Succeeding Against the Odds Can Make You Sick(nytimes.com)
nytimes.com
Succeeding Against the Odds Can Make You Sick
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/sunday/why-succeeding-against-the-odds-can-make-you-sick.html?_r=0
71 comments
> ‘They started asking people, “how much stress have you experienced in the last year?”’ The doctors also probed whether participants believed that stress was bad for their health – and then looked at the records to see who died. ‘People who experienced a lot of stress in the previous year had a 43 per cent increased risk of dying. But,’ McGonigal continues, ‘that was ONLY true for the people who also believed stress was also harmful for your health. People who experienced a lot of stress but did not view stress as harmful were no more likely to die – in fact, they had the lowest risk of dying of anyone in the study, including people who had very little stress.’
I'm not sure the causation goes in that direction. Couldn't it also be that those who take damage from stress feel that stress is bad for them, and those who aren't affected by stress negatively feel that it's good for them? To throw a silly example... Vampires believe that sun is harmful, humans believe a bit of sun is good for them. But believing won't make a difference for the vampire.
I'm not sure the causation goes in that direction. Couldn't it also be that those who take damage from stress feel that stress is bad for them, and those who aren't affected by stress negatively feel that it's good for them? To throw a silly example... Vampires believe that sun is harmful, humans believe a bit of sun is good for them. But believing won't make a difference for the vampire.
I think it is so straightforward. Chronic stress is bad for the health in general due to the effects of cortisol to the body.
Some people may deal with stress (as Sapolsky describes), so the effects of cortisol are not pronounced.
Those that cannot deal with the stressors, are those most affected and they are those that will admit they are stressed.
It is an issue of people tending to admit something, in a qualitative study.
Some people may deal with stress (as Sapolsky describes), so the effects of cortisol are not pronounced.
Those that cannot deal with the stressors, are those most affected and they are those that will admit they are stressed.
It is an issue of people tending to admit something, in a qualitative study.
I thinks there's a similar, simpler, explanation:
1) People who say they don't stress 2) People who say they stress but don't believe it's harmful 3) People who say they stress and believe it's harmful
I find the (3) group is the one actually stressing, feeling all the anxiety etc.
The (2) group just talks about feeling stressed, but they just mean that they had lots of responsibilities etc, they didn't suffer actual stress (the mental issues associated with it) like the (3) group.
1) People who say they don't stress 2) People who say they stress but don't believe it's harmful 3) People who say they stress and believe it's harmful
I find the (3) group is the one actually stressing, feeling all the anxiety etc.
The (2) group just talks about feeling stressed, but they just mean that they had lots of responsibilities etc, they didn't suffer actual stress (the mental issues associated with it) like the (3) group.
What do you mean 'I find' ? How do you find ? By observation ?
Stress has unique biochemical pattern that can be measured.
Stress has unique biochemical pattern that can be measured.
>What do you mean 'I find' ? How do you find ? By observation ?
By the power of thinking. That is, by considering the provided data, and coming up with what looks to be more plausible.
Sure, it might be wrong.
But without that ability, even the best data are useless, because data are nothing without the interpretation part.
>Stress has unique biochemical pattern that can be measured.
That's irrelevant, though, in this case, because they didn't measure those. As the grandparent quotes: "They started asking people, “how much stress have you experienced in the last year?" -- so it's based on self-reporting.
By the power of thinking. That is, by considering the provided data, and coming up with what looks to be more plausible.
Sure, it might be wrong.
But without that ability, even the best data are useless, because data are nothing without the interpretation part.
>Stress has unique biochemical pattern that can be measured.
That's irrelevant, though, in this case, because they didn't measure those. As the grandparent quotes: "They started asking people, “how much stress have you experienced in the last year?" -- so it's based on self-reporting.
And now CRISPR technologies are being developed I trust that in addition to eliminating Huntington's disease, Tay-Sachs, Fragile X, and what have you, we will fix the GULO gene so that our bodies can recommence Vitamin C production.
