sorder. Women have significantly higher rates than men of psychological distress and depression. (Weiss and Lonnquist 98) The effect of this this increased distress may lead to depressed immune function which could factor into the higher morbidity of women. (Rieker and Bird 104)The pressure that most men feel to be the primary providers of their homes can have an adverse affect upon their health. When confronted with illness, men will underestimate the severity of their illness and avoid seeking health care so that they would not be removed from the work force and be put in a position not to be able to provide for their families. Overall, men use fewer health care services and do not document their symptoms as well as women. This puts men at a disadvantage when they do seek health care treatment.Socioeconomic differences also affect health. Those of higher socioeconomic status are often healthier than their low socioeconomic status counterparts and on average have a higher life expectancy by about seven years. (Weiss and Lonnquist 42) This is due to differences in exposure to health risks and stress.Those of lower socioeconomic status suffer from higher exposure to health risks as compared to the general population. Poor housing and overcrowding can increase stress levels can thereby increase risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Pollution, dust, smoke, and roach eggs have been linked to the development of chronic asthma in children who grew up in such environments. Such poor living conditions often have poor facilities such as outdated plumbing systems which can increase the amount of contaminants in the water and lead paint which can cause lead poisoning especially in small children. Those of a higher socioeconomic status have the money so that they can move out of urban areas away from pollution.The stress of everyday life can also affect health. Those of a lower socioeconomic status have higher levels of stress due to job instab...
