|
|
By. Shamani Salahuddin
While America is a global leader in scientific advancement and medical innovation, it ranks last in terms of low-performing health outcomes, despite spending the most on healthcare, according to a study conducted by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
Many professionals name health inequity as the cause of the disparities in the American health care system. Health inequity describes the differences in access to health resources between different social groups based on social conditions such as where people are born, live, work, age, and race, according to the World Health Organization.
For example, more than half of working adults cannot afford health care, discouraging many Americans from seeking treatment, creating a financial health disparity. Plus, with attempts to cut Medicare funding, that number could continue to increase.
“The fact of the matter is that if there is a call to defund Medicaid, there are hundreds of thousands of people [who] will lose their insurance,” said the Director of Communications for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Diamond Crumby.
In a nation without equal access to health care services, patients can reclaim their health by focusing on preventative care, adopting healthy habits, and remaining aware of the latest health news.
Practicing preventive health care
Preventive health care includes services and care provided to maintain health and possibly diagnose conditions before they become a problem. This can look like screenings for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as adopting health habits like eliminating smoking and balanced eating, or simply attending yearly check-ups.
Leaning on community resources
Uninsured individuals may need to research where to access preventive health care services, as nonprofit organizations tend to be less advertised and, therefore, unknown. However, most communities have groups that work to provide healthcare to those of a lower socioeconomic class.
In Ohio, the Charitable Health Network receives funding from the Ohio Department of Health to serve uninsured patients. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio also has financial assistance options for services.
In 2024, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio provided care for over 50,000 patients, according to Crumby.
Planned Parenthood “also provided over 10,000 preventative care visits, and a large part of that is cancer screenings…one thing we are very concerned with is that Black women in particular are nearly 2-to-3 times more likely to die from cervical cancer because of lack of access to get the proper screenings for cervical cancer,” Crumby said.
Independent health organizations in Cleveland offer the community free or charitable wellness and preventative health care services, including primary care, dental care, physicals, cancer screenings, sexual health, and women’s health services.
Cleveland organizations:
- Ohio Department of Health: Free Clinics
- Planned Parenthood
- The Centers Integrated Health and Wellness
Prioritizing healthy nutrition
Most know that eating whole and nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein is the best way to promote good nutrition, but it can also be a natural way to get essential vitamins.
Start the day with whole grains like oatmeal or raw vegetables for a snack to incorporate more fiber into the diet, promoting digestive health. Increase calcium and vitamin D intake to promote bone health through dairy and seafood like salmon and sardines, and support the kidneys, heart, and muscles by adding more potassium through produce like beets and bananas or beverages like pomegranate and orange juice.
However, healthy eating may be easier said than done for communities living in food deserts, areas with limited access to nutritious, affordable food options, but it’s not impossible. Strategically shopping at grocery stores by stocking canned and frozen produce tends to be cheaper and lasts longer without wasting food, Tony Allemon, PA-C, shared with Healthline.
Moving more and sitting less
According to the American Heart Association, physical exercise may help cut racial health disparities in chronic diseases, like heart disease. Groups at higher risk of cardiovascular disease include adults who are older, female, Black, and who experience depression, have disabilities, have a lower economic status, or live in rural areas. Less than one in four adults in the U.S. meets the federal guidelines for physical activity. The CDC recommends 150 minutes–two and a half hours–of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Things like brisk walking, jogging, weight lifting, and swimming help strengthen the heart by improving circulation and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
Regular exercise can also improve mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Staying updated on health news
Keeping up with health news is the key to preparing for potential outbreaks like the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the rise of measles cases in the United States today.
While watching broadcast news is a conventional way to access news updates, the mainstream news cycle can have biases and political motivations. However, it is more reliable to subscribe to reputable, objective sources like the World Health Organization, leading medical journals like the New England Journal of Medicine, or follow experts and organizations on social media.
Shamani Salahuddin is a freelance journalist based in Middle Tennessee. Her work has been published in Nashville’s largest newspaper, the Tennessean, and its affiliate publication, Southern Kitchen.
