PBS Series Examines Effects That Poverty, Race Can Have On Health

from the Hartford Courant

Roger Catlin

A provocative new series that plays into multiple campaign issues of the campaign season explores the notion that race, economics and neighborhood play as much a role in a person's health as lifestyle or genes.

"Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" (CPTV, 10 p.m.) begins by asking why America, for all its wealth and medical expertise, ranks just 30th in life expectancy and 31st in infant mortality worldwide.

In tonight's first of four parts, the focus is Louisville, Ky., where the gap in life expectancy between rich and working-class neighborhoods is as high as 10 years. Part of the reason is chronic stress — the poor are stressed-out about how they can afford to raise their families.

Racial inequality also plays a role, the series suggests.