Social Status Level and Health and Tom's Birthday Run

 Socioeconomic Class and Health

The world has become more complicated and more stressful in the last 40 to 50 years. We have experienced  political assassinations, racial rioting  , threats of nuclear destruction, military- industrial complex buildup, economic system disaster, unprecedented contrast between the haves and have-nots, collapse of the middle class, numerous and frequent military encounters, radical terrorist threats, etc.

There is a correlation between stress- insecurity and with an increase in escapism-books, movies, idols, entertainment and especially sports on the college and professional level. I’m saying there is an association for sure and likely a cause-and-effect relationship. More and more individuals are feeling powerless, insignificant, bored, depressed, and anxious and   searching for meaning in their lives. This also results in an unbelievable increase in drugs/medication, legal and otherwise to deal with their unpleasant reality.

As people become more and more left out of the top 1% of economic wealth in this country, that means what’s left becomes a shrinking middle class and lower class levels of socioeconomic status. Education was once the vehicle to escape poverty and to move up in social class. However, now college has become extremely expensive and young adults and their parents take out loans to pay for college. And with the shrinking opportunities for good jobs, many graduates are faced with unbelievable debt and limited ways to overcome their situation.

Unfortunately, there’s a relationship between socioeconomic status and health. A recent article in the Journal of Evolution, Medicine and Public Health found that even in the Tismane [egalitarian foragers in the Amazon] culture, individuals with less political influence( compared to high levels of influence), had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and respiratory infection, which is the most common cause of sickness and death in their society. Further, it’s believed that adults who experience low socioeconomic status in childhood show heightened cortisol responses as adults, regardless of their current socioeconomic status [The New York Times, December 14, 2014].

We know that diet and physical activity are related to health. We can now add socioeconomic status. Therefore, we should have a universal health care system for all to assist with the myriad of health issues that start at an early age. It’s unfortunate that individuals who are psychologically and psycho socially close to, but above the poverty line, often resent those living just below it. This resentment turns into a withholding-controlling attitude and not giving which is not   humanistic, but selfish like.

From Tony: Frank had to miss Tom's birthday run this year. ( Home taking care of his wife Linda) This was the 20th year we have done this to celebrate Tom's B-Day. Tom turn 63 same age as me. we have all been running and riding  off and on together for about the same amount of time great group of people to be with now even the kids are joining us. Happy Birthday Tom!!

Regardless of your socioeconomic class, keep moving, smiling, laughing, loving, bonding and appreciating when you can.