Black men continue to endure far worse health statistics than any other racial group. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Blacks maintain lower life expectancy than Black women, white men, and white women. Similar to all racial groups, the overall life expectancy has increased over the past century, but despite this, Black men are still coming in last place when it comes to taking care of their health. What are some of the reasons for this?
There are several factors that can affect why some don’t follow up on their health, don’t go to the doctor as often as necessary, or are having health issues overall. Lack of economic resources, lack of health insurance, limited access to care, food deserts, poverty, poor health literacy/health education, environmental factors, genetics, and cultural barriers/factors can play huge roles in why some Black men are suffering these poor health statistics at such alarming rates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading causes of death (LCOD) for Black males in the United States as of 2018 are as follows:
Ten Leading Causes of Death (LCOD) in Black Males in the U.S.
1. Heart Disease (24.1% of total deaths)
2. Cancer (19.7% of total deaths)
3. Alzheimer’s Disease (7.9% of total deaths)
4. Stroke (5.0% of total deaths)
5. Homicide (4.5% of total deaths)
6. Diabetes (4.4% of total deaths)
7. Chronic lower respiratory diseases (3.3% of total deaths)
8. Kidney disease (2.7% of total deaths)
9. Septicemia (1.7% of total deaths)
10. Hypertension (1.7% of total deaths)
The leading causes of death among Black men shift for different age groups, and you can read more about these here. What can be done to combat some of these leading causes of death? Preventative care needs to be a priority.
Many of these LCOD aren’t necessarily a death sentence if they are prevented before onset or maintained once the individual is aware of the health issue. Oftentimes, people can die from diseases and health issues that are diagnosed too late or aren’t being managed properly.
Regular exercise and healthy food options can help reduce some of the mentioned health risks. Let’s look more closely into a few of these LCOD to see what preventative measures can be taken to reduce these health risks.
RELATED: Why Black Men Die Sooner (And How They Can Beat The Odds)
Heart Disease
With heart disease being the number one killer in Blacks and stroke also being a LCOD, we must take a look into how we can reduce the incidence rates of these two health issues in Black men.
Regular visits to a medical professional can help reduce the death rates of heart disease. Obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are also risk factors associated with heart disease. Once identified, these health issues are manageable so that they do not spiral out of control. Checking your blood pressure regularly and monitoring any changes in blood pressure could save your life!
When looking at obesity, healthy food choices can help you dramatically reduce your weight. Eating more veggies, reducing red meat, and less consumption of overall calories can help reduce your risk of obesity.
Lastly, diabetes is the third risk factor for heart disease. Understanding your family history, warning signs, and
