Title: African American Health | Recall Report
Headings: African American Health
African American Health
Leading Causes of Death
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Disease
Lung Diseases
Sickle Cell Anemia
Homicide and Violence
Cancer Survival
HIV
Mental Health
Access to Health Care
Tips for Healthy Living
Dangerous Drugs
Sources

Content: One cause of death that is in the top ten for the American population as a whole, but that is missing from the leading causes for African American deaths is suicide. Diabetes
African Americans have a two times greater risk of developing diabetes than white Americans. Exactly why this is the case is not fully understood. There are higher rates of obesity among both male and female African Americans, and obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Thirty-eight percent of African American men and 57 percent of women are obese, as compared to 34 and 36 percent of white men and women in the U.S. There may be other factors too, such as genetics that predispose more African Americans to diabetes. Diabetes is a serious chronic illness, but one that can be controlled and managed. It is important for anyone at risk for this disease to understand the consequences of developing it and not controlling it: kidney failure, vision loss, and amputated limbs, just to name a few. With treatment and lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, type 2 diabetes can be managed and even reversed. High Blood Pressure
Forty-one percent of African American men and 45 percent of women have high blood pressure, statistics that are significantly higher than for the white population in America.