How Racial Discrimination Can Affect A Person’s Health

Image shows a physician taking someone’s blood pressure.
The 2019 enrollment period for obtaining health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will end on December 15. Unsplash
Image shows a physician taking someone’s blood pressure.
The 2019 enrollment period for obtaining health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will end on December 15. Unsplash

How Racial Discrimination Can Affect A Person’s Health

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If you’re the parent of a teenager, you know it can be hard to get your kids out of bed in the morning. Getting to school early and staying up late doing homework can all contribute to stress and fatigue.

But there may be a hidden cause of exhaustion for Black teenagers: racial discrimination. According to scientists at Northwestern University, perceiving discrimination during adolescence leads to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that helps keep you energized during the day. This hormone imbalance can also lead to more serious health problems later on.

Emma K. Adam, a professor of human development at Northwestern University, joins the Morning Shift to discuss her findings.

GUEST: Emma K Adam, Professor, Human Development and Social Policy, and Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University