Movie Respond

A superpower nation like the United States of America has always been regarded not only as a country of opportunity but also a country that takes pride for its exceptional education , social , healthcare and human services . For many immigrants , it is a dream to live in an industrialized country that has the resources to protect its citizens and assure them of a better quality of life

The early part of the documentary film has caught my attention . It is surprising to know that a progressive country with the highest gross national product

spends two to three trillion dollars per year on medical care that do not address the medical and healthcare needs of its citizens . With the huge health dollars spent each year , we would expect the United States to be among the industrialized nations with the highest life expectancy . Ranking in the 30th position and being in the bottom among the economically developed countries in terms of life expectancy is a painful reality . How could a great number of infants die before their first birthday ? What is America doing to reverse this situation ? Is it a curse to be born poor and African American ? These were the nagging questions that run through my mind as I view the film

Economic Status and Health

It is a common knowledge that people with better socio-economic status have the resources to purchase healthy meals and other food supplements that is beneficial for their health . At the first sign of illness , they can go to the hospital and seek medical attention since they have better health and medical coverage . However , maintaining a healthy lifestyle largely depends on individual behavior and self discipline . Being the richest and highly educated person in the world is not an assurance that one would be spared from illnesses and diseases that are caused by smoking , unhealthy diet and lack of exercise . Hence , I do not agree that access to education and income , which are regarded as the social determinants of health , can largely influence a healthy lifestyle . We have the power to know what is right for our health and we have the power to reconfigure ourselves in ways that would benefit our health

The film has focused on Louisville , Kentucky and compared the mortality rate of people living in various council districts that are often determined by social class and economic environment . Excess death , the indicator of population health is an alarming time frame predictor of how many people in a given population will die . Death is inevitable and oftentimes unpredictable . This is what we were made to believe in However , experts in Louisville , Kentucky can successfully predict the life expectancy rate based on the place of residence , high school graduation rates , and income of their population . Hence , people who are living in a council district for the affluent have a higher life expectancy rate than those who are residing in a council district for the marginalized people . The prevalence of criminal activities may be greater in...