How does where you live affect your health? The answer is quite a lot. Access to basic services varies by location. Additionally, other factors, such as the economic and political environment, can influence the availability of certain types of care in specific areas. Finally, environmental factors influence overall health. Continuous awareness of these factors can help you maintain your health. Here’s everything you need to know about health geography and its impact on health.
city and country
City and country living have pros and cons for your overall health. One factor is the use of green space. Scientists continue to discover new ways that spending time in nature can enhance human health, while a lack of nature’s company can have detrimental effects, especially for sensitive individuals.
However, commuting in the city is more convenient on foot, by bike, or by public transportation. Even walking to the bus stop will increase your daily step count, and you may not need a car at all. Rural areas are often far apart and the roads are only suitable for cars, leaving no safe passage for pedestrians.
Healthcare services are also plentiful in cities, whereas access to specialist treatment in rural areas can take months. People in rural areas may need to travel hundreds of miles and pay hotel bills to get the care they need, meaning many people don’t have access to the care they need.
Access to services has a huge impact on the aging population. For example, by 2030, 25% of New Yorkers will be 60 or older.
North and South
If you live in the north, you may be slightly healthier. The rules apply in the United States and globally, but vary from region to region. According to the Optimum Health Index scores compiled by the National Institutes of Health, seniors in Northern states were in optimal health at 86%, compared with 82% for seniors in Southern states.
Additionally, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, women in the South were less likely to have access to reproductive health services, which could seriously impact their health.
Globally, the impacts of climate change are most severe in the Southern Hemisphere, with devastating consequences for human health. It leads to low crop yields, hunger, community displacement, poverty and widespread unrest. The area is prone to natural disasters but lacks the infrastructure to deal with worsening storms.
across the pond
Not surprisingly, living in Europe or one of the many other countries with universal health insurance can extend your life. Life expectancy has increased significantly across the pond, while it has declined for Americans in many areas due to inequitable access to health care. Unlike other countries, the U.S.’s for-profit health care system saddles many people with medical debt or prevents them from seeking care in the first place if they can’t afford insurance or deductibles.
It’s also easier to understand your options across the Atlantic. For example, in the United States, it is wise for seniors to speak with an independent health insurance agent to learn about their supplemental insurance options. However, the sales methods of these companies can be predatory, reaching out to seniors who do not understand the differences between preferred provider organizations and health maintenance organizations, locking them into plans that may limit their treatment options.
by postal code
Once you get familiar with the area, you can usually make a guess about the relative health of the area’s residents. You can easily observe this, which illustrates the vast inequities in access to health care in the United States.
Much of the disparity can be attributed to social determinants of health. For example, the following factors can have as much or more of an impact on your health than having a hospital nearby:
- Socioeconomic status: People living in poverty are more likely to live in dilapidated buildings that present health risks such as mold. They are also more likely to live in highly polluted areas and lack safe outdoor green spaces for physical activity.
- Food Desert: It’s hard to eat fresh, whole foods when the only products on store shelves are ultra-processed convenience foods. Food deserts have a direct impact on health by preventing people from getting good nutrition and leading to the development of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Education level: Those who have better access to safe schools and quality education are more likely to take proactive steps to protect their health. Access to sex education also varies and is particularly important for young women. Knowing how to prevent unwanted pregnancy can go a long way toward improving your health, but some people never learn about the “birds and the bees” from their parents or school.
While most Americans agree that the health care system needs major reform, people are divided on how to reduce inequities and improve outcomes. Any shift will require redesigning current systems and reallocating resources to ensure everyone gets the care they need.
Health geography and its impact on well-being
Where you live can have a decisive impact on your overall health. From access to necessary services to health-preserving amenities like green spaces and stores selling healthy foods, part of how good you feel depends on where you are in the world.
