April 5, 2004 Hello! "Each year the American
Public Health Association (APHA) joins with local and national public
health groups to celebrate the first week in April as National Public
Health Week. The theme for 2004 is eliminating health disparities....Some
examples of health disparities include: Lack of physicians in rural
areas.... Unequal treatment for minorities.... Lack of diversity
among health care providers.... Low health literacy.... Lack of
insurance.... Exposures to environmental risks.... Poverty and cancer...." How can knowing that disparities exist help you to make choices that can improve your health, reduce your chances of becoming a disparity statistic, and assist you in educating your family and community about better health? "Life expectancy and
overall health have improved for a large number of Americans, due
to an increased focus on preventive medicine and dynamic new advances
in medical technology. However, not all Americans are benefiting
equally. There are continuing disparities in the burden of illness
and death experienced by African Americans, Hispanic Americans,
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives,
as compared to the U.S. population as a whole." How can knowing that disparities exist help you to make choices that can improve your health, reduce your chances of becoming a disparity statistic, and assist you in educating your family and community about better health? "This Nation is increasingly
troubled by the health disparities between its advantaged and disadvantaged
populations....The poor have worse health than other population
groups, including: shorter life expectancy; higher cancer rates;
more birth defects; greater infant mortality; and higher incidence
of asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The ways in which
poverty creates these health disparities is not well understood.
There is increasing evidence that these groups are burdened with
a disproportionate share of residential and occupational exposure
to hazardous substances such as lead, PCBs, wood dusts, and air
pollutants...." How can knowing that disparities exist help you to make choices that can improve your health, reduce your chances of becoming a disparity statistic, and assist you in educating your family and community about better health? "Case 1: Beth M.'s father died of colon cancer, as did her grandmother. Now two of her brothers, both in their 40s, have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Beth, age 37, feels a curse is hanging over her family and is worried about her future and that of her children. "Case 2: Paul C. was 35 when his doctor told him the grim news: He had advanced colon cancer. As far as he knew, Paul had no family history of the disease. But after checking, Paul learned that several aunts and uncles had died of colon cancer at an early age. "Further research
revealed that some members of both Beth and Paul's families carried
an altered gene, passed from parent to child, that predisposes them
to a form of inherited colon cancer, known as hereditary nonpolyposis
colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Sometimes difficult to diagnose, HNPCC
is believed to account for one in six of all colon cancer cases." How can knowing that disparities exist help you to make choices that can improve your health, reduce your chances of becoming a disparity statistic, and assist you in educating your family and community about better health? Good nutrition, including
a diet that is low in saturated fats and contains five or more servings
of fruits and vegetables each day, plays a key role in maintaining
good health. Improving the American diet could extend the productive
life span of Americans and reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases,
including heart disease, stroke, some types of cancers, diabetes,
and osteoporosis. How can knowing that disparities exist help you to make choices that can improve your health, reduce your chances of becoming a disparity statistic, and assist you in educating your family and community about better health? Whether it is Sickle Cell
anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, cancer, Tay-Sachs, or lead paint exposure,
not every person has the same level of risk. Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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