How do healthcare disparities affect your long-term health?

The interesting thing about health disparities is that it has very little to do with the biology of the people experiencing these differential conditions or outcomes. Rather, the social advantages people have play a much larger role than they should. Not surprisingly, socially vulnerable communities do have fewer healthcare resources, so naturally access is more limited and less likely to be available as early as it is in more privileged areas. This is a root cause of disparities and the inequities we see in historically marginalized populations. However, access alone cannot be considered the sole contributor to the ongoing health inequities we face today.

Here's the thing, limited access to preventive services, such as screenings and vaccinations, can result in delayed diagnoses and higher disease prevalence in underserved populations. The lack of access to specialized care and advanced treatments can lead to poorer outcomes for chronic and severe conditions.

Well, to be honest that is true,especially in India, considering the rural areas. Although we are a growing nation and have come somewhat at par with the global standards of technology. Considering ‘access to healthcare’, we still have a-lot of room for improvement.

Well, to be honest that is true,especially in India, considering the rural areas. Although we are a growing nation and have come somewhat at par with the global standards of technology. Considering ‘access to healthcare’, we still have a-lot of room for improvement.

Educating the patient about their health status is equally important. Many patients have no idea where they stand in terms of their health. This might help the patient do timely investigations and come for routine follow-up.

A number of recent studies have found that historically marginalized populations, even when they enter care as early as their counterparts and receive care as often as their counterparts, continue to have more adverse outcomes. Why do these disparities persist? Simple, who you are and how the medical system perceives you to be plays a big part in the care you receive. Implicit biases, medical racism, and prioritization of resources can all be attributed to the inequitable quality of care. This is why when racially concordant care is delivered, that is a provider and patient share a common identity, outcomes are more favorable. This trend is seen across specialties and settings.

The way forward for such underserved communities would be to embrace lifestyle medicine which is an evidenced approach to reversing, preventing and treating chronic diseases. Lifestyle medicine is anchored on 6 pillars biz: Whole food plant- based diet; building positive relationships; Exercise; avoidance of risky substances like cigarettes; Stress reduction and restorative sleep. A number of case studies have shown reversal of some of these chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and even cancers.

Disparities often result in higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, among disadvantaged groups. Inadequate access to consistent, high-quality care can make managing chronic conditions difficult, leading to complications and decreased quality of life. it is important that we have a strong emphasis on preventative care.

The social drivers of health and vital conditions to health are both root causes of historically marginalized populations having higher rates of chronic conditions. If you have less fresh foods, less safe outdoor space to exercise, and more daily stress just because of who you are, your odds of having a chronic condition goes up. This is why “upstream” interventions are often the most impactful ways to change systems and help the most people. However, we often seen “downstream” or individual patient interventions presented as the solution.

Having spent over 10 years attending to skilled nursing facility patients, with mental health issues, there is no question of disparity, it is always present. Although most facilities do their ultimate best to protect the patient’s privacy, it becomes common knowledge overtime that is patience. Breakfast takes 30 minutes longer than the average it is just fact . in the care due to the level as simple as bathing and dressing, and feeding. It is not purposeful. It is not meant to be harmful, but allocation of time and resources allows it to arise to the attention of administration and then it becomes revenue. Not patient care revenue.

A few considerations on mental health disparities is that there is a significant under representation of people of color in the mental health profession and the daily stress of experiencing prejudice and discrimination predisposes people to symptoms common in mental health diagnoses. Both of these factors must be considered when considering the mental health needs in historically marginalized communities. Further, some groups view mental health symptoms as a failing and this stigma can particularly harmful in hampering care seeking. While care seeking behaviors vary by individual, we do know some groups view mental healthcare as more normal than others. This is why de-stigmatizing mental health and substance use disorders is so important.

Healthcare disparities significantly impact preventive health and education. Many individuals facing historical inequities distrust the medical system. This issue is compounded by inequalities in essential needs like food, housing, and transportation, often relegating healthcare to a lower priority. To address these challenges, we must meet everyone's basic needs, fostering a healthier, more equitable society through enhanced healthcare engagement.nly then can we truly promote effective preventative healthcare and educational outreach, fostering a healthier, more equitable society.

Policies that address population health and preventive health services should be evaluated and reviewed if possible to ensure this inequities are met. Therefore, more implementation researches are needed to inform evidence for Policy making, review or evaluation.