By: Jackie Jones, BlackAmericaWeb.com
When it comes to black Americans and health, we are our own best and worst enemies.
While obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and tobacco-related illnesses affect Americans generally, black Americans are affected disproportionately in every category.
“We experience much more severely diseases related to cardiovascular health and blood vein systems,” said Reed V. Tuckson, M.D., executive vice president and chief of medical affairs at UnitedHealth Group.
Tuckson said black Americans cannot wait for legislation, government policy or employers to provide the resources to ensure a healthier life. The message, he said, is “that we as individuals have to be responsible for what we do with our bodies and our lives.”
Tuckson, a public health expert who also serves as chair of the advisory committee on genetics, health and society for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said that cardiovascular disease is not only the No. 1 killer of Americans; it is also the most expensive disease to treat because of all the chronic, related diseases that need constant treatment and monitoring.
Tuckson said he also was concerned about the infant mortality rate in the black community.
“It’s a significant social, moral and ethical issue,” Tuckson told BlackAmericaWeb.com, pointing out that black infants are twice as likely to die as other American babies and at twice the death rate for a few other nations, including Japan.
Americans spend $2 trillion on health care annually, about half of what is spent in the rest of the world, but ranks 30th in life expectancy and 31st in infant mortality rates.
Asked how so much can be spent on health care with such poor outcomes, Tuckson said, “The answer really boils down to our money and how we spend it.”
“We’re very good at saving their lives. We’re very good at being able to treat the consequences of heart attacks,” Tuckson said. “We’re finding that we’re spending our money on the chronic care of these diseases.”
To live a better life, Tuckson said, black Americans must eat better, work out and quit smoking, the latter being the most obvious place to start. “(Smoking) is the stupidest decision any human being can make. … We have got to exercise. We have to get off our rusty dusties and do something.”
The argument that, for some, a lack of access to safe neighborhoods, affordable gyms, clean parks, schools that offer gym, art, music and after-school programs for children contributes to poor health outcomes doesn’t wash with Tuckson.
He said people can work out at home and take the stairs at work, for starters. It’s a matter of setting priorities, he said, even down to creating a lifestyle that is conducive to working out.
They can also demand better from their schools and civic leaders.
“It is a rare community that has a hundred African-American parents descend on the school system or school board and demand adequate recreation facilities and programs. How is it possible that with all the money and resources in the African-American community that parents would feel there isn’t a place they can take their kids for safe recreation and exercise?” Tuckson said.
Health insurance is a particular concern for black Americans as well. Statistics show 47 million Americans are without health insurance, and a recent report by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies revealed African-Americans are especially concerned about cost and availability.
“In each community, there is a department of insurance. Every state has one that provides ready access to insurance companies in your community and provide ways for shopping for the most affordable and personally appropriate” care, Tuckson said.
Human resources departments can help employees with health insurance through their jobs navigate the options.
He said seniors can get care through Medicaid and for younger, eligible people -- including the unemployed -- Medicaid offers significant benefits. SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, is an underutilized program that provides coverage for children. Additionally, he said, community-based health centers provide excellent resources.
Asked what black voters should listen for as the presidential candidates, as well as local and state officials, discuss their health care plans, Tuckson cautioned against putting too much faith in any one candidate.
“When you are really realistic, it’s going to be very difficult for the next president, whoever he or she may be, to have any significant resources to mount any major effort,” he said.
Tuckson said self-reliance is the key to healthier living.
The most important thing anyone can do, he says, is, to “love yourself and love your children enough to choose life, as opposed to disease and death.”
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