It has been researched and documented that Black individuals in the United States experience significant health disparities across sectors. “Compared to their white counterparts, African Americans are generally at higher risk for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS,” according to the Office of Minority Health. This same office reports, “Blacks/African Americans are the second largest minority population in the United States,” and yet, in 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that “19.5 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks in comparison to 10.0 percent of non-Hispanic Whites were living at the poverty level.” This glaring economic disparity is one of many examples that sheds light on why Black Americans are at higher risk for a variety of health concerns.
Heart Disease and Black Americans
According to the Office of Minority Health, Black Americans are at risk for several conditions which increase the likelihood of heart disease including hypertension and high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol and use of tobacco products. They report:
- As of 2019, African Americans are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
- Although African American adults are 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, they are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have control of their blood pressure.
- African American women are nearly 50 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than non-Hispanic white women.
Stroke and Black Americans
According to the American Stroke Association, “younger people (under 65 years) who have diabetes and have an ischemic stroke are more likely to be Black.” Black stroke survivors are also more likely to have difficulties doing daily activities and are more likely than white stroke survivors to have a second stroke within a year. These second strokes often result in death.
Stroke Risk Factors:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Sickle cell anemia
- High cholesterol
- Use of tobacco products
- Stress
Cancer and Black Americans
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that “compared to members of other racial and ethnic groups, Black and African American people have higher rates of getting and dying from many kinds of cancer.”
- Black people have the highest overall death rate for cancer.
- Black people have a lower overall 5-year cancer survival rate than White people.
- Black people are more likely than White people to be diagnosed with female breast, lung, and colorectal cancers at later stages.
Asthma and Black Americans
Asthma a disease of the lungs that can cause immense discomfort and lead to more serious health conditions or even death. Black Americans are at much higher risk for asthma and asthma related conditions. Some statistics from the Office of Minority Health report:
- From 2018-2020, 4.0 million non-Hispanic blacks (adults and children) reported that they currently have asthma.
- Non-Hispanic African Americans were 30 percent more likely to have asthma than non-Hispanic whites, in 2019.
- In 2020, non-Hispanic blacks were almost three times more likely to die from asthma related causes than the non-Hispanic white population.
Diabetes and Black Americans
Diabetes is a health condition that occurs when your body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it as well as it should. Northwestern Medicine reports, “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.”
And what causes these disparities among this minority group? There are a variety of inequity issues across racial groups in the United States. Minority groups are more likely to face systems that do not work in their favor and result in worse outcomes than their White counterparts. "Unfortunately, access to care is a huge barrier within our Black and Brown communities," says Dr. Kimbra A. Bell, MD. “The inability to afford quality medical care and prescription medications can be a hindrance as well.”