SPECIAL CONCERNS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
SPECIAL CONCERNS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
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| SPECIAL CONCERNS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, |
Although all men generally live shorter and less-healthy lives than women,
African-American men and some other minorities are at even greater risk.
African-American men, for example, suffer the worst health of any major population
group in the United States, living an average of 6 years less then white
men. The reasons for this include lack of health insurance or affordable healthcare,
poor education, greater exposure to violence, and genetics.
Because of lack of screening, African-American men are twice as likely
to die of prostate cancer as white men.
We’ve covered many of the racial and ethnic health differences throughout this
book, but in this section, we’re highlighting issues that are of special concern to
men of color.
YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR
African-American and Latino men are less likely than white men to visit a
d o c t o r. Again, some of the obstacles include lack of insurance, as well as distrust
of the medical establishment. Men’s Health Network maintains a list of free and
low-cost clinics and information about discounted drugs at: www. h e a l t h c l i n i csonline.com.
You can also find information at this site about Medicare,
Medicaid, and clinical trials.
DIET AND NUTRITION
Over 60 percent of American men are overweight or obese. Mexican-American
men are the most likely to be overweight, followed by white men and AfricanAmerican
men.
EXERCISE AND FITNESS
Despite all these benefits, over half of Americans get less exercise than they
should, and a quarter get none at all. African-American and Hispanic men are
somewhat less likely to exercise than white men.
SEXUAL HEALTH
African-American men are five times more likely to die of HIV/AIDS than white
men. Abstinence is the only sure-fire way to prevent transmission of HIV or
other sexually transmitted diseases. However, since abstinence isn’t practical for
e v e ryone, be sure that you know your partner, always use a latex condom, and
avoid drugs or alcohols, which can impair your judgment and increase the
chances that you’ll engage in unsafe sex.
PROSTATE HEALTH
African-American men are more likely to develop symptoms of benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH) earlier than white men. They also have the highest rate of
prostate cancer in the world—they are at least 50 percent more likely to develop
the disease, and twice as likely to die from it, than white men.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
African-American men are about 30 percent more likely than whites to suffer a
stroke and 40 percent more likely to die from it.
Among men age 40 to 59, 50 percent of African-Americans and 30 percent of
whites have high blood pressure.
African-Americans are less likely to have their cholesterol checked than whites.
F o r t u n a t e l y, African-Americans ages 20 and older are less likely than whites the
same age to have high cholesterol. But Mexican-American men are more likely.
DIABETES
Over 18 million Americans have diabetes. Hispanics are much more likely to
d e v e l o p diabetes than whites, and African-Americans are about 60 percent more
l i k e l y. Asians, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians also have elevated risk.
CANCER
African-American men are more likely to develop cancer than men from any
other racial or ethnic group. They also have a far higher death rate from most
cancers, including oral and lung cancer.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The last few years have seen an increase in the rate of suicide among young
African-American males.
ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Approximately 27 percent of African-American men smoke, compared to 25 perc e n t
of whites.
Among ethnic groups, Hispanics average the most drinks per day, followed by
whites, then blacks. African-Americans, however, have the highest alcohol-related
death rates of the three groups. African-Americans are also more likely than
whites or Hispanics to suffer from alcohol-related liver disease.
Although African-American men are far more likely than whites to use or abuse
illegal drugs, the vast majority of men who abuse prescription drugs or OTC
drugs are white.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND SAFETY
African-American men between the ages of 24 to 40 are much more likely to be
murdered than any other ethnic group. The murder rate is 1 in 30 for black men,
compared to 1 in 179 for white men. (Compare that with 1 in 132 for black
women and 1 in 495 for white women.) Also, men of color are more likely to be
employed in manual labor jobs such as construction and other hazardous occupations,
so emphasis on workplace safety becomes especially important.
BLOOD DISORDERS: SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
This disease, which affects primarily African-Americans and people of
Mediterranean ancestry, is named after the deformed, sickle-shaped red blood
cells it creates. The cells are extremely fragile and break up, causing damage to
capillaries (the tiny blood vessels that deliver oxygen throughout the body). That
deprives the body’s organs and tissues of oxygen.
Symptoms may include headaches, poor circulation, sores on the legs and ankles
and stroke. Sickle cell can’t be cured, but it can be treated, usually with folic acid,
which helps the body produce red blood cells that may replace the damaged
cells. To d a y, most sufferers live past the age of 50.
In order to develop sickle cell, a child must inherit a defective gene from both
parents. About 10 percent of African Americans carry one defective gene. That
means they won’t develop it, but they could pass it on to their children if their
spouses are also carriers.
If you are African-American or of Mediterranean descent and planning to start a
f a m i l y, talk to your doctor about getting a blood test to determine whether you
c a r ry the gene.
FACIAL HAIR
Beard hair on black men grows curved as does other body hair. After shaving,
especially with close shaving, the hair may grow back into the skin, resulting in
bumps on the face and neck. Some men find that using an electric razor or not
shaving against the grain helps. Those men who suffer from this problem should
see a dermatologist for advice
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