African American Woman Research Paper

This paper will identify and examine the different factors that cause there to be a discrepancy in black and white women’s levels of health. It will then

Environmental Racism and Health Disparities are two of the many issues that affect the African American community. Environmental Racism occurs when people of color, who disproportionately live in lower income communities, are revealed to dangerous materials consisting of waste and toxins which are used or disposed of in their communities. Health Disparities occur when a group of people suffers inequalities of health advantages when compared to the access to quality health care and health advantages of another group besides the African Americans. Factors that contribute to issues of health disparities are the lack of health care coverage and vulnerability to toxins in the air. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity are common health disparities that deals with heart disease within the

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major health condition which affects many Americans. This health condition may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. A normal blood pressure consists of systolic blood pressure divided by diastolic blood pressure, 120/80mmHg (millimeters of mercury). High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure which is greater than 140mm Hg, and diastolic pressure which is over 90mm Hg. Hypertension influences the health outcomes of black Americans more than other races in the United States. Racial discrimination and socioeconomic status are two major factors which influence the rate of high blood pressure in the black American population.

(2015) notes that “Starting in 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires federal agencies to use a minimum of five race categories: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.” Each minority group differs in health status and disparities and health promotion. In this paper the writer will focus on a specific minority group, the Black or African Americans, and will

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and the leading cause of death in African-American women.1 African-American women have higher rates of heart disease with earlier onset and more severe complications than women from other ethnicities. A common strategy to address the increase incidence of heart disease in African-American females is by changing their behavioral attitudes towards diet and physical activity. The Heart Truth, a science-based health education program launched in 2002, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, helps increase awareness about heart disease and its risk factors in women.2 It also aims at educating and motivating the women to take action

Mexican American’s seem to have more traits that increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, (Winkleby) than white adults. According, to the article Mexican American are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease due to certain sub-factors. These factors contain an uncontrolled hypertension and being below the poverty line. Being below

African Americans have a 67% greater risk for Septicemia rate than non Hispanic whites. (9.4 per 1,000 blacks compared to 5.6 per 1,000 whites). African Americans also were 80% more likely to die from Septicemia. The reason for the higher risk is that Blacks tend to have more various diseases such as diabetes, obesity,

At each age, in all income groups with different health life styles, African Americans have higher mortality and morbidity rates than whites. I agree with this as minorities have been oppressed and discriminated since the beginning of time, all the built-up stress can cause detrimental effects on the health of the fetus growing inside the womb leading to high premature births and infant mortality rates. Also, this may explain why African American women experience this despite having good health, high economic status, and following the doctor’s

Various studies on the health conditions of American demographics have provided supporting evidence for the aforementioned statement. Specifically, Flegal, Carroll, Ogden and Johnson’s study (2002) found that the obesity rates in the United States had been rising steadily since the 1960s (Flegal, Carroll, Ogden and Johnson, 2002). Particularly, the rates of obesity among female African American population were significantly higher than their white counterparts (Flegal et al, 2002). Gates and Macdonald (1997)’s study also identified the dietary habits of African Americans as the crucial factor leading to higher prevalence of cardiovascular illness among African Americans as female African Americans consumed a significantly higher level of cholesterol than their white counterparts (Gates, Macdonald, 1997). Catherine-Jen, Brogan, Washington, Flack and Artinian (2007)’s study focusing on symptoms of hypertension among African Americans found the rates of obesity to be significantly higher in their focused group of participants than the general population with hypertension (Catherine Jen, Brogan, Washington, Flack, Artinian, 2007). Thus, it is possible to make the connection that African Americans’ marginalization from the mainstream society could be attributed to

Also, I knew that African Americans are more susceptible to chronic health diseases, however I thought this was mainly due to a lower national average SES. I’ve come to learn that the mental strain of being an African American in America also create stressors that negatively impact the total wellbeing of African Americans(Unnatural causes,2014). Lastly, the environment of those suffering from health disparities also plays a major factor in the root causes of health disparities. For instance, Jim lives in a nice community which has access to a wide array of food items, if Jim chooses to eat healthy he has the ability and opportunity to do so. However in the case of Mary Turner, her neighborhood supermarket lacks affordable healthy food items the can beneficially impact her wellbeing.

In the United States, the 1990 death rates for stroke were 28% for White males and 56% for Black males, 24% for White females, and 43% for Black females. In 1990, coronary heart disease death rates were 1.3% higher for Black males than White males and 29.4% higher for Black females than White females. It is important to note, however, that of those with coronary heart disease, 88.2% are White, 9.5% are Black, and 2.4% are of other races (American Heart Association, 1993).

This research is important for multiple reasons. Women have had a lot of problems throughout history and it is not any easier when you include the race. Women of color have had it rough since they were brought to America. I want to research and find out if things have been progressing for women and women of color. The media have shown many groups trying to make an effort with trying to make everyone being equal. I want to see through my research has that effort made way to the movies. I have seen very few films where the women are the hero. The only problem with that is in those few films the hero has not been of color. That is great for women, but it shows that women of color have had a little progression. For women of color it still shows

The title of the article is Public Health Then and Now. The Slavery Hypothesis for Hypertension Among African Americans: The Historical Evidence and is written by Phillip D. Curtin, who is a PhD holder. Curtin’s major focus is to analyze the reasons behind the increased number of African Americans suffering from hypertension in the United States. Curtin claims that the increased case of African Americans who are suffering from hypertension in the United States are as a result of three major factors; the psychological trauma that is a result of slavery, inhuman conditions of slavery in the U.S., and lack of salt in the African parts the slaves were

There are many factors that may encourage the incidence of cardiovascular disease, some of them we can say like genetic polymorphisms, medical adherence, and exposures of the environment. Different researchers declared that several inherited risk factors assist in cardiovascular disease [34] showing that some of the risk genetic materials are shared from descendants to their generation [51]. These genetic polymorphisms exist between black and white people, where their platelets react differently (hyperreactive in black people) [35].The point may be related to the historical observations reported that cardiovascular disease is highly developed in black people at a younger age, with the highest incidence

In the 2010 census, 42.0 million people, approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population, identified themselves as black or African American. African American (AA) experience higher prevalence of many diseases, disability, death, and injury (cdc 1). It is observed that AA females are more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and heart diseases more than their White counterparts. Among AA females aged 2–19 years old, 24% are considered obese compared to 14% whites. A similar pattern was reported among women older than 20 years of age showing that 51% of AA women are obese compared to 33% of their counterpart White women. (1) The prevalence of obesity was inversely associated with the family income among Whites of all age groups. This was not the case in AA females, a higher prevalence of obesity was observed within most family income categories. (1) African American women also experience the highest rate of type 2 diabetes, especially those who are overweight or obese. Among AA females 65-74 years of age, it is reported that one in four women has diabetes. Since Diabetes is closely associated with obesity, primary prevention measures should include changes in the adverse behavioral lifestyle such as physical inactivity and poor diet ( Huff text book p 250-251). It is also noted that African American women with diabetes experience greater odds of disability than those without diabetes ( Thorpe 4). In addition, the rates of diseases that may lead to disabilities are more