Yeah, that is already done in animals few times and even in human cells in vitro, see here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-gulonolactone_oxidase#Animal...
> There were number of successful attempts to activate lost enzymatic function in different animal species
This is not trival change however given the amount of time that passed and that some level of adaptation to loss ocured. It would however probably be milestone in human achievements.
Even if GULO is activated it might not be enough: The process of evolution does not necessarily result in the normal provision of optimum molecular concentrations:
http://www.cellmedsoc.org/research_archive/NHC/studien_pdf/o...
Found a paper on primate micronutrient patterns too:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1095643303...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-gulonolactone_oxidase#Animal...
> There were number of successful attempts to activate lost enzymatic function in different animal species
This is not trival change however given the amount of time that passed and that some level of adaptation to loss ocured. It would however probably be milestone in human achievements.
Even if GULO is activated it might not be enough: The process of evolution does not necessarily result in the normal provision of optimum molecular concentrations:
http://www.cellmedsoc.org/research_archive/NHC/studien_pdf/o...
Found a paper on primate micronutrient patterns too:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1095643303...
While you didn't suggest where you source your Vitamin C, it may be helpful to point out that the "grams of C in the wild" that are generally eaten by primates are probably from natural sources. You may find this article interesting to read, as there are questions as to have safe and effective certain vitamins and supplements are: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161208-why-vitamin-supplem... vitamin pills don't work, and may be bad for you</a>.
Please, that is nothing but propaganda. If you have a title 'vitamins are bad for you', its a marker that you shouldn't read any more. That is meaningless the same as would be 'cars are bad for you', 'vacciness are bad for you' etc. You can't condemn entire technology but particular instances of it.
Anyway, there is no such thing as 'natural vitamin C'. Its just vitamin C. I take several grams of ascorbic acid (AA) powder either pure or mixed with sodium bicarbonate (natrium ascorbate). AA is the same thing that my liver would produce if GULO gene wasn't disfunctional, something that back in time maybe made sense in evolutional context but now most certainly doesn't as context changed dramatically.
What people actually descibe unknowingly when talking about 'natural vitamin C' is plant based molecular complex of myriad of substances (form of low dose multivitamin) and that is entirelly different topic.
Anyway, there is no such thing as 'natural vitamin C'. Its just vitamin C. I take several grams of ascorbic acid (AA) powder either pure or mixed with sodium bicarbonate (natrium ascorbate). AA is the same thing that my liver would produce if GULO gene wasn't disfunctional, something that back in time maybe made sense in evolutional context but now most certainly doesn't as context changed dramatically.
What people actually descibe unknowingly when talking about 'natural vitamin C' is plant based molecular complex of myriad of substances (form of low dose multivitamin) and that is entirelly different topic.
"The focus on black adolescents is significant. In much of this research, white Americans appeared somehow to be immune to the negative health effects that accompany relentless striving."
Poverty in youth, is a predictor of future poor health outcomes. This is the conclusion of so many Dunedin study papers. [0] An unexpected finding, the effects of poverty are ^not^ reversed by future wealth. I can't find the specific study for this, however another report displays another unexpected find, "The high-need/high-cost group of adults could be identified as young as age 3years on the basis of their ‘brain health,’". [1]
While poverty is the root cause, race determines poverty, the health outcomes are lifelong.
Reference
[0] http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/publications
[1] http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/news-and-events/article/53
Poverty in youth, is a predictor of future poor health outcomes. This is the conclusion of so many Dunedin study papers. [0] An unexpected finding, the effects of poverty are ^not^ reversed by future wealth. I can't find the specific study for this, however another report displays another unexpected find, "The high-need/high-cost group of adults could be identified as young as age 3years on the basis of their ‘brain health,’". [1]
While poverty is the root cause, race determines poverty, the health outcomes are lifelong.
