Shorter Life Spans Prevalent in Rural Communities Across the Country
Rural America faces unique challenges when it comes to health and well-being. A series of factors contribute to a higher risk of poor health outcomes for rural residents compared to their urban counterparts.
One of the most pressing issues is the opioid epidemic, which affects rural areas more severely due to limited resources for treatment. The lack of providers, clinics, and hospitals in rural areas can limit people's access to healthcare, exacerbating the problem.
Economic factors also play a significant role in rural health disparities. Higher rates of poverty and unemployment, lower household incomes, and lower rates of college or university education contribute to increased health risks. These factors often lead to unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, and poor access to healthy foods.
The life expectancy gap between urban and rural areas has grown over the years, with rural Americans facing a higher risk of dying from the five leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory disease, stroke, and unintentional injuries.
Rural demographics also contribute to the shortage of caregivers for older adults. Older people in rural areas often experience social isolation due to the larger distance from family and neighbours, which can have negative effects on their health.
However, efforts are being made to address these health disparities. The goals of public health promotion focused on rural populations aim to reduce disparities in health status and mortality between rural and urban areas. This includes improving access to healthcare services, enhancing preventive care, promoting healthy lifestyles, and addressing social determinants of health specific to rural communities.
Programs like the National Health Service Corps offer loan forgiveness to providers who practice in rural areas as a financial incentive to lure providers to these more remote locations. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions for the expansion of Medicaid in states and subsidies to offset the cost of health insurance for many people helped halve the uninsured population in Arizona.
Improved public health prevention efforts are also crucial. The CDC calls for increased screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer, smoking cessation programs, and education about eating better, exercising more, and motor vehicle safety in rural areas.
Despite these efforts, the future health of people living in rural areas remains uncertain due to the dismantling of the ACA by the Republican-controlled Congress. It is essential to continue addressing these health disparities and working towards equitable health outcomes for all Americans, regardless of where they live.
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