African American males are at risk for several diseases.
If you are an African American male, statistics show that you are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, and cancer, among other diseases. Even modest improvements in lifestyle habits can help mitigate the effects of these maladies. Some diseases, like sickle cell anemia, are genetic in origin.
Heart Disease
According to the Center for Disease Control, African American men have a 30% greater risk of dying from heart disease than non-Hispanic white men. They are also 1.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure. Managing chronic heart disease often involves eating a more healthy diet, exercising more, and finding ways to reduce stress.
Stroke
African American men are 60% more likely to suffer a stroke than non-Hispanic whites. The consequences of having a stroke depend on where the damage occurs in the brain and how quickly medical attention is sought. Some effects can include partial paralysis, speech impairment, and vision problems.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer strikes African American men 1.3 times more often than non-Hispanic whites, and they are 2.4 times as likely to die from it. Some of the effects of prostate cancer can include difficulties with urination and erectile dysfunction.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia affects approximately one in every 12 African-Americans. It is a genetic disease that may be inherited if both parents are carriers. The primary symptoms are chronic anemia (lack of oxygen in the blood due to the abnormal shape of the red blood cells) and pain in the hands, feet, and joints. As the disease first manifests itself in childhood, early detection can lessen the risk of complications and increase the affected child's chances of survival.
Tags: African American, more likely, than non-Hispanic, cell anemia, from heart, from heart disease
