Social Determinants of Health and Your Nervous System

Social determinants of health (SODoH) can be described as all the factors surrounding you that can influence your health. These determinants can be your house, job, education, social support, access to healthcare, environmental, or socioeconomic status. All of these factors impact your nervous system. If someone experiences chronic stress, they may see higher levels of cortisol. Chronic stress can lead to reduced size and number of connections in the hippocampus and enlargement of the amygdala. The PFC also is utilized less during times of stress and functioning can be impaired. 

 Education on proper diet and exercise can prevent one from becoming obese and increase one's ability to maintain balance and prevent strokes or falls that could lead to a traumatic brain injury. Another factor that can impact one's ability to exercise is their environment. Some people may not have access to a gym or a safe place to exercise. If someone lives in a food desert and does not have access to transportation, it may be extremely difficult to buy nourishing food that promotes brain health. 

Having certain jobs can increase the health disparities one may experience. For example, people with very stressful jobs are at risk of hypertension, heart disease, and several other diseases. Having a low socioeconomic status can lead to an inability to adequate healthcare and necessary medications. If a person has hypertension, it is vital that they receive medication to lower their blood pressure and reduce the risk of breaking down the BBB.

The UTHSC OT program requires students to receive 75 hours of community service upon graduation for several reasons. First, several of the community service events that I have participated in have exposed me to people that grew up with different circumstances than I did. The service requirement also prepares us as future practitioners through the opportunity to advocate for OT and the clients we will be working with. OTs are typically servant leaders, so I was able to begin serving others in preparation of doing so as an OT. Finally, the requirements taught me how to best manage my time. I was able to spread out my volunteer work over the entire semester and do a little at a time. The service hour requirements for the OT students at UTHSC will better prepare us as practitioners.