L. Nelson
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted November 15, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
..........The biggest risk across the board may be being poor.
As income decreases, the survey shows, the percentage of people with health problems rises. If you're poorer, you're more likely to lose your teeth, be diabetic, have asthma, smoke cigarettes, have a stroke and feel worried, tense or anxious.
You're less likely to get enough sleep, exercise or social and emotional support, have insurance and go to the doctor when you're sick.
More than race, age and gender, 'all the different things we look at, income plays out as that really significant factor' influencing physical and mental health, said Dr. Kathy Brown, director of Community Assessment and Health Promotion for Knox County. 'It just reinforces how important the issue of poverty is. Although there are certain categories in which race is a huge factor, if you're low-income, regardless of race, you're more likely to have poor (health) outcomes … and (health care) access issues.'
In many categories the survey looked at, the dividing line seemed to be around the $15,000-$24,999 annual salary mark, with bad health indicators increasing even more once the annual income dropped below $15,000. The only thing comparable was education; those who lacked a high school diploma or equivalent were by far more likely to experience health problems and less likely to get regular care.
For example, 1.7 percent of Knox County adults with a household income of $50,000 a year or more, and 6.7 of those with annual income between $35,000-$49,999, reported having had all their teeth pulled because of infection, tooth decay or gum disease. But 14 percent of those with annual household income of $15,000-$24,999 had; at $15,000 and below, it jumped to 18.5 percent. More than a quarter of non-high school grads had had their teeth pulled...........
Knox County, Tennessee is fluoridated:NYSCOF
Fluoride doesn't do much to end social inequalities.
posted by Bill at
9:32 AM
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