Weathering

Medical illustration of black woman with weathering symptoms

© Chidiebere Ibe, 2022, obtained from https://www.illustratechange.com.

Medical illustration of black woman with weathering symptoms

© Chidiebere Ibe, 2022, obtained from https://www.illustratechange.com.

Weathering

Weathering refers to the hypothesis that chronic exposure to social, economic, and political exclusion, including racism, accelerates biological aging and worsens health outcomes in marginalized groups, especially Black people. This concept involves allostatic load, or the body’s ‘wear and tear’ from chronic stress, often manifesting in higher cortisol levels and associated with ‘fight-or-flight’ responses. This chronic stress can lead to a range of health issues, such as depression, migraines, hypertension, and heart disease.

Download

The images in this library are available to use for educational and training purposes only and are not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

All images are covered under copyright and cannot be used for resale or any other commercial use.