Every time someone mentions life in rural America, we usually envision it with natural splendor, fresh air, and healthy food, but there’s more to country living than just that. Make no mistake, a life in the country or even the suburbs has its own rewards and a lot of what we expect is actually true, but there are definite dangers that everyone should be aware of as well, especially if you are not used to living in the country. In case you are posted in a somewhat developing part of the United States due to work, or if you are planning to settle into the country life anytime soon, here are five health hazards to be aware of, so that you can avoid unexpected tragedies.

Lack of Healthcare Services

It has been established after multiple studies that the death rate in US cities is much lower than it is in the rural areas. One of the main reasons for that has a lot to do with the lack of health care services in remote locations. In realization of this fact, Specialist Direct has opened up a national network that comprises of certified specialists to assist patients and their family members via remote services such as telepathology, telecardiology, and teleradiology. In order to avoid preventable deaths, it is a mandatory step to get to know the nearest healthcare services around your house because emergencies seldom announce themselves beforehand. The risk of death or health complications from an accident or even a seemingly minor injury is much higher in underdeveloped sections of the States

Obesity is a Real Problem

It is often conceptualized and portrayed in popular media that people in the country are fit and city dwellers are overweight, but surprisingly enough, stats show facts that are opposite to that. Apparently, the number of overweight and morbidly obese people in the rural US is much higher than in the urban sections of the nation. The thing is that hard work doesn’t equate to working out on a regular basis in a systematic manner, although it may seem like so to the general public. Farmers do not till, plant, and water their fields manually as they used to fifty years or so ago. This means that farming isn’t as rigorous a physical activity as it was before. A prominent lack of facilities such as gyms, parks, and sidewalks prevent people in the country from engaging in workouts outside of their working hours, which in turn leads to a mostly sedentary lifestyle. To avoid this from affecting you and your family, installation of a small home gym is advised. At the very least, find a trekking path nearby if you can and just take walks on it regularly to get your exercise in.

Lack of Amenities Might be an Issue

If you are coming in from the city, you may not be able to find many of the facilities and amenities that you were probably used to back in the city. Be prepared for the changes beforehand because they can put your health and wellbeing at risk if you are not. A common example would be the unavailability of ready-to-drink tap water in rural USA. Whether you collect your water from a well or there is a water line to your house, the water may not be safe to drink, and you will probably need a personal water filtration system of some kind. Evens if the locals assure you of the water’s quality, it’s not a risk worth taking.

Peace and Quiet is Not Always a Good Thing

A lot of people move into the countryside and the suburbs because they are looking for a quieter life, but unfortunately, this doesn’t come without its own set of caveats either. In sections of the country where there are large gaps in between houses, burglars and other dangerous criminals might find them to be easy targets. While cities have a much higher rate of break-ins and violent crimes than in rural communities, such actions are not uncommon in the country either. In fact, if the area consists of a population that’s predominantly poor, criminal activities are to be expected. Of course, that is not the situation everywhere, but it is one for which you should be prepared for adequately. Get well acquainted with your neighbors, as well as the local police department. Also, invest a little in in-home security measures because the police may not get there as fast as they do in the main cities.

Fatal Road Accidents are More Common

There are more incidences of road accidents in the city than there are in the rural sections of the US, but there are two factors to be considered here, which are as follows.

• There is a huge difference between urban and rural roads when it comes to the number of cars on them
• The number of deaths from road accidents is significantly higher on the country roads

Firstly, it has been observed that people driving in the country do not follow road safety measures as much as people in the cities do because the chances of getting caught for traffic rules violation are much lower in remote locations. Secondly, the higher death rate is also a result of the fact that on remote roads, help often takes too long to arrive. In light of these facts, always practice extra caution while driving in the country to keep yourself and your passengers safe.

The country life has its own charms and it can be bliss in the short-term, but if someone must live in a remote location for an extended period of time, they might just start to miss the city life. A lot of what we have come to take for granted can only be missed when they are not there anymore. Living in the country can still be beautiful and a life-changing experience for many, but it is imperative to prepare yourself for the possible dangers and health risks nonetheless.