COLUMN: The Urgent Need for Black Men’s Health Awareness

Even though Men’s Health Month ended a few days ago, I reflect on the men in my life and their health conditions.& One thing that resonates with me is how men, particularly African-American men, do not like going to the doctor.& After doing some research into the matter, I found some interesting facts.& According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 13.2% of men in the U.S. aged 18 and older are in “fair to poor” health 14.1% of men 18 and older smoke cigarettes 40.5 of men aged 20 and older have obesity 51.9% of men 20 and older have high blood pressure and/or were taking medicine for hypertension Men in the U.S. die an average of five years earlier than women. As I reflect, I have lost at least five close male friends before the age of 60 due to chronic diseases that can be prevented. While the I Am That Woman Movement focuses on women’s health and wellness, these statistics sound the alarm for men and women. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey, 21% of white men, 25% of Black Men, 29% of Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander men, 30% of American...