Studies in the United States report associations between perceived racial discrimination and high blood pressure, birth weight, and days off sick. In a recent study from the United Kingdom, victims of discrimination were more likely to have respiratory illness, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Stress responses have been considered possible mechanisms for the effects of racism on health.
Considering racism as a cause of ill health is an important step in developing the research agenda and response from health services, says the author. Yet despite general agreement that racism is wrong, there is little evidence of any concerted and effective initiatives to decrease its prevalence. This means that in the United Kingdom the science of investigating the effects of racism on health and the development of preventive strategies are in their infancy.
How can we have equity in health if one of the major possible causes of illness in minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom does not have a dedicated research effort or prevention strategy? he concludes.