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The holidays are a time for families to gather and spend quality time together. We are thankful for our loved ones and cherish the time we spend with them. But how often do we discuss health issues that may affect our families? The answer is probably not enough, but these conversations are necessary because many of the diseases that afflict us have a hereditary component. The more we communicate with our families about our health risks, the healthier our community becomes.
Ask your aunts about … breast cancer. Black women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer. They are more likely to die from the disease — oftentimes because the disease is at an advanced stage at diagnosis — even though they are less likely to acquire the disease. Make sure that female family members are receiving annual mammograms and performing self-examinations.
Ask Grandma about … blood pressure. She should be aware of her blood pressure because hypertension and heart attack are prevalent in older people. Chances are she hasn’t changed the way she prepares meals to minimize these health risks. If you can, try to convince her to use less salt and cook fewer fried foods.
Ask your cousins about … diabetes. You will probably enjoy an abundance of cakes and pies this holiday season. Be sure that you and your cousins partake of sweets in moderation. Diabetes is rampant in the black community and it is hereditary, thereby affecting the family as a whole. Watch your little cousins too, because juvenile diabetes is on the rise in America.
Ask your Granddad about … prostate cancer. Prostate cancer typically targets older men. Men should start having annual prostate screenings at age 40. Make sure that Granddad receives a prostate exam at least once every year, during a doctor’s visit. Be sure to remind your uncles to do the same as they get into their 40s. –delgie jones II