Reference
[0] http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/publications
[1] http://dunedinstudy.otago.ac.nz/news-and-events/article/53
I don't see anything new here. Stress is hard on people. Those who strive to succeed against the odds are subjecting themselves to higher stress levels. The article seems to be trying to imply a causation that is unfounded.
TLDR (or at least what I took from it): Too much adversity produces stress that is bad for the body in that it ages your immune system much faster than it should.
Sounds plausible.
Sounds plausible.
Important qualifier: (I only read up to the middle) the results were largely associated with African American subjects.
Yes, they kept saying the negative effects didn't happen to whites, so I'm not sure what the takeaway here is. Life is harder for black people?
The idea is that the constant stress imparted to black people by institutional and systemic racism leads to poorer health outcomes.
This doesn't disprove that white people don't also have worse health outcomes with increased stress, but the focus for many researchers is in targeting health disparities and social inequalities. It just so happens that race plays a big role in that.
This doesn't disprove that white people don't also have worse health outcomes with increased stress, but the focus for many researchers is in targeting health disparities and social inequalities. It just so happens that race plays a big role in that.
Success is harder for black folks. If they don't leave the poorer areas they grew up in, did they really succeed? There's an increase risk of being a victim if you are richer than most in a poorer area. if they leave, they are socially isolated from their comfort zone and friends, labeled a sell out, have to conform to social norms of the new environment. In both cases friends and relatives constantly beg for money. The worry of losing it all is very real. Yes, life is harder for blacks in America. A black African that succeedes in Africa doesn't have as much stress.
This has largely been my experience.
You'd probably also be interested in "The short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace", a young man who went from inner city poverty, to a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale university, to being killed in a drug robbery.
You'd probably also be interested in "The short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace", a young man who went from inner city poverty, to a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale university, to being killed in a drug robbery.
I assumed, on reading, that they were suggesting it was due to some societal factors (e.g. racism) that makes it harder for black people, but maybe I misinterpreted it.
Well, even as a poor white, fighting poverty etc, it's different than dodging bullets in your neighborhood (as was often the case, in the time of the study), plus, the dominant race of society seeing you as criminal/inferior/threatening.
Also found recently in a Finnish population (skimmed through the end.)
If I understood the article correctly, the effect was originally associated with African Americans, but has recently been extended to others in similar "striving" conditions.
It is slightly more than adversity, as anyone can lose someone important or their job, suffer from brain trauma, etc. Upward mobility implies understanding and navigating through different sets of social rules and this can be extremely stressful and implies what sociologists call anomie.
The sociological explanation of this phenomenon is almost a hundred years old. You can read it here: Merton, Robert K. (October 1938). "Social Structure and Anomie". American Sociological Review. 3 (5): 672–682.
Sorry for the paywall, but you "hackers" know how to circumvent it, right?
The sociological explanation of this phenomenon is almost a hundred years old. You can read it here: Merton, Robert K. (October 1938). "Social Structure and Anomie". American Sociological Review. 3 (5): 672–682.
Sorry for the paywall, but you "hackers" know how to circumvent it, right?
The wiki for Anomie is fascinating.
".. characterized by a rapid change of the standards or values of societies (often erroneously referred to as normlessness), and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness. He believed that anomie is common when the surrounding society has undergone significant changes in its economic fortunes, whether for better or for worse and, more generally, when there is a significant discrepancy between the ideological theories and values commonly professed and what was actually achievable in everyday life."
This can certainly be said to describe how many are feeling with the current election outcome. Thanks for bringing this up.
".. characterized by a rapid change of the standards or values of societies (often erroneously referred to as normlessness), and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness. He believed that anomie is common when the surrounding society has undergone significant changes in its economic fortunes, whether for better or for worse and, more generally, when there is a significant discrepancy between the ideological theories and values commonly professed and what was actually achievable in everyday life."
This can certainly be said to describe how many are feeling with the current election outcome. Thanks for bringing this up.
