Even Our Microbial Tenants Are Influenced by Disparity and Discrimination
Socioeconomic factors influence mental and physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic had a worse outcome in regions with poverty and poor economic situations. The belief that the coronavirus affects everyone equally is a myth.1 Even noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, are more prevalent in regions with lower socioeconomic status. Social factors, however, are very diverse, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact factors that may affect human health.
It has been assumed that these social situations have a greater impact on mental health, leading to psychological stress, anxiety, and depression. So, physical illness can be a result of psychological disorders. However, new findings have revealed that social factors may impact physical health directly, and even living beings that reside in our bodies.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people have to move from their high-stress countries to their dream destinations in search of better situations, satisfaction, and happiness. However, the new lands often bring them new stresses.
Social inequalities, discrimination, and the minority experience are the most stressful factors that individuals encounter during immigration to other countries. They show significant signs of mental stress. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is altered, leading to increased cortisol levels in individuals. Among these, specific eating disorders, obesity, diabetes, higher blood pressure reactivity, and cardiovascular disease are more prevalent.2 Furthermore, research has shown that ethnic........
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