The Relationship Between Medical Resources and Measures of Health

The relationship between an area's medical resources and physiological measures of individual health status is examined. Variables such as age, sex, race, education, and income are controlled for. The physiological measures include diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol concentration, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, varicose veins, and periodontal disease. Although additional education and income were associated with fewer abnormal chest X-rays and less periodontal disease, the physiological measures were little affected by additional medical resources. The results are consistent with the view that what the individual does (or does not) do for himself affects health more than do additional medical resources.