April 7 is World Health Day

Today is World Health Day, a day celebrated annually to draw attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. April 7 marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.

This year we want to acknowledge the health disparities African Americans face and the impact it has on their overall health and well-being. African Americans have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease than other groups and black children have a 500% higher death rate from asthma compared with white children. Social and economic factors such as Black neighborhoods lacking stores that stock healthier foods contribute to these health disparities. 

“Our Black and Brown communities are more likely to have an abundance of fast food restaurants and markets stocked with unhealthy processed foods as opposed to our white counterparts, where there tends to be a greater number of grocery stores and markets with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Northwestern Medicine Internal Medicine Physician Kimbra A. Bell, MD. “A lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods results in poorer health outcomes.”

Other social and economic factors are more common among African Americans include:

Less access to healthcare and healthcare information, a  distrust of healthcare professionals based on historical discrimination, neighborhood walkability, and lower levels of education and income. 

These social and economic factors, along with other environmental determinants of health, can negatively impact a person’s well-being, and lead to conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. 

Swipe through to see what health issues disproportionally affect African Americans, and what we can do to overcome them. 

Heart Disease 

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for all Americans, but is more common in African Americans than other ethnic groups. In 2018, Black Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than white Americans. And heart disease develops at a younger age in Black women and men than in white adults. The most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in Black women and men are hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and diabetes.

High Blood Pressure

The rate of high blood pressure in African Americans is among the highest of any ethnic group in the U.S. About 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension or HBP. They also get it at a younger age and suffer more complications. Higher rates of obesity and diabetes increase the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease as statistics show Black people face disproportionately high rates of both conditions. High blood pressure is a main risk factor for serious health problems such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, kidney disease, and stroke. High blood pressure also causes many other problems including erectile dysfunction and vision loss. But high blood pressure can be controlled and possibly prevented.

Diabetes

Diabetes is an umbrella term for multiple conditions that cause dysfunction in the body’s ability to metabolize glucose, secrete insulin, or both. Black adults in the U.S. are 60% more likely than white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes. In 2018, non-Hispanic Black people were found to be twice as likely as non-Hispanic white people to die from diabetes. In addition to having higher rates of diabetes, Black Americans are also more likely to experience complications from diabetes. A study done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that biological risk factors for diabetes, such as body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose level, and blood pressure, accounted for most of the health disparities within Black communities. 

Stroke

Black Americans have a higher risk of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke than any other racial group —and at a younger age. They are also twice as likely to die from a stroke as Caucasians and are more likely to become disabled and experience difficulties with daily activities after having a stroke. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, smoking, and obesity—all conditions that are prevalent among African Americans.

Overcoming Racial Health Disparities and Inequities

Making lifestyle changes can help prevent many of the health risks on this list. The basics of a healthy lifestyle consist of getting more exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, reducing salt in your diet, drinking fewer sugary drinks, managing stress, and quitting smoking.