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Health Statistics for African-American men

no@spam.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 MST

Black men suffer far worse health than any other racial group in America. There are a number of reasons for this. They include racial discrimination, a lack of affordable health services, poor health education, cultural barriers, poverty, employment that does not carry health insurance, insufficient medical and social services catering for Black men.

• The life expectancy for a Black male child born in 2004 is 69.5 years, compared with 75.7 years for White males born the same year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

• Black men are more likely to get and die from prostate cancer than men of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• A Black man has a 1-in-5 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime and a 1-in-20 chance of dying from the disease.

• Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for Black men, behind lung cancer.

• About 42 percent of Black men have high blood pressure, compared with 31 percent of White men, according to the American Heart Association.

• Cardiovascular disease overall was also more prevalent among Black men — 41 percent, compared with about 34 percent of White men.

• 45 percent of African American men do not have a doctor they see regularly.

• 28 percent of African Americans are uninsured, compared to 17 percent of Whites

Diabetics must be cautious of heart disease risk

no@spam.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 MST

The relationship between diabetes and heart disease should not be ignored, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine.
“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes, and diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease in America,” said Dr. Alan Garber, professor of medicine in the section of endocrinology at BCM.

African-Americans are especially at risk. The Office of Minority Health reports African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, however they are more likely to die from heart disease.

In fact, in 2006, African-American men were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic White men.
Additionally, the Office of Minority Health reports African-Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites. Although African-Americans have the same or lower rate of high cholesterol as their non-Hispanic White counterparts, they are more likely to have high blood pressure.
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, patients with diabetes must maintain an exceptionally low level of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, and a lower target blood pressure.

To do this, they must incorporate a heart healthy diet with their diabetes diet of low calories and sugars. A heart healthy diet includes reducing saturated fats.
“Maintaining cholesterol and blood pressure levels is a must for patients with diabetes, “Garber said. “It’s critical that they get hold of this.”
Garber also says that medication is key in helping control diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure.

“Diet and exercise help, but statin drugs should be used to help control high cholesterol, and medication for high blood pressure should also be taken,” said Garber.
Garber recommends checking with your physician before starting an exercise routine, and working closely with the physician to develop a treatment plan.
In terms of diabetes, Garber says that by the time someone is diagnosed with the disease, they only have half of their pancreatic insulin secretion capacity, so medication is required for what the pancreas can no longer do.

Mental health campaign aimed at African-Americans

no@spam.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 MST

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), working in collaboration with the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation, announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African-American community. The new PSAs were unveiled at a Black History Month event at Howard University to coincide with the first annual HBCU National Mental Health Awareness Day. The launch was telecast to colleges and universities nationwide.

Mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are widespread in the U.S. and often misunderstood. According to SAMHSA, in 2008 there were an estimated 9.8 million adults aged 18 or older living with serious mental illness. Among adults, the prevalence of serious mental illness is highest in the 18 to 25 age group, yet this age group is also the least likely to receive services or counseling. In 2008, 6.0 percent of African-Americans ages 18-25 had serious mental illness in the past year. Overall, only 58.7 percent of Americans with serious mental illness received care within the past 12 months and the percentage of African-Americans receiving services is only 44.8 percent.

“Raising understanding and attention to these issues within the African American community will provide greater opportunities for those needing help to receive effective mental health services,” said Kathryn A. Power, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.
The campaign aims to promote acceptance of mental health problems within the African-American community by encouraging, educating and inspiring young adults to step up and talk openly about mental health problems. The ads feature real personal stories of African Americans dealing with mental health problems.

Men’s health must become a priority for the nation

no@spam.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 MST

THE THREE DOCTORS
Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt,
fondly known as The Three Doctors realize the importance
of physical health as well as emotional health. Through The
Three Doctors Foundation they seek to inspire and motivate
youth through education, to achieve leadership and career
success in their community through the formation of positive
peer and mentor relationships. The Three Doctors Foundation
stands on the premise that “Our Children Can Not Aspire To
Be What They Can Not See”.

Women’s health advocacy is making tremendous strides, with government, foundations, non-profits and private industry leading the charge for greater awareness and treatment of health conditions impacting women.

