Appalachian Culture and Health Awareness Essay

According to Kruger et al. (2012), the Appalachian region, consisting of 13 states along the east coast border, is a lofty risk area for cardiac, pulmonary, and cancer conditions related to smoking and coal mining. This rural population has ultimately higher rate of heart disease, stroke, COPD, asthma, lung cancer, and diabetes. Substantially higher range of smoking, as well as the relevance of coal mining, are two major contributors to the increased risk of morbidity and mortality amongst this large population (Kruger et al., 2012). skimpy education, poor behavior choices, and lack of adequate health finagle are major contributors to the overall unhealthy lifestyles of these individuals. Unfortunately, this begins at a young age. According to Short, Oza-Frank, and Conrey (2012), thither are major differences regarding preconception health awareness amongst Appalachian women as compared to non-Appalachian women. Appalachian women have higher rates of smoking, diabetes, and obesity than do non-Appalachian women.These women have poorer rates of prenatal care and higher rates of birthing and congenital complications, such as pulmonary hypertension, insufficient lung development, and cardiac abnormalities. Often due to lack of insurance, these mothers often lack appropriate health care and health awareness, thus increasing their childs risk of further cardiac and pulmonary conditions down the road. Unfortunately, these babies go up up in an environment that, as a population, has inadequate health care, low income, and poor health. This detrimental sequence of events is what has maintained the subpar health status of the Appalachian population (Short et al., 2012).As these children grow into their teens, poor behavioural choices further substantiate detrimental risk factors. A study by Pettigrew, Miller-Day, Krieger, and Hecht (2012), conducted research study of ancient and secondary health prevention in Appalachian adolescents. According to this study, this population has higher rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use as compared to non-Appalachian adolescents. These risky behaviors are so prevalent because of lifestyles these children have grown to know these behaviors are considered normal in many homes. As do their parents, many of these children lack insurance and health care (Pettigrew et al., 2012).Obesity and diabetes is also substantially high in the Appalachian population as compared to the rest of the nation as shown in a study by Wenrich, Brown, Wilson, and Lengerich (2012). The authors pinpoint Appalachia as a low-income group of individuals who receive poor nutrition, thus further contributing to the preexisting risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Poor health, along with behavioral risk factors, have ultimately led to detrimental health status. Yes, we love the STEELers, but steel mills and coal mining has only contributed to these health risks.The Appalachian culture is at risk for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, the se risk factors will not decline quickly. Primary prevention and health awareness programs would make a grand impact on this population. Low income is a struggle that will not be overcome easily. However, primary prevention and health awareness are often available at low cost and are highly efficient measures of decreasing risk factors by focusing on healthy lifestyles. Smoking accomplishment would obviously be of major importance, but compliance would be of great struggle (Kruger et al., 2012).ReferencesKruger, T., Howell, B., Haney, A., Davis, R., Fields, N., & Schoenberg, N. (2012).Perceptions of smoking cessation programs in rural Appalachia. AmericanJournal of wellness Behavior, 36(3), 373-84.Pettigrew, J., Miller-Day, M., Krieger, J., & Hecht, M. (2012). The rural content of illicitsubstance offers a study of Appalachian rural adolescents. Journal of AdolescentResearch, 27(4), 523-50.Short, V., Oza-Frank, R., & Conrey, E. (2012). Preconception Health Indicators A comparison amongst non-Appalachian and Appalachian women. Maternal & Child Health Journal,16(1), 238-49.Wenrich, T., Brown, J., Wilson, R., & Lengerich, E. (2012). Impact of a community-based intervention on serving and intake of vegetables among low-income, rural Appalachian families. Journal of Nutrition knowledge & Behavior, 44(1), 36-45.