The United States Health Disadvantage refers to the disproportionality between rates of diseases and health complications and life expectancy. Americans have higher rates of diseases and death across all age ranges despite the large spending towards health care and medical research. ____.
According to Avendano and Kawachi, medical care and public health systems of the United States contribute to the health disadvantage. Based on studies of Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the United States has the worst overall health care despite spending more on health care than that of other OECD countries. The US health system comprises of both public and private insurance, leading to a lack of coverage for every citizen. Additionally, the U.S. Health Disadvantage ensues from individual behaviors. With Americans constantly working, many people are making individual choices detrimental to their health. Data indicates that the U.S. has “the highest total caloric, sugar, fat, and protein intakes among all OECD countries.” This unhealthy …show more content…
health care system is not perfect, there are multiple factors, not one, that contribute to this disadvantage. Avendano and Kawachi state that the medical care system only “provides at best a partial explanation.” Solely assigning poorer health to the health care system ignores that natural causes, chronic diseases, or unfortunate events, such as homicide or accidents, may be causing the healthy disparity among nations. In fact, emergency care has prevented violence-related deaths. Moreover, the article underscores how a person’s daily behavior may be a vital factor to health. Despite individual behavior seeming to be a big reason for the U.S. health disadvantage, the authors argue that “focusing solely on behavioral differences is proximally focused.” There are other reasons beyond a person’s control that prompt Americans to make their choices, leading to the U.S health
According to Avendano and Kawachi, medical care and public health systems of the United States contribute to the health disadvantage. Based on studies of Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the United States has the worst overall health care despite spending more on health care than that of other OECD countries. The US health system comprises of both public and private insurance, leading to a lack of coverage for every citizen. Additionally, the U.S. Health Disadvantage ensues from individual behaviors. With Americans constantly working, many people are making individual choices detrimental to their health. Data indicates that the U.S. has “the highest total caloric, sugar, fat, and protein intakes among all OECD countries.” This unhealthy …show more content…
health care system is not perfect, there are multiple factors, not one, that contribute to this disadvantage. Avendano and Kawachi state that the medical care system only “provides at best a partial explanation.” Solely assigning poorer health to the health care system ignores that natural causes, chronic diseases, or unfortunate events, such as homicide or accidents, may be causing the healthy disparity among nations. In fact, emergency care has prevented violence-related deaths. Moreover, the article underscores how a person’s daily behavior may be a vital factor to health. Despite individual behavior seeming to be a big reason for the U.S. health disadvantage, the authors argue that “focusing solely on behavioral differences is proximally focused.” There are other reasons beyond a person’s control that prompt Americans to make their choices, leading to the U.S health