There is a also a wikipedia article on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomie which is a term I hadn't heard before.
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Is there info about social status. Because Trump should be on his deathbed now and Obama must be already very very sick.
And generally speaking successful politicians live long. Castro, Mugabe... And they did had a lot of adversaries. And won against the odds.
And generally speaking successful politicians live long. Castro, Mugabe... And they did had a lot of adversaries. And won against the odds.
That was exactly what was going through my mind. Trump basically fought and won against the GOP establishment, the democrats, media and the pollsters and made it. He is still at war with the media and the world at large still hates him. He seems pretty unperturbed though.
Lot's of stress over a decade is not what this is studying.
Suppose he aged 20% faster for 2 or 10 years that's simply not a big deal. However aging 20% faster for 50 years is.
Suppose he aged 20% faster for 2 or 10 years that's simply not a big deal. However aging 20% faster for 50 years is.
Interestingly, Trump doesn't drink alcohol (his older brother had died of alcoholism).
Trump seems to enjoy the fight; I wonder if he finds it stressful.
If you start with a massive inheritance, to some extent that will diminish the stress. Bathing in gold-plated bathtubs also cuts stress, and grabbing felines because you can.
One could argue that a black American would have great difficulty taking advantage of these stress reliefs.
One could argue that a black American would have great difficulty taking advantage of these stress reliefs.
Can we put aside the partisan attacks and have a rational discussion here on Hacker News?
In that spirit, I think you're wrong about inherited wealth, gold, and women who "let you do it" being unavailable to black Americans.
A small number of people of both races have access to these things.
In that spirit, I think you're wrong about inherited wealth, gold, and women who "let you do it" being unavailable to black Americans.
A small number of people of both races have access to these things.
I don't understand how that was a partisan attack. Are you saying he didn't grab women's genitals?
Apparently we can't put that topic aside to discuss campaign stress making candidates sick.
I called it a partisan attack because, prompted by the mere mention of Trump's name, that comment pulled the conversation so far off topic for no reason other than to attack Trump.
I called it a partisan attack because, prompted by the mere mention of Trump's name, that comment pulled the conversation so far off topic for no reason other than to attack Trump.
I agree that people, regardless of race, can end up ranking pretty high on the ladder of Western society.
However, it's pretty disingenuous to suggest that everyone starts out in the same position on that ladder.
However, it's pretty disingenuous to suggest that everyone starts out in the same position on that ladder.
When did I suggest that?
It's sort of implied in your comment that black Americans have the same access to the superficial perks the person you were responding to suggested.
Here's a simple thought experiment for you. If you took the starting rating, x, for a set of Americans, I think you'd find that whites have a higher initial starting rank than someone who's black or Hispanic. It's harder to climb the ladder when you start out on a lower position.
Here's a simple thought experiment for you. If you took the starting rating, x, for a set of Americans, I think you'd find that whites have a higher initial starting rank than someone who's black or Hispanic. It's harder to climb the ladder when you start out on a lower position.
I think that thought experiment starts from a flawed premise. There's no starting rank for a set of Americans - different people have different starting ranks.
Obama's daughters start out well ahead of a homeless white boy, for example, and any bias that would lead to aiding Obama's daughters instead of the homeless white boy is unjust.
Obama's daughters start out well ahead of a homeless white boy, for example, and any bias that would lead to aiding Obama's daughters instead of the homeless white boy is unjust.
it's the cocaine that makes him seem unperturbed
He would be dead by now if he did coke because coke accelerates cellular mechanisms for aging
For example, cocaine and alcohol addiction are associated with robust alterations in sleep architecture, including disturbances in slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM), which has implications for several age-related diseases, since sleep contributes to the homeostatic regulation of the neuroendocrine and immune systems.
src: http://dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/images/resources/pdf/researc...
