Introduction
Racism comprises the composition, strategy, application, and standard that allocate the values and decide chance based on the appearance or color of their skin. Racism leads to conditions that provide biased benefits to someone and discrimination against others. It negatively impacts an individual's mental and physical status, stopping them from achieving better health and affecting the nation's health. Racism has a prominent and negative effect on the population of color. This effect is potent and present in society everywhere.
In the United States, there is a higher incidence of diseases like diabetes, obesity, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and death rate in the Afro-American population. The lifespan of Afro-Americans in the United States is also comparatively less. Racism has a massive impact on the social determinants of health, such as housing, employment, and education, and is an obstacle to health and well-being. Discrimination in terms of race is a significant factor in the onset of any disease and affects the mental and physical health of these races.
What Are the Impacts of Racism on Health?
1. In Adults-
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Physical Health: Racism is linked with poor mental and physical health. The stress resulting from racism can have lifelong physical consequences. Stress can lead to hypertension and reduce immunity, resulting in chronic diseases. Discrimination is associated with a high incidence of smoking, drug consumption, alcoholism, and unhealthy eating practices. It increases the risk of inflammation and increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Discriminatory behavior towards these people can lead to sleep disturbances and psychological issues.
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Mental Health: There is a higher incidence of people facing racism who tends to develop depression, anxiety, emotional breakdown, suicidal tendencies, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is an increased link between racism and fear, and depression.
2. In Children and Young-
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Physical Health: Racism is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight and infant mortality. Pregnant women who face discrimination tend to give birth to babies having less weight which is associated with many infant health issues. In young children, the fear of discrimination also increases the risk of chronic diseases.
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Mental Health: Young children who report racism should undergo regular mental health screening to rule out certain conditions like anxiety, sadness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. If children do not face racism directly but witness it, it also shows a huge impact. Extreme and constant stress can affect the brain and increases negative feelings of fear that impact learning skills and memory.
What Is the Meaning of Structural Racism?
Structural racism is the leading cause of health inequality in the United States. Biased practices and policies are examples of structural racism. This impact is present in society, workplaces, and the residential area, thereby impacting an individual's mental and physical well-being. Housing isolation is an example of structural racism. In 1934, the federal housing administration was launched, aiming to rank the residential areas from most to most minor preferable areas to live. The society where Afro-Americans lived was marked as red on maps. The government uses this map for investment.
The areas marked in red did not receive any financial support. It dramatically impacts the health of the people living in those marked red areas. Due to the lack of financial aid, these residential areas lack enough space for physical activity, schools, less employment, and no access to fresh edible items. There marked red areas are the least preferred place to live; alternatively, it becomes a place for roadways, factories, and waste. It can result in chronic conditions like asthma, renal damage, hypertension, and lung cancer. In 1964, there were different wards and healthcare facilities for them. This kind of medical discrimination was common even after 1964.
What to Do if Racism Is Affecting Health?
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Try Speaking to Close Ones: An individual who has faced racism can try talking to a close friend or family person they trust and are comfortable sharing their experience with, which provides some support. An individual can try speaking to someone from the same race, also.
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Speak to Your Doctor: Talk to the doctor if an individual who has faced racism is experiencing hallucinations or unwanted thoughts about the event or the individual has thought of having post-traumatic stress disorder, continuously having a bad mood or depression, feeling emotionless or blank from inside, experiences sleep disturbances, and improper eating habits, fearful and anxious most of the time.
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Know About the Rights and Report Miss- Treatment: If an individual face discriminatory behavior, they must report this. It helps in boosting self-esteem and makes the other person understand that this is wrong.
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Join Encouraging People Groups: An individual who faces racism will find it difficult to explain what he is experiencing to people who have never met such issues. Online groups are available where such people can join and come together and share their experiences, so the person will not feel that he is alone or the only one facing this.
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Join Movements: Individuals can join some anti-racist organizations aiming to bring change in society's thinking. It can improve self-esteem and give some hope that change might be possible.
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An Individual Cannot Bring Change Alone: A single person cannot bring change in society, so individuals should avoid taking so much stress. The community must think and change their behavior while talking to or treating any other ethnic groups.
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Restrict Social Media Feeds: The content that is available online can harm the health, and there is a need to restrict or block the content regarding racism that can give stress and report abusive content.
Conclusion
Racism is an obstacle for an individual to attain better health. Bioethics is related to an individual's health, healthcare, and justice. Racism has a long-term impact on the health of people of color. Bioethics should work on a full-scale perspective of health that includes community-based and political aspects of health and the methods that racism pays to health injustice. Afro-Americans should only trust bioethics if bioethics completely understand that discrimination puts enormous pressure on them and that society must not interfere in their health maintenance.
