National Minority Health Month: Here's How Race & Good Health Are Connected by Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP

What does race have to do with good health? More than you would think, as it turns out. For years, minority populations have experienced shorter life expectancies, gotten sicker earlier in life and experienced more fatal outcomes from disease. April is National Minority Health Month – the perfect backdrop to address why minorities aren’t faring as well, and what you can do about it.

• Skipping regular provider visits. Nearly half of all Hispanics will avoid a provider visit this year, and 25 percent of African Americans do not see a provider regularly. As a result, many incidentally fall victim to No. 2 and No. 3 on this list.

• Ignoring the risks. Nine out of 10 people with diabetes are overweight. More than half the people with high blood pressure also have high cholesterol, and most people with diabetes also have high blood pressure. If you have elevated risks, get checked to make sure you aren’t suffering from these conditions.

• Lack of prevention. A healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress reduction, moderate alcohol intake and quitting smoking are prevention tactics to fight virtually every major health threat, so make them part of your daily routine and lower your disease risk.

The information on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal health care provider.

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