Health Disparity Documentary Summary

This documentary displays epidemiology in action to reveal the correlation between social status and overall health. It focuses on two categories of social status that influence overall health, economic status and race. These two categories are examples of health disparities. According to Paula Braveman a health disparity is, “a difference in which disadvantaged social groups who have persistently experienced social disadvantage or discrimination- systematically experience worse health or greater health risks than more advantaged social groups” (Braveman, 2006, p.167). The documentary explains that economic status and race impact the idea of control and security. Additionally, the feeling of threat and stress causes the human body to release the primary stress hormone, cortisol.
Therefore, this documentary confirmed my idea that greater economic status leads to better health. I was familiar with the idea that those of low socio-economic status have less control over their jobs and lifestyle, which causes greater exposure to stress. On the other hand, those of high socio-economic status have greater control over their lives and have access to assets and resources, allowing one to create an ideal environment. The documentary displays the study of the macaque’s to support the idea that an optimal environment leads to better overall health. However, the documentary challenged my idea that the health disparity of race is not based on genetics; rather it is based on the effects of discrimination that affects the lives of African Americans. The documentary claims that racial discrimination causes African Americans to always “be on guard,” which supports the documentaries message that insecurity and threat influence greater health