Black women are beautiful, regal, fierce, and the backbone of the African race. As a black woman, you are one of the most integral parts of our society and culture. So, if you are a black woman reading this, then sit tight, grab a coffee or cookie, and read until the end on everything you must to remain healthy, black, and beautiful.
Though Africans are tougher than most races on earth in terms of facing difficulties and racial bullies, still it does not exempt us from being affected by certain health conditions which have succeeded in incurring a high mortality rate in the past decades in Africa.
Conditions like breast cancer, heart disease, and the like are the plagues of many African women in both African countries and the United States. For the Black Girl Magic to thrive, you must be healthy to express it!
Read on to learn about the 8 major health conditions that affect black women and how to quickly treat, or prevent them. Are you ready? Alright! Let’s dive into the first one!
As scary as it sounds, so is its reality with 1 out of 9 African women. Though the symptoms may not escalate and cause problems for some, however so many have fallen because of this. Breast cancer is a type of disease that happens when the cells in the breasts skyrocket in production which usually causes the affected breast to grow lumps, bloody nipple discharge, redness in the breast and nipple area, and size increases, become extremely painful, and stiff. Untreated breast cancer can cause death quickly.
The American Cancer Society believes black women face more chances of developing and dying from breast cancer than white women. Certain factors like genetics, environment, and biology play a crucial role in it.
In other words, a black woman is more likely to die from breast cancer than a white woman because of her genetics. Inadequate medical care in most African countries and cities for breast cancer contributes to the high mortality rate of the disease for black women.
Because, since genetically black women have more possibility of developing breast cancer, the unavailability of treatments or the high cost of consultation and medical care makes it hard for these women to get a fast diagnosis that might save their lives. This is why you must ensure that she goes through proper testing even without seeing or feeling any of its early symptoms. It is simply safe to be forewarned and prepared to take the necessary medical steps rather than be late.
Types of Breast Cancers You Should Know
INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA
Cancerous cells begin to grow from inside the ducts to the rest of the breast and can also metastasize. Metastasize is a condition when a cancerous cell spreads from the breast to the rest of the body.
INVASIVE LOBULAR CARCINOMA
In this case, cancer cells start growing in the Lobules (where milk is produced) and escalate to the rest of the breast and body. However, it is important to understand that there are other minor types of breast cancer you can be at risk for.
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER
In this case, cancer cells start growing in the Lobules (where milk is produced) and escalate to the rest of the breast and body. However, it is important to understand that there are other minor types of breast cancer you can be at risk for.
If you pay attention to your breasts and make healthy choices, you can stand a chance of reducing the risk of breast cancer. These healthy lifestyles can be attained with commitment.
Some of these are:
Regular Gym time
Healthy diet
Limited alcohol intake
Be guided about taking oral contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapy.
Breastfeed as much as possible
Visit a health practitioner if there is a history of cancer outbreaks in your family.
However, make it a habit of visiting the hospital yearly for cancer checks. cancer is easily treated when spotted early.
Like breast cancer, this is yet another health condition that affects more black women than white women. Statistics show that 7.6% of African women are liable to have heart disease, while 5.6% is recorded for women from other races.
This trio’s health conditions strike almost at once or escalate to the other quickly without adequate and immediate treatment. Risk factors like metabolic syndrome play a crucial role in increasing one’s chances of being affected by these diseases. High levels of fat in the blood, high blood pressure, extreme low cholesterol, and high blood sugar can instantly trigger heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in black women. Chances of death are very possible.
The vast majority of black women in Africa and all over the world are closely obese or overweight and don’t get enough healthy diet to supplement the very poor choices of meals they are prone to survive with. It’s important to know that the general genetic trait of blacks makes our body more sensitive to salt and other types of food and spice that may not bode well with our hearts and bodies. This trio’s health conditions strike almost at once or escalate to the other quickly without adequate and immediate treatment.
Risk factors like metabolic syndrome play a crucial role in increasing one’s chances of being affected by these diseases. High levels of fat in the blood, high blood pressure, extreme low cholesterol, and high blood sugar can instantly trigger heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in black women. Chances of death are very possible.
Unlike cancer which can trigger on its own, you can save yourself the pain of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes by;
A good intake of water.
Adequate exercise.
Healthy diet
Limit smoking
Proper regular check-up
Healthy weights
Indulging in less strenuous activity.
Proper resting time.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow in the walls of the uterus. They are mostly genetic and one of the few diseases that have no specific way established to prevent it.
