Overview
April is recognized as National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about health disparities that disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority populations. The observance encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to work together to improve health outcomes and promote health equity.
Originally inspired by National Negro Health Week, established in 1915 by Booker T. Washington, this observance has evolved into a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to promote education, prevention, and healthier communities.
Why Minority Health Matters
Health disparities are preventable differences in health outcomes that are closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantage.
Examples of disparities include:
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African Americans are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension compared to White Americans.
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Minority populations are more likely to experience barriers to healthcare access, including lack of insurance or culturally appropriate care.
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Women of color experience higher rates of preterm birth and infant mortality.
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Higher rates of chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes occur among several minority populations.
Social determinants of health, including housing, transportation, employment, education, and access to healthy food, significantly influence health outcomes in minority communities.
5 Steps to Preventative Care
With the proper diet and exercise, everyone, regardless of ethnicity, can reduce their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Here’s how:
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Reduce bad foods: Choose foods that have no or low levels of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. Saturated and trans fats are in fatty beef, pork, poultry with skin, lard, butter and dairy products made with whole milk. Sodium comes from the amount of salt in your food.
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Eat heart-healthy foods: Cook with fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, fish, nuts and seeds. Eat the leanest cuts of meat you can find or have meals without meat. Drink beverages without added sugar.
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Stay physically active: Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, or 75 minutes of intense physical activity, such as jogging or running, every week.
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Strengthen your muscles: Do muscle strengthening exercises that work all major muscle groups at least two days a week. This includes back muscles, legs, hips, chest, shoulders and arms.
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Quit unhealthy habits: Stop smoking and practice abstaining from alcohol.
Parents can also help reduce the risk for their children by encouraging 60 minutes of activity each day.