Every racial or ethnic group has specific health concerns. Differences in the health of groups can result from
- Genetics
- Environmental factors
- Access to care
- Cultural factors
On this page, you’ll find links to health issues that affect African-Americans.
- Black or African American Populations(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/Populations/BAA/BAA.htm
- Improving Your Health: Tips for African American Men and Women(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/improving.htm
- Black Youths with High Blood Pressure May Face Elevated Heart Risks(05/03/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83751.html
- Racial Disparity in Death Rate May Be Avoidable(04/24/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83347.html
- Medicare Change May Impact Black Kidney Patients(04/23/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83245.html
- Power to Prevent: Helping African Americans Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(02/16/2009, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/DiabetesPrevention/
- More News on African-American Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#africanamericanhealth
- Make Health a Family Reunion Affair(National Kidney Disease Education Program) - Links to PDF - http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/familyreunion/docs/nkdep_fr_guide_approach1_508.pdf
- Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure: What Every African American Should Know(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Links to PDF - http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/mission/partner/african_americans.pdf
- Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide for African Americans(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/publications/aadecisionguide/
- Energize Yourself and Your Family(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/energize.htm
- Heart-Healthy Home Cooking: African American Style(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Large PDF file - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/cooking.pdf
- Key to Nutrition: A Diversified Portfolio(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=4081&lvl=3&lvlID=287
- African-Americans and Alzheimer's Disease(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_african_americans.asp
- Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer? What African American Men Need to Know(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/OralCancer/oral_exam_brochure.htm
- Arthritis in African Americans(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-in-african-americans.php
- Cancer 101(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=2829
- Depression and African Americans(Mental Health America) - http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/depression/depression-and-african-americans/
- Facts about Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) for African Americans(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad/docs/pad_extfactsheet_aa_508.pdf
- For People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian Heritage: Important Information about Diabetes Blood Tests(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/traitA1C/index.htm
- Know the Difference: Resources for African-Americans with Epilepsy(Epilepsy Foundation) - http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/knowthedifference/index.html
- On the Move to Better Heart Health for African Americans(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Large PDF file - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/aariskfactors.pdf
- Power to Prevent: A Family Lifestyle Approach to Diabetes Prevention(National Diabetes Education Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Large PDF file - http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/powertoprevent2007.pdf
- Ten Ways African Americans Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes(National Diabetes Education Program) - Links to PDF - http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/ten-ways-african-americans.pdf
- What Is Bipolar Disorder? A Guide to Hope and Recovery for African Americans(Mental Health America) - Large PDF file - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/bipolar-disorder/-what-is-bipolar-disorder-a-guide-to-hope-and-recovery-for-african-americans
- Dealing with Diabetes: How to Support a Loved One with the Disease(National Diabetes Education Program) - Links to PDF - http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/dealing-how-to-support-loved-one.pdf
- Diabetes & High Blood Pressure Make the Kidney Connection: What African Americans Need To Know(National Kidney Disease Education Program) - http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/African_American_brochure.htm
- Drugs, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: A Consumer Guide for African Americans(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/tip_37_brochure.pdf
- Mental Health in the African American Community(American Psychiatric Association) - Links to PDF - http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF_MHAfAm.pdf
- Pathways to Freedom: Winning the Fight against Tobacco(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dept. of Health and Human Services) - Large PDF file - http://www.smokefree.gov/docs/pathways_final.pdf
- You Are a Survivor: Living After Cancer Treatment(Lance Armstrong Foundation) - Large PDF file - http://www.livestrong.org/atf/cf/%7BFB6FFD43-0E4C-4414-8B37-0D001EFBDC49%7D/brochure_aa.pdf
- Need to Know: The Importance of HIV Testing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/CDCtv/NeedToKnow/
- ClinicalTrials.gov: African Americans(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22african+american%22
- African Americans Lose Weight in 12-Week, Church-Based Program(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=692
- African Americans: Answers about HIV Vaccine Research(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/PDF/NIAID_HVAD_AA_FS.pdf
- Black Teens, Especially Girls, at High Risk for Suicide Attempts(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/black-teens-especially-girls-at-high-risk-for-suicide-attempts.shtml
- Depression Treatment, Increased Physical Activity in African Americans May Reduce Heart Disease and Improve Quality of Life(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=688
- Gifts, Affirmations Boost Medication Adherence in African Americans(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=559
- Health Disparities(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/HealthDisparities.pdf
- National Cooperative Study of Hereditary Prostate Cancer in African-Americans(National Human Genome Research Institute) - http://www.genome.gov/10002040
- New Survey Shows African-Americans Are Concerned with Heart Health but Unaware of Link to Brain Health(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053663
- Outreach Programs Help African American Breast Cancer Patients(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Outreach_Programs_Help_African_American_Breast_Cancer_Patients.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Recursive processes in self-affirmation: intervening to close the minority achievement... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19372432&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: For the patient. What do African American teens understand about... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19348013&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: For the patient. Measuring racial discrimination. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19348012&tool=MedlinePlus
- African-American Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=african+americans[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/
- National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities - http://ncmhd.nih.gov/
- Office of Minority Health Resource Center(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/
- African American Community Mental Health Fact Sheet(NAMI) - Links to PDF - http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/MIO/Fact_Sheets1/AA_MH_Disparities_04.pdf
- African American Suicide(American Association of Suicidology) - Links to PDF - http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-20.pdf
- African Americans and Kidney Disease(National Kidney Disease Education Program) - http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/news/campaign/african_americans.htm
- Asthma and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?lvl=3&lvlID=532&ID=6170
- Black or African American Populations(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/Populations/BAA/BAA.htm
- Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans, 2007-2008(American Cancer Society) - Large PDF file - http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007AAacspdf2007.pdf
- Chronic Liver Disease and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6204
- Diabetes Epidemic among African Americans(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/FS_AfricanAm.pdf
- FastStats: Health of Black or African American Population(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/black_health.htm
- Heart Disease and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3018
- Heart Disease and Stroke Maps(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/giscvh2/
- Hepatitis and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6493
- HIV/AIDS among African Americans(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm
- Immunizations and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3020
- Infant Mortality and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3021
- Obesity and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?lvl=3&lvlID=537&ID=6456
- Smoking and African Americans(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35988
- State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=308853
- Stroke and African Americans(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3022
- Control Blood Pressure, Protect Your Kidneys - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall08/articles/fall08pg28c.html
- Helping Children Cope with Crisis: Activity Book(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/cope_with_crisis_book/sub1.cfm
- Safe Sleep for Your Baby: Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (African American Outreach)(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/safe_sleep_aa.cfm
- Celebrate the Beauty of Youth(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/celebrate.htm
- Easy Guide to Breastfeeding for African-American Women(National Women's Health Information Center) - Large PDF file - http://womenshealth.gov/pub/BF.AA.pdf
- Fit and Fabulous As You Mature(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/mature.htm
- Health Problems in African American Women(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/minority/africanamerican/
- Health Status of African American Women(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health) - http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3723
- Heart Truth for African American Women(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_aa.pdf
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HIV/AIDS among Women(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/women.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/spanish/resources/factsheets/women.htm
- Osteoporosis and African American Women(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Background/default.asp
- Population Groups - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/populationgroups.html
The primary NIH organization for research on African-American Health is the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities - http://ncmhd.nih.gov/