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African Americans and GI Disorders
When it comes to gastric disorders such as acid reflux (GERD), or more serious conditions such as ulcerative colitis or even colon cancer, the African American community is often at high risk.
It’s thought that this may be due to societal factors, such as diet and lack of access to health care. And while efforts are being made to increase health care options in minority communities, there also are many campaigns to get out information about health and wellness, with an emphasis on preventative care.
According to research presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, African Americans often aren’t diagnosed with colon cancer until the disease is in more advanced stages, and thus have a poor survival rate when compared to other ethnic groups. In fact, deaths from colorectal cancer are 45 percent higher in African Americans than in whites, according to the American Cancer Society.
For anyone, African American or otherwise, that should include awareness of the risk factors for colon cancer, as well as steps for prevention and screening.
The American Cancer Society has partnered with the National Medical Association, the country’s largest African American physicians’ group, to get the word out. The need for colonoscopies, which the groups call the “gold standard” of screening, is prominently featured in that campaign. So if you are African American, take the professionals’ advice and speak to your physician about your overall health, and see if a colonoscopy is right for you. If you are on Medicare, you may even quality for a free screening.
Best of all, by looking into your colon health you may be able to ward off GERD or other digestive problems with the information, and treatment, you get from your physician.