Getting a College Education May Just Save Your Life

17Jun11

I know that we are bombarded every single day with information about our health and how if we continue to eat red meat, drink large amounts of milk, be out in the sun for more than 7 minutes a day, or even inhale third-hand smoke, we will somehow develop cancer. It seems like, no matter what we do, according to the stats, we can’t win. Because of this over-load of information pertaining to every single thing we do and how it will develop cancer, I’ve learned to tune out an awful lot of stuff I read about or hear about on the news in regards to developing cancer (not really sure if that’s a good thing); however, this article caught my attention.

Basically, the statistics have shown that those who do not go to college have a higher risk of developing cancer; they’re 2.5 times more likely to get cancer, in fact. And, really, that’s not the most shocking thing that the article said. Those stats pertain to cancer overall, not any specific forms of cancer. So, imagine my surprise when I read that “people with a high school education or less died at a rate four to five times higher” from lung cancer than those with a college education. Unbelievable.

So, how is all of this possible?

I’m certainly not suggesting that those who were unable or did not care to go to college will simply get cancer as a direct result of their decisions. That’s ridiculous. What I am saying is that we need to look at the reasons why these statistics are proving true. The article states that “studies have suggested that less educated people are more likely to do risky things with their health”. These higher risk activities may be smoking, drinking excessively, and overeating to the point that it causes obesity. And, of course, we are all aware that these types of behaviours can lead to several different kinds of cancers (i.e. lung cancer, breast cancer, and cancer of the kidneys).

If only this poor obese mouse had gone to college...

Not only does high risk behaviour lead to the possibility of cancer, but I believe that those who have not pursued a college education also run a high risk of having little or no health insurance, as the types of careers that offer health coverage are not as widely available to them. I must say that I am thankful that I live in Canada and have a national health-care system that covers a large portion of types of treatment available, but there are still some types that are not covered. So, whether someone lives in Canada or any other country, they are always looking to see what kind of benefits are available to them through the company that they work for. Obviously, if you have a college education, you are more likely to land a higher paying job, which will probably offer you great benefits. If someone decides to stop their education after graduating from high school, they are clearly limiting their potential to be hired in a more challenging and demanding role within a company. Therefore, their benefits won’t be as great, and may not cover necessary things like doctor’s appointments (if you’re not from Canada), or even costly medical treatments.

A post-secondary qualification can ensure a better job and more education about the pros and cons of a situation before you make certain decisions (i.e. taking up smoking).

So, don’t play Russian Roulette with your future; get yourself educated. After all, doing so may just save your life.

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Filed under: College, Education   |  12 Comments
Tags: Canada, cancer, Career, College, Diploma, Education, health, job, Qualification, risk, school, University