April - Minority Health Awareness Month

April is Minority Health Awareness month, a time to identify health issues that affect minority and under-served populations.  Informed prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts can help reduce health disparities by promoting educational efforts on the health problems currently facing minorities and other under-served populations. Unfortunately, many racial and ethnic minority populations can’t make healthy choices because of factors like where they live, their race or ethnicity, their education, their physical or mental abilities, or their income. As a result of these health disparities, they experience higher rates of diabetes, adverse mental health outcomes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, heart disease, cancer and preterm birth.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for minorities, in the United States and can affect adults at any age. Women are more likely than men to have "silent" heart disease, meaning women's symptoms may be different and can be harder to diagnose. Knowing the facts about your health problem, as well as the signs, symptoms and risk factors, can help you take steps to protect your health and seek proper treatment.

Physical activity and nutrition are two of the best things all people can do to improve their health. 

Benefits of Physical Activity:

• Reduce pain and improve function among adults with arthritis
• Reduce heart disease risk
• Reduce diabetes risk
• Reduce mortality and recurrent breast cancer risk
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Lower stroke risk
• Lower colon cancer risk
• Decrease depression as effectively as certain medications and behavioral therapies

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for minorities and under-served populations.  Living a healthy lifestyle, like keeping a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, can help reduce preventable cancer deaths.

Access to affordable nutritious food is associated with decreased risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, mental health disorders and other chronic diseases. The DASH diet aims to reduce intake of processed food and sodium, typically ranging from 1500 to 2300 mg/day, and promotes healthier alternatives such as vegetables, nuts and whole grains. This dietary approach is effective in reducing blood pressure due to the essential nutrients which include potassium, calcium and magnesium. If you are 21 to 65 or older, these screening tests are recommended for certain cancers and are covered by Medicare if 65 or older: Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer (should begin at age 25), and Prostate Cancer.

BreastCare, a program provided by The Arkansas Department of Health, offers no cost screening and diagnostic services for eligible women in Arkansas.  Screening services include clinical breast exam, Pap test and mammogram. Diagnostic services to follow-up on an abnormal mammogram, clinical breast exam or Pap test results are also available. For more information contact BreastCare at their toll-Free Number 1-833-693-2942. Baptist Health Community Outreach, located at 10117 Kanis Rd. LR, AR 72205 provides free monthly sessions offering education and support to those with diabetes. For more information or questions, contact Community Outreach at 501-202-1540

By addressing barriers and implementing effective educational programs, government health organizations can empower minorities and other under-served populations with the knowledge to make informed choices, reduce health risks, and lead healthier lives.

References: https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-andethnicity/?entry=executive-summary-introduction; https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/prevention-healthyliving/breastcare-program/; www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educat HYPERLINK;

"http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan"i HYPERLINK "http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan"on/dash-eating-plan https://healthliteracy.uams.edu/for-patients/online-health-information/

About the Author:

Roosevelt Noise, Jr. is a retired Air Force veteran, retired civil and private sector servant and serves as a member of The Health and Wellness Ministry, along with his wife Dora Noise, RN