When it comes to health matters, every race or ethnic group has its set of health concerns. However, African Americans face several health risks that directly impact our life expectancy.
According to a National Library of Medicine report, black men have the lowest life expectancy of all major ethnic-sex populations in the country.
Health issues typically emanate from a wide range of factors. These may include genetics, social and cultural differences, access to healthcare, and racial inequalities.
The following are health risks that many African American face.
Diabetes
It is not yet fully understood why African Americans are two times more at risk of developing diabetes than white Americans. There are also higher rates of obesity amongst people of African descent. Nonetheless, obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. It is important to note that 38 percent of African American men and 57 percent of women are obese.
Genetics may also be another factor that predisposes African Americans to diabetes more than their white American counterparts. However, diabetes is a chronic illness that can be effectively managed and controlled. It is important for anyone at risk of acquiring it to understand its consequences. Some of the serious implications of developing the disease include vision loss, kidney failure, and so much more.
Generally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help reduce the risks of developing it. Aiming for weight loss, eating a healthy diet, and performing regular exercise can greatly help manage it.
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Forty-one percent of African American men and forty-five percent of African American women have high blood pressure. According to statistics, this is significantly higher than America’s white population.
Obesity, diabetes, and genetics have contributed to the seemingly high prevalence of hypertension in African Americans. Other causes of high blood pressure may include kidney disease and family history. Unfortunately, like diabetes, hypertension is a chronic illness that doesn’t cure. However, you can manage it successfully by controlling your risk factors through medication and lifestyle changes.
Lung disease
The smoking rate in both male and female African Americans is significantly lower than that of white Americans. However, they suffer more from lung diseases than their white counterparts. As reported by the American Lung Association, African Americans have the highest rate of asthma compared to any other racial group. African Americans are also more likely to develop sarcoidosis and die from it. The disease affects the lungs by scarring them, thus leaving the patient critically ill.
Lung cancer is also more prevalent in African American men than white American counterparts. There is one major reason for this major disparity in lung disease in these two groups of people. More African Americans live in cities with high levels of air pollution and also near factories that produce toxic waste in the environment.
Disparities in the healthcare system and genetic factors may also be why more African Americans are susceptible to lung diseases.
HIV
HIV is generally more common in African Americans than in white Americans. From a statistical standpoint, one-third of all Americans living with HIV are African American. Men are usually at a greater risk of getting the infection. Even though the rate of HIV infection in African American women has dropped in the past ten years, it is still high compared to other racial groups. African American gay men and bisexual men recorded an increased HIV infection rate.
Education, prevention, and awareness campaigns can help slow the spread of HIV amongst African Americans. Additionally, regular testing and safe sex is essential.
