Social Conditions Affect on African-American Health

...

Follow up care is generally not sought or provided. Research also shows that if medical care is provided, that is most likely not provided appropriately due to varying levels of racial discrimination. It is unfortunate that for this racial/ethnic group that the reason for the overall mortality rate is higher than all other ethnic groups in the US is mostly related to social, psychological, and environmental factors rather than biological ones.

Just this weekend my husband’s childhood friend passed away from heart disease. He was a 42-year-old African-American who was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath and abdominal pain. It turned out that he was in heart failure and was to be transferred for a heart transplant. His high adrenaline, high aggression job and dietary habits most likely contributed to his high blood pressure. Although, I think he was in the minority of African-Americans who could afford healthcare, challenges still existed for him to be able to receive appropriate care to diagnose his fatal heart condition.

The latest data from the American Heart Association shows that in 2009 the overall death rate was 236.1. For white males it 281.4 and females 190.4. For black males it was 387.0 and females 267.9.

References:

Anon. n.d. “African Americans &Amp; Cardiovascular Disease.” American Heart Association. Retrieved (https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_319568.pdf).

Anon. n.d. “Whites &Amp; Cardiovascular Disease.” American Heart Association. Retrieved (https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_319575.pdf).

Anon. 2016. “Disability and Risk Factors.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 10, 2016 (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disability-and-risk-factors.htm).

Scott, Janny. 2005. “Life at the Top in America Isn't Just Better, It's Longer.” New York Times. Retrieved (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/us/class/life-at-the-top-in-america-isnt-just-better-its-longer.html).

Williams, David R. and Chiquita Collins. n.d. “Racial Residential Segregation: A Fundamental Cause of Racial Disparities in Health.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc1497358/pdf/12042604.pdf).