Ways Black Americans Can Improve Their Health
February is Black History Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the leading causes of death for African Americans are heart disease, cancer and stroke. Consider the following:
• Nearly half of all African American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease that includes heart disease and stroke.1
• High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke in the U.S. Two out of five African American adults have high blood pressure, and less than half of them have it under control.1
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Black people in the U.S. Black women have the highest death rates of all racial and ethnic groups and are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Prostate cancer is more common among Black men.1
Social determinants of health (SDOH) also affect African Americans at younger ages, as compared to others in the U.S., specifically whites, according to the CDC. It defines SDOH as conditions in the environment – in which people live, learn, work, play, worship and age – that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes and risks.2 In a previous blog, we mentioned that 20% of a person’s health and well-being is related to access to care and quality of services. The physical environment, social determinants and behavioral factors drive 80% of health outcomes. According to the CDC, the social factors affecting Black Americans include unemployment, living in poverty, not owning a home, cost-prohibitive effects of trying to see a doctor, smoking, inactive lifestyle, or obesity.
While Black Americans face greater challenges when it comes navigating the health care system when trying to manage their diseases and/or conditions, there are steps they can take to help live healthier lives.
• Eat a healthy diet. Choose foods low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars. Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
• Exercise regularly. The CDC says adults need 2 hours and 30 minutes (or 150 minutes total) of exercise each week. You can spread your activity out during the week and break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day.3
• Stop smoking tobacco. The American Lung Association says as soon as you quit smoking, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking and continues to repair itself for many years.4 Visit www.lung.org/quit-smoking or call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) for additional resources.
• Limit alcohol use. The American Heart Association recommends limiting alcohol use to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.5
• Know your family history. Learning about your family health history may shed some light on your health background. For instance, there may be factors that could increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Knowing your family history allows your provider to suggest ways for you to prevent or delay the onset of these conditions.
Sources:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/african-american-history/index.html
2 https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm
3 https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/age-chart.html
4 https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/benefits-of-quitting
5 https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Answers-by-Heart/What-About-African-Americans-and-HBP.pdf
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