National Minority Health Month was created in 1915 by the National Negro Health Week which was established by Booker T. Washington.
The month serves to raise awareness about the importance of improving health conditions among racial and ethnic groups and reducing health disparities. In 2022 NMHM received support from the U. S. Congress along with Health Disparities Month and encouraged “all health organizations and Americans to conduct appropriate programs and activities to promote healthfulness in minority and other communities experiencing health disparities.”
According to the Office of Minority Health, compared to the white population, African Americans have a higher risk of experiencing certain health conditions including heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
Some of the higher risks can be due to a lack of access to healthcare and effective healthcare that provides early diagnosis and efficient treatment. There are also a host of socioeconomic factors that can lead to poor health including food deserts and lack of nutritional education.
It’s important that the Black community to be vigilant about physical and mental health to maintain long healthy lives.
As we go forward, there are some things to keep in mind to stay healthy:
- Know your numbers
Know your weight, blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol and body fat ratio
- Engage in regular exercise
- Attend regular medical and dental checkups
- Take your medications consistently as scheduled
- Eat healthy balanced meals (know your “all the time”, “once in a while” and “rarely” foods
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