WVON

In the weeks immediately after the pandemic spread to the United States, disadvantaged communities were faced with reduced access to care, a widening digital divide and inadequate supplies. Community health workers play a pivotal role in… fighting the pandemic, especially in areas with less resilient health systems by helping maintain equitable access to services. A report from 2020 found that throughout the pandemic, community health workers have performed over 9,600 wellness checks via telephone, helped nearly 3,400 people prepare for telehealth appointments, and conducted remote health coaching sessions with more than 600 patients. They are especially well-poised to meet healthcare’s most current problems: COVID-19 and a reckoning with racial health disparities and health inequities. They also play critical roles in increasing vaccination and can be a tremendous asset to community-based COVID-19 emergency response teams.

Nearly 48% of Black women and 44% of Black men have some form of heart disease. The rate of heart disease is also higher in the growing middle and upper-class Black community than in White Americans with similar… socioeconomic status. Why is this happening? Statistics show that Black people have higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes – common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease. Genetic factors also add to these higher rates, as do societal factors, such as gaps in income and education. Discrimination and health care access can have a profound impact on treatment and health outcomes. Education and awareness are just the beginning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are increasing in prevalence. There may be almost 14 million Americans with these conditions by 2060. There will be four times… as many Black people with these conditions by 2060 than there are now. Black people are approximately twice as likely to develop dementia as compared to White people. This disparity is often linked to a combination of socioeconomic, psychosocial, and circulatory system risk factors. In addition, literacy and quality of education over the lifespan, as well as markers, like hypertension and diabetes may account for a large proportion of racial differences in cognitive performance. Cognitive impairment and dementia (CID) increases the risk of disability, burden of illness, and costs.

Breast cancer is the second most lethal form of cancer among women in the United States. It currently affects more than one in ten women worldwide. The chance for a female to be diagnosed with breast… cancer during her lifetime has significantly increased from 1 in 11 women in 1975 to 1 in 8 women. Breast cancer affects all population groups in the United States, but due to social, environmental, and economic disadvantages, certain groups have an unfair burden of cancer compared with other groups. Disparities can also be seen when results are improving overall but the improvements are not seen in some groups in comparison to other groups. These disparities also illustrate the relationship among certain factors, including social determinants of health, behavior, biology, and genetics—all of which can have profound effects on health, including cancer risk and results. Also, certain groups in the United States experience disparities because they are more likely to encounter obstacles in getting healthcare.

Roe v. Wade, the historic case that established the constitutional right to an abortion, was overruled by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision on June 24th. Since 1973, Roe has allowed for abortions to be performed… during the first two trimesters of pregnancy in the US. As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Mississippi case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, about half of the states are anticipated to abolish or severely restrict abortion. Thankfully abortion in Illinois is legal, and Governor J.B Pritzker has made it clear that there should be no changes. But this hasn’t stopped thousands of Chicagoans from joining in protest alongside their fellow countrymen who are not so lucky.

Early detection of disease and other health issues can be important in helping any patient live healthier, happier, and in some cases, longer. In fact, early detection can significantly increase the chances of survival for certain… diseases, including many forms of cancer. That is why experts recommend following a regular schedule for medical examinations and the appropriate screenings based on your demographics and risk factors. For women, taking control of their health and being proactive includes recommended preventive care and screening for conditions that are specific to them, such as those relating to reproductive and breast health. The reproductive health of women keeps changing over their lifetimes, and this is why it is important to get a feel for it regularly.

Pregnant people are, first and foremost, concerned with the health of their unborn child, and some have had reservations about getting the COVID-19 vaccine—only about a third of pregnant people are fully vaccinated. Pregnant people… have been hesitant to receive the vaccine due to limited information about vaccine safety. We are now 3 years into the pandemic, and protection provided by the vaccine is more important than ever. Because Omicron is so contagious, the typical measures we were taking before aren’t necessarily working. If you’re pregnant, it may now be harder to keep yourself from getting sick with COVID-19. Knowing that pregnant people infected with it appear to have a higher chance of preterm birth, vaccination is key to avoiding the various developmental issues that can accompany a baby born too soon. We also don’t know the long-term effects of COVID on babies if a parent passes the virus to their baby.

In the United States, 34.2 million adults have diabetes, and one in five of them do not know they have it. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States and most common in people… from racial and ethnic minority groups. Unfortunately, access to care is a huge barrier within our Black communities. Additionally, being unable to afford quality medical care and prescription medications can be obstacles as well. Conditions not managed could be and subsequently result in poorer health. Being educated about the things you can change may help reduce your chance.

It has been two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been many people who deny the existence of COVID-19 and believe false information about what is happening. This misinformation/disinformation has impacted… the spread of COVID-19 as well as vaccine uptake in the U.S. COVID-19 mitigation strategies have also been impacted with different mandates and regulations depending on the area. Many efforts have been made over the course of the pandemic to take action against false information and the people who spread it, but the problem is immense and continues to get worse.

Prostate cancer takes a harsher toll on Black men than other men, including other men of color. In fact, Black men are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and twice as likely to… die from the disease. There are many factors that can increase the risk and worsen the outcome of prostate cancer — not just being of African descent. Disparities in outcomes also can be affected by differences in when the cancer is diagnosed and how the men are treated after diagnosis. Despite the increased risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from it, Black men are underrepresented in clinical trials that test new therapies.

The current COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the increased number of Black youth experiencing anxiety and depression. In addition, the rate of suicide among this group is increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic… group. Yet, they are less likely to seek treatment. Mental health is very stigmatized in our society. We are told not to prioritize our mental health because there is something wrong with asking for help. Although awareness about mental health is increasing, many Black youth still suffer from mental health issues and cannot access the resources necessary to help them. Delays in seeking care can lead to negative consequences, such as emergency psychiatric hospitalizations and also becoming adults with unaddressed mental health issues.

When you’re not at your healthiest, you can probably tell. You may simply feel “off.” You may find that you feel tired, your digestive system isn’t functioning as well as it normally does, and… you seem to catch colds. Mentally, you may find you can’t concentrate and feel anxious or depressed. The good news: a healthy lifestyle can help you feel better. Even better, you don’t have to make drastic changes to your entire life overnight. It’s pretty easy to make a couple of small changes that can steer you in the direction of improved well-being. And once you make one change, that success can motivate you to continue to make more positive shifts.