For example, cocaine and alcohol addiction are associated with robust alterations in sleep architecture, including disturbances in slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM), which has implications for several age-related diseases, since sleep contributes to the homeostatic regulation of the neuroendocrine and immune systems.
src: http://dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/images/resources/pdf/researc...
This is a certainty. Based on the damage cocaine causes, had Trump been a long-term user of cocaine, he'd have likely died 10 or 20 years ago. I say long-term, because based on his status in the late 1970s and 1980s, it would be far more likely that were he a user, he'd have started back then and continued to use. Very unlikely he would still be walking around and performing as well as he is at 70.
Look at pictures of recent presidents when they enter office and when they leave office:
https://newsandfroyo.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/why-the-draft-...
(Ignore the article, I just picked it because they've already collected before & after photos of each of the last 4 presidents.)
https://newsandfroyo.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/why-the-draft-...
(Ignore the article, I just picked it because they've already collected before & after photos of each of the last 4 presidents.)
I always find those pictures a little suspect.
First, except for Obama, the first picture is a nicely choreographed headshot (make up?) and the second is a candid photo with no attempt to make the person look good.
Second, except for Bush'88, all of those Presidents were in office for 8 years. I don't know about you, but I'm not surprised a person in their later years looks older almost a decade later.
My Mom was never President, but she looks much older when she was 60 vs. 52.
First, except for Obama, the first picture is a nicely choreographed headshot (make up?) and the second is a candid photo with no attempt to make the person look good.
Second, except for Bush'88, all of those Presidents were in office for 8 years. I don't know about you, but I'm not surprised a person in their later years looks older almost a decade later.
My Mom was never President, but she looks much older when she was 60 vs. 52.
I guess a psychopath shouldn't show the same level of aging as "normal" people.
When I was in a course on health disparities, we referred to this phenomenon as the "John Henry effect"
"The term was first used by Gary Saretsky (1972) to describe the behavior of John Henry, a legendary American steel driver in the 1870s who, when he heard his output was being compared with that of a steam drill, worked so hard to outperform the machine he died in the process"
"The term was first used by Gary Saretsky (1972) to describe the behavior of John Henry, a legendary American steel driver in the 1870s who, when he heard his output was being compared with that of a steam drill, worked so hard to outperform the machine he died in the process"
Light. pRGCs. Remember that other research shows that conscientiousness clearly leads to longer life. So diligence turns out to be opposite to conscientiousness; I suspect because it leads to extended hours. If you blow your biological clock, your whole daily hormonal cycle goes with it.
Dr. James expects John Henryism can now be seen across Western democracies, wherever people are inculcated with a Protestant sense of personal responsibility and belief in self-reliance.
This is garbage. What actually is the source of all this unneeded suffering is when people choose to believe the all-pervasive Western media, movie, and music refrain that success is measured by material wealth and prosperity. The Protestant work ethic has nothing to do with an ego-fueled, greedy striving for material wealth at all costs.
The Protestant work ethic is centered on the notion that work is a holy vocation, ordained by God. This belief stems back to when God placed man in the garden of Eden to work the garden (Genesis 2:15). The Protestant work ethic is working simply for the sake of enjoying the gift of labor, which was deemed very good at the beginning. Further, the Protestant work ethic also makes room for a Sabbath day of rest, something often foreign to American successaholics.
Lastly, both Jesus (Mark 4:18-20) and Paul (1 Timothy 6:8-10) and Solomon (Proverbs 23:4) make it abundantly clear the sacrifices involved with worshiping wealth and material prosperity (i.e. the standard-issue "American Dream")
This is garbage. What actually is the source of all this unneeded suffering is when people choose to believe the all-pervasive Western media, movie, and music refrain that success is measured by material wealth and prosperity. The Protestant work ethic has nothing to do with an ego-fueled, greedy striving for material wealth at all costs.
