Health issues typically do not discriminate based on age, gender, or socioeconomic status. A disease like cancer, for instance, affects millions of children and adults each year. But, even if disease can strike anyone at any time, certain diseases tend to affect particular groups more than others.

According to WebMD, racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are more likely to have certain ongoing health conditions than people who are not considered minorities. WebMD notes a number of variables, including less access to high-quality health care and socioeconomic issues, are contributing factors to why racial and ethnic minority groups are at heightened risk of ongoing health conditions. Though it’s important to avoid generalizing when discussing health conditions, the following are some issues that disproportionately affect minorities.

Diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of American Indian and Alaska Native adults diagnosed with diabetes more than doubled in a 10-year span beginning in 1994. WebMD notes that American Indians and Alaska Natives remain the most likely individuals to be diagnosed with high blood sugar. Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian Americans also are at heightened risk of diabetes.

Sickle cell disease

The CDC reports that sickle cell disease (SCD) affects about 100,000 people in the United States, and the vast majority of those individuals are in minority groups. More than 90% of SCD cases in the United States are diagnosed in non-Hispanic Black or African Americans, and an additional 3% to 9% of diagnosed individuals are Hispanic or Latino.

Asthma

The National Institutes of Health reports that Black people have the highest rates of asthma of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. In addition to those higher rates, Black individuals are more likely than people from other racial or ethnic groups to experience serious complications from asthma. WebMD notes that researchers discovered albuterol, a widely used asthma inhaler, is less effective in Black and Puerto Rican children compared to youngsters from other racial or ethnic groups.

Cardiovascular disease

A 2022 study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found Black adults experience a higher burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension and obesity. In addition, the study noted that Black adults are more than twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as white adults.

These are just a handful of the many health issues that disproportionately affect minority communities. WebMD notes that kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, and lupus are some additional diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect minority groups. Individuals in these groups are urged to prioritize preventive health care and speak with their physicians about additional steps they can take to lower their risk for various diseases.