Digestive Disorder? 5 Signals Black People Are Missing

Grumbling stomach, bloating, heartburn, abdominal pains, and problems going to the bathroom? Sure, we all suffer from these issues from time to time, but if you find yourself constantly dealing with ’em, it could be what is called a digestive disorder. From conditions like Crohn’s Disease to ulcerative colitis, gastritis, and hemorrhoids, digestive diseases can vary far and wide. In fact, they can affect all parts of your digestive tract, even impacting remote areas of your body that you wouldn’t think are related.  Digestive Disorders & The Black Community Did you know the Black community may be particularly at risk of certain digestive disorders?  According to The Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists, many Black folks are not getting the medical attention and treatment they deserve.  There is a lack of Black physicians in the field of gastroenterology, accounting for just around four percent of all practicing gastroenterologists and hepatologists (digestive doctors) in the U.S. This is bad news, especially when considering that Black Americans have a 20 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer diagnosis and a 40 percent greater chance of dying from colorectal cancer compared to white Americans! Clearly, these numbers from the American Cancer Society paint a...