A recent report details 4 most common medical diseases in African Americans and other minority groups. While some medical diseases listed are already known or made aware of in the black community, statistics related to medical findings observe patterns that many may not be aware of.
One of the reasons why blacks are seeing higher rates in many health conditions is due to not having the same access to healthcare, services and other pertinent health resources. On the other hand, blacks tend to not follow-up as often if an abnormality has been found.
The most common medical diseases include cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and heart disease. Osteoporosis was also another condition was common in women over 50. Below are a several findings and statistics in relation to mentioned medical conditions:
- More people are living longer with colorectal cancer but blacks aren’t living as long as whites.
- In reviewing the top 15 leading causes of death, African Americans have higher rates than whites in 12 (heart disease, cancer and stroke included).
- Cancer death rate is 30 percent higher in blacks: twice as high for prostate cancer.
- Between 2006 and 2010, cardiovascular disease cases increased among blacks.
- The need for cultural competency improvement: doctors may not be recommending screenings for blacks as equally.
- 51 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases are among Blacks and Hispanics. 1 in 5 is unaware of their status. Too many people are not sharing information about who they’ve been with.
- Diabetes and obesity is a bigger problem for blacks as well as Hispanics. Poor diet and environmental surroundings are partly to blame.
- 20 percent of women (in general) aged 50 and older suffer from osteoporosis but because many are unaware they have it, the percentage could be higher. A person may find out they have it if they suffer from a bone fracture.
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