by #BeverlyGologorsky in #Salon:

"Poverty invites illness. Growing up, I saw all too many people afflicted by sicknesses that kept them homebound or only able to work between bouts of symptoms. All of us are somewhat powerless when sickness strikes or an accident occurs, but the poor and those working low-paying jobs suffer not just the illness itself but also its economic aftereffects. And in the South Bronx, preventive care remained a luxury, as did dental care, and missing teeth and/or dentures affected both nutrition and the comfort of eating. Doctor's visits were rare then, so in dire situations people went to the closest hospital emergency room."

https://www.salon.com/2023/07/09/what-i-learned-from-the-south-bronx--and-how-it-can-help-us-today_partner/

#poverty #inequality #healthcare #DentalCare #illness #sickness