Spring into good health with regular checkups

Jet, March 22, 2004

Perhaps spring cleaning should mean more to you than discarding ancient garage and attic junk--it should also be about getting a clean bill of health.

Regular doctor's visits can offer just that.

After all, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Closing the Health Gap program recently reported Blacks still have a long way to go when it comes to narrowing the health disparities in comparison to Whites.

The most recent HHS studies show Blacks are 30 percent more likely than Whites to get cancer, 40 percent more likely to have a stroke, twice as likely to contract diabetes and 10 times as likely to fall victim to HIV and AIDS.

However, the good news is that all of these diseases can be prevented with regular doctor's visits.

If you do not wait until an emergency arises to contact a physician, chances are the early stages of many ailments can be pinpointed and treated accordingly.

The key to establishing a regular checkup routine is to identify respective risk factors in women, men and senior citizens.

WOMEN:

If you are an African-American woman older than 25, you are more likely than White women to get breast cancer before the age of 40.

Additionally, one out of four Black women typically do not receive prenatal care during the first trimester, and about 69 percent of Black women between the ages of 20 and 74 were overweight during the period 1988 through 1994.

For these reasons, it is increasingly important for Black women to receive annual mammograms, as well as annual gynecological preventative medical screenings.

HHS also recommends that women visit a health counselor for advice about diet and exercise on an annual basis.

MEN:

Black men should focus preventative health efforts toward battling heart disease which is one of the leading health related causes of death for them. Before you turn 40, consider seeing a dietician on an annual basis, since obesity generally contributes to heart disease. These regular visits will also ward off your chances of having a stroke.

Additionally, you also should aim to prevent cancer, which is the second-highest killer of Black men. Once you turn 40, you should get a prostate exam and a prostate specific antigen blood test annually.

SENIORS:

Senior Black women and men should work in a visit to the proctologist every five years to prevent colon cancer. Also, both women and men should engage in regular exercise to stay fit over 50. After all, you'll need plenty of energy to do that spring cleaning.