Fibroids are the bane of many black women as it mostly hinders their ability to become pregnant when it grows and covers their fallopian tubes which hinders the implantation of fertilized eggs in the uterus. Pregnancy is only possible when the fibroid grows outside the uterus however it may still cause certain problems like:
Frequent urination
Heavy menstrual flow
Pelvic pain & pressure
Leg pains and back pains
Constipation
Painful urination
Miscarriages
Bloating and weight gain around the stomach
Most fibroid occurrences may stem from genetics however certain lifestyle choices can increase your chances of developing fibroid as a black woman.
Race, Age, birth control pills, deficiency of vitamin D, high consumption of red meat, and very low consumption of green vegetables, dairy, or fruits can increase one’s risks of developing fibroids in your body.
Flip the above-listed options and correct your eating habits and you stand a big chance of evading fibroids even if it runs in your family genetic formation. The scary part for women with fibroids is the possibility that they may not know they have it and end up suffering for years with no clue.
This is a common title reserved for this type of disease that is particularly related to the genetics of both parents.
It could be passed down from parent to child because of limited education on blood types and general blood groups before marriage. Most black women suffer from this and are made to go through rigorous treatments and excruciating pains throughout their lives till death knocks on the door for them.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 child out of 365 children in Africa has sickle cell.
Sickle cell anaemia occurs when the haemoglobin which is the protein that feeds red blood cells oxygen becomes defective and causes the red blood cells to look more like sickles hence the name.
These defective red blood cells are then easily crushed in the bloodstream and would cause the carrier to be anaemic. Other critical conditions caused by these weak red blood cells would be strokes, or chest pain when the cells clog blood vessels and restrict the fluid flow of blood to the heart. It could also cause premature birth, miscarriages, or causing the baby to be born with a low weight.
All black women looking forward to starting a family with either a black man or from another race must consider going through screening for sickle cell.
I know it could be a fearful feeling to want to go through this process and risk the chance of losing your partner, however, you would be protecting an innocent newborn from dying or living the rest of his or her life in misery.
Why? You may carry a trace of sickle cell anaemia in your gene, probably inherited from one or both parents and may not suffer from it but easily transfer it to your child. If your partner’s genetics is not pure and strong to combat it, you would likely produce a sickle cell baby or face other complications. However, in cases where both parents fail to get screened before marriage and end up giving birth to sickle cell babies. The baby can equally live a happy healthy life only when there are adequate resources and round-the-clock medical attention.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases are another bane that plagues black women. This is relegated to most countries in Africa with unhealthy sexual lifestyles that expose girls from the ages of 14 to women over 35 to diseases like HIV, Syphilis, or worse Chlamydia, a silent infection that spreads through anal, virginal, or oral sex.
The percentage of black women with Chlamydia is higher than women from other races. Even though the CDC claims there is an 11.2 per cent decrease as of the year 2014 to 2015, still, black women are still very much at risk of this STD.
The percentage of black women with HIV/AIDS continues to increase at a drastic level that leaves one worried about how active black women are. But this is not the case. The main cause of such high levels of sexually transmitted diseases stems from the low access to good protection against STDs for blacks. It’s either a game of ignorance or sheer need to have it raw or simply less medical outreach to properly educate young women on reasons why preventive measures against STDs are important to their sexual lives.
In the year 2015, a total number of over 4,500 African women were diagnosed with HIV in the United States alone, while the estimate for Africans is a breath taker with countries like South Africa leading in the chart.
Ironically, STDs are easy to avoid. However, it becomes difficult to achieve because of poor lifestyle choices. Sex is a pleasant experience and the right of every adult black woman.
However, you owe yourself and the world the obligation to be responsible for it. Preventive measures are not only limited to the use of condoms by non-married sexual partners alone.
Married couples with external sex partners or who are liable to be exposed to STDs from the use of public toilets and objects are expected to make sure they are screened frequently to prevent spreading the disease to their partner which may spread to others too.
Parents and guardians should also educate their young ones on sex education and how to steer clear of sexually transmitted diseases and other known means of getting infected without sex.
Every black woman deserves a healthy happy life to build dreams and become part of the future. Your health is your number one asset and one that must be taken seriously.
When you take a look at the mirror you will see that chocolate skin radiating beauty and the fierceness of mother Africa. Take care of what you see. Love it and protect it from things only you can protect from. All off-age black women must have their doctor. Someone she can rely on for medical aid and council. Do you have a phobia of hospitals? Why not think about what happens when you end up sick, your phobia won’t stop you from getting a permanent room there.
Your genetics is not your weakness, it’s your uniqueness that separates you from all other women of other races. Make up your mind now to take your health journey personally and seriously and ensure that you contribute to the wellness of other women around you.
The five listed diseases in this article can be avoided only from a place of discipline and responsibility to yourself, your country, Africa, and the World at large.
You are strong, powerful, sexy, and beautiful! Make Mama Africa Proud of your Health! It can only be you!
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