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The Politics of Risk Inequality and Heart Disease: Exploring the Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health

Greg Foster

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Published in Heart Sick: The Politics Of Risk Inequality And Heart Disease (Biopolitics 15)

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and it is a major contributor to health inequalities. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to develop heart disease, and they are more likely to die from it. This is due to a complex interplay of social and biological factors, which are shaped by the political and economic context in which we live.

Heart Sick: The Politics of Risk Inequality and Heart Disease (Biopolitics 15)

Heart-Sick: The Politics of Risk, Inequality, and Heart Disease (Biopolitics Book 15)

by Janet K. Shim

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	801 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	292 pages

This book examines the political and social factors that contribute to health inequalities, particularly focusing on the risk of heart disease. It draws on a range of disciplines, including sociology, political science, and public health, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between social and biological factors in shaping cardiovascular health outcomes.

Chapter 1: The Social Determinants of Health

The social determinants of health are the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence our health. These factors include our income, education, housing, and access to healthcare. They also include the social and political context in which we live, such as the level of inequality and the strength of our social safety net.

The social determinants of health have a profound impact on our cardiovascular health. For example, people who live in poverty are more likely to have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. They are also more likely to be exposed to environmental hazards, such as air pollution and secondhand smoke.

Chapter 2: The Political Economy of Health

The political economy of health is the study of the political and economic factors that shape health and healthcare systems. These factors include the distribution of power and resources, the role of the state, and the influence of the private sector.

The political economy of health has a significant impact on health inequalities. For example, countries with strong social safety nets and universal healthcare systems have lower levels of health inequality than countries with weak social safety nets and privatized healthcare systems.

Chapter 3: Biopolitics and the Management of Risk

Biopolitics is the study of the political and economic control of life and death. It examines how states and other institutions manage and regulate the bodies and populations of their citizens.

Biopolitics has a significant impact on the risk of heart disease. For example, states and other institutions can use surveillance, screening, and other technologies to identify and manage individuals who are at risk for heart disease. They can also use these technologies to exclude individuals from certain social and economic opportunities.

Chapter 4: Risk Inequality and Heart Disease

Risk inequality is the unequal distribution of risk factors for disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Risk inequality is caused by a complex interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors.

Risk inequality has a significant impact on the risk of heart disease. For example, people who live in poverty are more likely to have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. They are also more likely to be exposed to environmental hazards, such as air pollution and secondhand smoke.

This book has examined the political and social factors that contribute to health inequalities, particularly focusing on the risk of heart disease. It has drawn on a range of disciplines, including sociology, political science, and public health, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between social and biological factors in shaping cardiovascular health outcomes.

The book has shown that health inequalities are not inevitable. They are the result of political and social choices. We can create a more just and equitable society by making different choices about how we distribute resources, how we organize our healthcare system, and how we manage risk.

Heart-Sick: The Politics of Risk, Inequality, and Heart Disease (Biopolitics Book 15)

by Janet K. Shim

5 out of 5