Minority Report

Diversity makes the world go 'round. It also means different groups have different health concerns.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups are at higher risk for poor health and premature death. Fortunately, if you know youre at risk for certain diseases, preventive steps can lead to a longer, healthier life. Here is how health risks for common diseases differ by cultural background and genderand what you can do today.

Osteoporosis
While osteoporosis does strike men, four out of five cases occur in women. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone more rapidly than men because of the changes involved in menopause.

Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 20 percent of Caucasian and Asian women older than 50 are estimated to have osteoporosis, followed by 10 percent of Hispanic women and 5 percent of African-American women.

Ima Asher, a 77-year-old Caucasian woman and an employee of Memorial Hospital who lives in Sulphur Springs, was diagnosed with osteoporosis following a routine physical exam six years ago. Her regimen now includes prescription medication, calcium supplements and weight-bearing exercise. Im doing wonderfully and I feel great, she says. Every year my bone density gets just a little bit better.

What to do:

• Quit smoking.
• Get enough calcium and vitamin D.
• Do weight-bearing exercises.
• Limit alcohol.
• Have a bone mineral density test.
• Take medication, if appropriate.

Diabetes
The CDC reports that African-Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely as Caucasians to develop type 2 diabetes. American Indians and Alaska Natives have 2.6 times the risk. Its especially important for people in these groups to talk with their doctors about their risk, since diabetes can begin to develop up to 10 years before its diagnosedand making the right changes can postpone or even eliminate the disease. Be sure to let your doctor know if youve had any family members diagnosed with diabetes. Like race, genetics also can increase your risk.

What to do:

• Quit smoking.
• Exercise.
• Eat a low-fat diet.
• Lose excess body weight.
• Reduce food portion size.
• Seek blood glucose screening.

Cancer
African-American women bear a tremendous cancer burdenthey are more likely to die from cancer than persons of any other racial and ethnic group. African-American men have more cancers of the lung, prostate, colon and rectum than Caucasian men. In fact, African-Americans as a whole have more malignant tumors and are less likely to survive cancer than the general population.

Meanwhile, the CDC reports that Hispanics, American Indians, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders get fewer cancer screeningsputting them at higher risk for less-treatable tumors and cancers.

What to do:

• Quit smoking.
• Exercise.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Women: Have routine mam-mography, Pap tests, breast and pelvic exams, and colonoscopies. Men: Have routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, digital rectal exams and colonoscopies.

Heart Health
While heart disease is often thought of as a mans disease, it is the No. 1 killer of both genders. In fact, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for all racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Once again, problems with cardiovascular health hit African-Americans particularly hard. One in three African-Americans has high blood pressurethe highest rate of high blood pressure among all groups. In 2000, death rates from diseases of the heart were 29 percent higher among African-American adults than Caucasian adults. The stroke death rate was 40 percent higher. And African-American women are more likely to die from heart disease than other groups of women.

Meanwhile, Hispanics between the ages of 35 and 64 have a risk of stroke that is 1.3 times higher than the non-Hispanic population.

What to do:

• Quit smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise.
• Reduce stress.
• Follow your doctors recommendations to control high blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.

If youre concerned about your risk for these diseases and other health problems, talk with a physician on the medical staff at Memorial Hospital. To find one, call (903) 439-4062 or go on-line to hcmh.com and click on Physician Directory.