Location, Location, Location

When people think "health" they often think of germs, diseases, and medicine. Sure, I'd be healthier if I stay far away from my roommate when he is sick and wash my hands correctly and frequently. But, health, especially public health, goes much further than focusing on illnesses. Real estate agents know best when they say everything is "location, location, location."

Location influences the health of communities in several ways. An obvious and important factor of community health is access to health care services. Many locations, especially poorer communities, have fewer physicians than affluent communities. Access to basic health services is associated with positive health outcomes. However, access to health services differs across communities. Distance and transportation can make it more difficult for some community members to reach health services. Some cities take access to health services into consideration when developing public transportation routes. Some cities add routes between health facilities and communities with fewer health resources to increase access to health care.

Certain locations contain negative health factors. Dense urban environments can have higher noise stress and pollution. Water quality, crime rate, and the availability of outdoor recreation space differs across communities.

Additionally, geographic location can make some communities more or less vulnerable to natural disasters. Some neighborhoods in New Orleans are located below sea level. When Hurricane Katrina hit, these neighborhoods were most vulnerable to flooding and experienced widespread destruction.

Furthermore, the environment can affect our psychology. Residents in less crowded neighborhoods with clean streets and better landscaping experience less environmental stress than residents living in more crowded and polluted conditions.

Overall, where you live can significantly affect your mental and physical well-being.