But unfortunately the same intensity has not been unleashed to adequately address health problems for men.

While outreach efforts have raised the awareness of breast cancer, urged women to seek proper prenatal care and lead to critical research into the major health problems of women, there seems overall to be far less advocacy for men

Matching Marrow

no@spam.com (Marvin D. Cloud) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 MST

For nearly two decades, Jennifer Jones Austin dedicated herself to her career as an attorney in the private and public sectors. Although the lure of big money as a corporate attorney danced in her head, social issues concerning children and families tugged at her heart. Her passion allowed her to enhance the lives of thousands of the disenfranchised across New York State, and even today at 41-years-old, she embodies enough beauty and grace that she could easily be mistaken for a former America’s Next Top Model pageant winner.

JENNIFER AUSTIN...
“Just days before I was walking around feeling fine,
taking care of my family, going to the gym daily, and
working professionally as an advocate for children and
families living in poverty. I had no medical history of
health problems. Things were good.”

Once a man, twice a child

no@spam.com (Marvin D. Cloud) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 MST

Five years ago, Janice Billingsley of HealthDay, wrote in an article “Blacks more prone to Alzheimer’s,” that “Alzheimer’s disease is a silent epidemic striking Black Americans, who seem more susceptible to the brain-wasting condition than any other group of Americans.” She went on to state, “One possible explanation: Black Americans are at greater risk of vascular disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. And studies have found that people with a history of either high blood pressure or high cholesterol are twice as likely to succumb to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Annie McClenton stands with her 79-year-old father James McClenton
at the Hudson Manor Health Care Center. Last year, McClenton, suffering
from Alzheimers’s disease gave his family a scare when he walked out of
a gated nursing home and got more than a mile away before being stopped.
Photo by Conner Jay Jersey Journal Photo

Stress Burdens the Minds and Health of Far Too Many African Americans

no@spam.com (Traci Patterson) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:00:00 MST

For many African-Americans, excessive, long-term

stress is often a major contributing factor in the

development or exacerbation of many serious health

conditions and illnesses such as anxiety, depression,

high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes,

ulcers, and infertility.
No matter how much they earn or where they live,

stress is a burden that seems to weigh down far too

many African Americans. The hazardous level of

stress faced by African Americans is keeping their

bodies constantly on edge causing their health and

mental wellness to be at risk. This Black History Month,

wellness advocates, Mental Health America of Greater

Houston and the Houston Wellness Association are

encouraging African Americans to take better care of

their health by managing their stress—in their personal

lives and at work.

No matter how much they earn or where they live, stress is a burden that seems to weigh down far too many African Americans. The hazardous level of stress faced by African Americans is keeping their bodies constantly on edge causing their health and mental wellness to be at risk. This Black History Month, wellness advocates, Mental Health America of Greater Houston and the Houston Wellness Association are encouraging African Americans to take better care of their health by managing their stress—in their personal lives and at work.

“Stress is a normal response and the body’s way of protecting you,” said Betsy Schwartz, president and CEO of Mental Health America of Greater Houston. “When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert.”

According to Schwartz, not all stress is harmful to your health. A little stress motivates and helps you to meet challenges, but prolonged stress can stop being helpful and can start causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

National Black HIV/Awareness Day

no@spam.com (Staff Writer) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:30:00 MST

AUSTIN- Local residents can be tested for the HIV virus, and other sexually transmitted infections and have the chance to learn more about health care services at a free event sponsored by the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. The event will be held Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., HIV/STD Testing from 10a.m.-11:30 and 12:30-4p.m. at the Montopolis Recreation Center 1200 Montopolis Drive in Austin.
The event and testing are free to the public.
For more information call (512)972-5631 or (512)972-5634.

What about the children?

no@spam.com (Tuala Williams) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:30:00 MST

February 7 has been dubbed National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As the nation draws attention to the plight of African-Americans in the battle to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, perhaps the question will arise, “What about the children?”

RWJF Community Health Leaders Award Partners With Houston-based Harris Foundation

no@spam.com (Jennifer Combs) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:39:00 MST

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announces that the national program office of the RWJF Community Health Leaders Award will now be based at the Harris Foundation in Houston, Texas.