Poor Education Can Result in Poor Health
The National Institutes of Health have revealed that an individual’s employment status plays a vital role in the health and well-being of an individual. Employment provides individuals with financial security, better benefits (health insurance, paid time off, etc.), and the opportunity to fulfill an individual’s role in society. A low quality education is one of the most common reasons for low paying jobs. Those who do not receive a high quality education are at an increased risk of unemployment, and poorer health.
A new study found that over 145,000 adult deaths could have been prevented if the individuals had earned a high school diploma or a GED. Creating better educational opportunities for children around the world can help improve the health of a nation. When a nation’s citizens are adequately educated, poverty induced, poor health decreases.
The health risks associated with a low education include poor nutrition and riskier behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse, poor diet, and decreased physical activity. In addition to this, poor education decreases access to quality health care and results in dismal working conditions. Furthermore, low income jobs due to a poor education, increase stress levels, which lowers immunity and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Those who receive a lower quality education or do not graduate from high school frequently experience income inequality, segregation, and poverty. Without a GED or high school diploma, individuals may only be able to find low paying, menial jobs that do not offer health insurance or the income needed to purchase nutrient dense foods.
Food insecurity affects billions of individuals around the world. Oftentimes, food scarcity is the result of generations of individuals who have not received a quality education. When children do not have access to the food their bodies need, they experience more colds, stomachaches, and headaches. Nutrient dense foods increase immunity, decrease stress levels, and improve an individual’s overall health and well-being.
Children who experience nutritional deficits due to living in a low income family are also at an increased risk of obesity. Obesity can result in a number of health issues, including an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. In addition to this, nutritional deficits can cause decreased motor skills and poor decision making.
Those who have lower incomes due to poor education have fewer opportunities for physical activity, which increases the risk of health issues. Low income families may not have access to nearby, affordable recreational facilities. Additionally, individuals in these areas may be prevented from going outdoors to exercise due to the decreased safety of their neighborhoods.
Children who are born into low-income households experience chronic stress. Repeated exposure to stress causes an influx of stress hormones, which can impair memory and decrease the ability to make wise decisions concerning one’s health and future. Furthermore, chronic stress has been shown to increase the risk of behavioral issues in children. Behavioral issues can result in an increased risk of drug and alcohol abuse, which can lead to poor health.
Children who receive an education are empowered, and their lives and health will be transformed. Educational institutes engage children by increasing their knowledge levels, improve their reasoning skills, distilling values, and providing social interaction among a child’s peers. When children are provided with a high quality education, they can become healthy, creative, productive, and engaging members of society.
Individuals who have received a high-quality education have more resources to help them cope with stress and live in much better neighborhoods. Although higher paying jobs may be more stressful, these individuals will have more resources to help them cope with stress, including access to health clubs and health and prescription insurance for access to doctors and medication.
When an individual is better educated, the person can better understand modern medicine. Because medicine is complex, individuals need basic reading and mathematical skills to function properly. Illiterate individuals may have difficulty following the instructions given by their doctor.
Health habits are developed in childhood. During elementary school, middle school, and high school, children are provided with nutrient rich foods, taught the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, and encouraged to exercise through recreational sports, gym, and recess. Completing high school empowers individuals to dig out of poverty and improve their overall health.