The Protestant work ethic is centered on the notion that work is a holy vocation, ordained by God. This belief stems back to when God placed man in the garden of Eden to work the garden (Genesis 2:15). The Protestant work ethic is working simply for the sake of enjoying the gift of labor, which was deemed very good at the beginning. Further, the Protestant work ethic also makes room for a Sabbath day of rest, something often foreign to American successaholics.
Lastly, both Jesus (Mark 4:18-20) and Paul (1 Timothy 6:8-10) and Solomon (Proverbs 23:4) make it abundantly clear the sacrifices involved with worshiping wealth and material prosperity (i.e. the standard-issue "American Dream")
> The Protestant work ethic is centered on the notion that work is a holy vocation
The Protestant work ethic emerged from the Calvinist doctrine of predestination (who is saved and damned is decided by God in advance) and the belief that accumulating material wealth was a sign of having been chosen by God for salvation.
> when people choose to believe the all-pervasive Western media, movie, and music refrain that success is measured by material wealth
And yet the US is one of the least materialistic countries in the developed world:
https://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=635...
The Protestant work ethic emerged from the Calvinist doctrine of predestination (who is saved and damned is decided by God in advance) and the belief that accumulating material wealth was a sign of having been chosen by God for salvation.
> when people choose to believe the all-pervasive Western media, movie, and music refrain that success is measured by material wealth
And yet the US is one of the least materialistic countries in the developed world:
https://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=635...
Thanks for pointing out a common misconception of the Protestant ethics. In fact, there has been many books written about the incompatibility between "American Dream" and Protestant faith. Here's one for start: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Taking-Faith-American-Dream/d...
I strongly agree with everything you are saying here. But that said, I do think its prevailing thinking among protestants in the US; who are generally right leaning welfare hating lovers of Christ.
Further, real Christians (who live by the God given principles of honest hard work as you describe it above) are few and far between.
Further, real Christians (who live by the God given principles of honest hard work as you describe it above) are few and far between.
The way I understand it, wealth is a part of the protestant work ethic.
God blesses the chosen with wealth, therefore you work hard to have wealth (because you want to be a chosen one).
Max Weber, right?
God blesses the chosen with wealth, therefore you work hard to have wealth (because you want to be a chosen one).
Max Weber, right?
All work, no ethics.
I wonder if they confused the cause for the symptom.
Is reality that people who succeed against the odds are more likely to get sick, or that people who get sick frequently are more likely to fight against the odds?
Is reality that people who succeed against the odds are more likely to get sick, or that people who get sick frequently are more likely to fight against the odds?
The Trump administration could do much more to damage Americans’ health than just repeal the Affordable Care Act and leave people without access to hospitals and medications.
And somehow they manage to tie it back to Trump
And somehow they manage to tie it back to Trump
It's the NYT. They had to find a way.
You just don't know high-quality, unbiased journalism when you see it. /s
Just for fun I'll go ahead and translate how this article reads in my mind- since thankfully I don't naively believe that I am of a singular race or ascribe my personality to some form of nationalism which has only existed for a little over 200 years (here is how we seriously talk in my house). Monoracials continuing to divide themselves into imaginary compartments have discovered that thinking too hard about a society of pro-inbreeding (we don't use the word 'racist' just 'pro-inbreeding') can cause auto-immune disorders. The antiquated pagan-but-not-pagan work ethic is what typifies the monoracial experience as most of their life is based on overt simplifications. Just for fun we will bring up the current political climate where most Americans have chosen a single race for the outgoing president and have applied it's meaning into somehow being contrary to the one born with a silver spoon in his mouth- who happens to be very pro-inbreeding. When we look at things like pure-bred dogs which are born with a gamut of mental problems and physical deficiencies- its easy for any group of monoracials to say 'That's how I want to be like a crazy pure-bred dog that's me!'. The 'Blacks' (the author doesn't specify here if black means African, West Indian, Hispanic, Moorish, etc..) as this expert points out are the only people worth mentioning because if you are not of a singular race (in your head of course no one is of a singular race) than you don't exist and nobody cares about your troubles.
