African-American Healthcare

African Americans and Critical Health Issues
Health disparities among African-Americans in the U. S. healthcare system has been a topic of national debate among politicians, health care providers, community leaders and the general public for years. The main critical health issues among African-Americans are heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure and organ transplants. These conditions are killing members of the community at alarming rates.
It is important to study how health providers interact with all cultures in order to provide the quality of service each individual is entitled. The sources within the community, through media and other outlets, can significantly contribute to this goal. Communication is a key to proper healthcare. Mainstream doctors and minority patients often struggle to understand some of the basics. There are non-traditional resources within the African-American community that can be tapped to deliver information about critical health issues. African-Americans are more likely to fall ill and die of chronic diseases than members of the majority population. These health disparities persist even when differences in educational level and socioeconomic status is taken into account. Many diseases that effect African-Americans disproportionately, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, can be prevented or controlled with proper nutrition and regular physical activity.
The support continues to build for community involvement from the inside in order to influence people who show little trust in outside consultants and health care providers. In other words, we must educate ourselves, change our diets on our own initiative and make a difference in healthcare among African-Americans.