Strides are continually being made to remove racial, ethnic, and gender barriers; however, there are 7 medical conditions that affect certain minority groups at a higher rate. 

  1. Cardiovascular disease.According tothe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. The risk for heart disease and stroke is 33% higher for Black Americans than for the overall population. The American Heart Association (AHA) notes that American Indians and Native Alaskans die from heart disease much earlier than is typical. 
  1. Obesity.The AHAsays Black-American and Mexican-American women have higher rates of obesity than Caucasian women. Obesity can be the gateway to other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. 
  1. Mental health.The CDC notes the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the mental health of some racial and ethnic minority groups, compared to non-Hispanic white people. 
  1. Sickle cell disease.The Food and Drug Administration reports that chronic sickle cell disease affects Black and Hispanic people at higher rates than others, one in 365 people and one in16,300 people, respectively. Bone marrow treatment is the only option and is usually only performed on patients aged 16 and younger, making early diagnosis essential. 
  1. Alcoholism.American Addiction Centersreports higher rates of lifetime alcohol use in Native Americans/Alaskans. Alcoholism breeds many health issues, not the least of which is liver disease. 
  1. HIV.Black people are the most affected by HIV, according to the CDC, and lack of access to health care compounds its effects.
     
  2. Diabetes.Hispanics are about 50%more likely to die from diabetes than Caucasians. Counseling on weight control can help reduce risk, as can recognizing that race and ethnicity affect disease risk.