A new survey is suggesting that poor people in America are more likely to be depressed and have other health-related problems. The study was released in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The survey showed that 31 percent of poor Americans admitted to being diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, compared to the 15.8 percent of those who aren’t poor.
While these survey results aren’t shocking, it was also shown that poor people were more likely to have other conditions, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks. The researchers believe that poverty plays a role in a person’s general health habits and that this difference might be why the poor suffer from more chronic health problems than others. This may be linked to the poor’s inability to afford to proper health care. In fact, the survey showed that almost four out of every 10 poor Americans do not have health insurance.
While chronic illness may contribute to the depression experienced by the poor, stress-related financial problems can often lead to the condition. The poor are also more likely to suffer from depression symptoms including mood swings, higher stress levels and anxiety. Most of these symptoms are often treated with antidepressants like Paxil and Effexor.
Both Paxil and Effexor can cause serious side effects including violent and suicidal thoughts and behavior. The pills have also been proven to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers take the pills while pregnant. Some of the birth control pills linked to Paxil and Effexor include PPHN, oral clefts, neural tube defects and spina bifida. In general, SSRIs like Paxil and Effexor can often worsen a person’s condition rather than help them, and the price of these medications can be very high when used for long periods of time. The drugs have also been found to be habit-forming, which makes them even more dangerous.
