As we celebrate Black History Month this year, we want you to remember how the past informs our present and future. Our ancestors have passed down many traditions through the generations, giving us a vibrant tapestry of experiences, challenges, and triumphs. They have also left us a legacy that impacts our health, whether it is a disease or condition that is directly inherited from our parents or our genetics that make us predisposed. However, many of us are unaware of our family health history and how it affects us.  

Among the conditions that might impact us include asthma, allergies, ADHD, bipolar disorders, cancer, coronary artery disease, Cystic fibrosis, depression, diabetes, Down syndrome, eczema, glaucoma, Huntington’s Disease, hypertension, kidney disease, lupus, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, Sickle Cell Disease, and vitiligo.

This month, we invite you to reflect on the profound significance of understanding our genetic health and family history within the context of our broader history. We also celebrate the achievements of those dedicated to improving genetic health in our community.  

At Black Health Matters, we want to equip you with tools that educate and empower you to take charge of your health, whether preventing disease, maintaining optimal health, or managing disease diagnoses and treatments. By understanding our family history and the genetic threads that connect us, we empower ourselves to make informed decisions leading to better health outcomes. 

Join us in embracing our heritage, recognizing the impact of black innovators in health, and supporting the ongoing efforts to bring equity and justice to our healthcare system. Together, we can celebrate our past and write new chapters in our ever-evolving Black history. 

We are sharing 15 of many diseases and conditions that disproportionately impact the Black community. Are you familiar with all 15?

African Americans represent 13.4 percent of the population, yet the FDA reports that only 5 percent have participated in a clinical trial. This has significant impacts on the Black community by:

• Limiting understanding of drug efficacy and safety.
• Creating and exacerbating health disparities.
• Limiting our ability to tailor treatments to the needs of Black people.
• Limiting our ability as a community to inform healthcare policies and decisions.

Addressing these issues is a huge undertaking that requires the whole of our community to encourage education, encourage action, and to advocate for our health.

Having transparent conversations with your doctor about your family’s health history allows your physician to:

Personalize your care: knowing the prevalence of certain conditions in your family will allow you to spot concerns and address them faster, this is extremely important because for a majority of conditions and diseases the African American community is often diagnosed late, leading to more severe cases.

Communicate about your health with your family. Only when we share our knowledge and experiences can we break the stigma and misconceptions about certain diseases in order to be able to seek early intervention.

Our power lies in our knowledge and can lead to better health outcomes and a stronger sense of control over our lives.