[deleted]
I like the term "monoracial".
In your view, how granular is that? That is - if someone is half Italian and half Swedish - are they monoracial?
In your view, how granular is that? That is - if someone is half Italian and half Swedish - are they monoracial?
"a dearth of yoga studios"
Isn't it just that people who are 'more diligent and [tend] to strive for success' tax their bodies more by working harder? Whereas 'lazier' people tend to give their bodies more time to recuperate? Adversity isn't the cause; it's working to overcome adversity. Similarly, being rich doesn't make one healther; being rich gives one more access to healthcare and the means to take time off of work. I think the distinction is important.
True, but this is the telling bit
> The focus on black adolescents is significant. In much of this research, white Americans appeared somehow to be immune to the negative health effects that accompany relentless striving. As Dr. Brody put it when telling me about the Pittsburgh study, “We found this for black persons from disadvantaged backgrounds, but not white persons.”
> The focus on black adolescents is significant. In much of this research, white Americans appeared somehow to be immune to the negative health effects that accompany relentless striving. As Dr. Brody put it when telling me about the Pittsburgh study, “We found this for black persons from disadvantaged backgrounds, but not white persons.”
I am not convinced.
they are using a person's ability to get a cold (by having it basically sprayed in their face) as their operational definition of health.
to me this is extremely flawed. not only does past exposure play a huge role, so does DNA, let alone other behavioral habits that may separate the groups beyond just 'the system is against them'.
i dont know anything about who was selected in the Pittsburgh study, but being from that area I know there is huge opportunity for ethnic selection bias even within the 'white' group.
they are using a person's ability to get a cold (by having it basically sprayed in their face) as their operational definition of health.
to me this is extremely flawed. not only does past exposure play a huge role, so does DNA, let alone other behavioral habits that may separate the groups beyond just 'the system is against them'.
i dont know anything about who was selected in the Pittsburgh study, but being from that area I know there is huge opportunity for ethnic selection bias even within the 'white' group.
Following on the comment of majkinetor above it's not impossible that black youth are also much more deficient in Vitamin D on average. It could be a confounding factor.
You know what also makes you sick? A lack of professional accomplishment, missing respect from your peers, and a general sense of purposelessness. It's easy to look at the costs of ambition and ignore its benefits.
The qualities you are listing affect your emotional health. The article focuses on the physical health of the body. One does affect the other but that's not the point of the article.
[deleted]
I wonder how much of it actually boils down to chronically high cortisol levels. People that perceive stress as harmfull are more prone to its damage and we know that positive thoughts and meditation can negate that effect to some degree or even produce benefits.
Knowing that effect exists is one thing, but how do we protect ourselves ?
In chronic making of cortisol adrenal gland becomes deficient in Vitamin C which is used in the process [1]. This has direct effect on immunity (all animals produce more vitmin C in stresfull times to protect from it). Chronic insufficiency will not lead to scurvy (you only need tiny amount of C to prevent that) but will produce ill health particularly combined with smoking and bad eating habits which is typical for lower socioeconomic class (talking about it, blacks, the most affected, are regularly deficient in vitamin D too, another potent immunity booster).
The effect is multifactorial from that point - for example Vitamin C insufficiency changes cholesterol transformation to bile acids which leads to high cholesterol levels [2] which can provide some explanation for cardiovascular events.
Insufficiency is the level that will not result in terminal disease but in suboptimal health and shorter lifespan (i.e. RDA sux) because body will start to utilize triage [3].
Hence, I suggest everybody to forget about 60mg bullshit and use couple of grams of Vitamin C as few daily doses to protect from John Henryism effect. Afterall, that is what our closest relatives who have the same disfunctinal GULO gene - primates - do: they eat grams of C in the wild.
[1] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/1/145.long
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4685043
[3] http://www.bruceames.org/Triage.pdf