post 5 part 2

Casey Williams

PUBH – 6128

Dr. Nikolas Tsatsos

Unhealthy Eating in African American Men Presentation Transcript

Good afternoon my name is Casey Williams and this presentation was completed for Biological Foundations of Public Health and assigned by Dr. Nikolas Tsatsos. Today I will be talking about unhealthy eating in the African American community with a focus on African American men.

Presentation at a Glance

We will cover the mortality amongst African-Americans and particular diseases that affect the African-American community at higher rates. I will also outline the consequences of an unhealthy diet as well as ways to incorporate better eating habits. Lastly, I will go over the inqualities that may affect the diet of African Americans.

Mortality Rate

Though the death rate for African Americans has declined about 25% over 17 years(primarily for ages 65 years and older), African Americans ages 18-49 are still 2 times as likely to die from heart disease than whites. In addition to that fact, African Americans ages 35-64 years are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites. Black men, more specifically, have the lowest life expectancy and the highest death rate from specific causes compared to both men and women of other racial and ethnic groups. Also, on average, Black men live seven years less than men of other racial groups.

Leading Causes of Death of AA Men

According to the centers for disease control and prevention, the leading causes of death of African American men were as follows:

1. Heart disease, being responsible for 23.7% of total deaths

2. Cancer at 20.2%

3. Unintentional injuries at 7.9%

4. Homicide at 5%

5. Stroke at 4.9%

6. Diabetes at 4.3%

7. Chronic lower respiratory disease at 3.2%

8. Kidney disease at 2.6%

9. Septicemia at 1.8%

And lastly at

10. hypertension

One thing to note while looking at this list of the leading causes of death amongst African-American men is that 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are all associated with unhealthy eating.

Pathophysiology of Stroke

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death amongst African-American men. It is caused by a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. When brain cells do not get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood cells, they may start to die within minutes. Strokes can cause lasting brain damage, long term disability, or even death. There are two types of stroke. An ischemic stroke, which is the most common, is caused by a blood clot that blocks blood flow in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by blood vessels that break and bleed into the brain.

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes is the result of high levels of blood glucose or blood sugar. Glucose can be found in the foods we eat. The pancreas releases Insulin which helps your body turn glucose into energy. When one has diabetes then that means that their pancreas does not function or secrete insulin properly.

Unhealthy Eating (and more consequences)

African Americans commonly eat foods that have large amounts of fats, and sugars, and salts commonly known as Soul Food. 44% of black men are considered overweight. Consequences from being overweight can lead to obesity diabetes and stroke. Lack of energy and low sex drive can result from unhealthy eating and being overweight. In men being overweight may cause symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Prevention and Better Diet

There are various ways one make steps to creating a better diet. Healthy alternatives which can replace frying include baking, roasting, and broiling. It would also be beneficial to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into one’s diet as well. Plant based diets are increasingly becoming popular. Better access to education about healthier foods as well as the food, though, should be made more available in the African-American community. The lack of such things are the results of the inequalities and disparities that plague the African Communities. Many healthy foods are very expensive and food that wouldn’t cost so much would encourage healthier eating habits.

Take Away Message

We all want to live a long and healthy life. Eating healthier can increase lifespan as well as quality of life. Choosing unhealthy eating as a risk behavior and the African-American male community as the target audience was important to me because I am African-American and have a family history of some of the diseases that result from the behavior. It is a must that we educate ourselves on healthier eating alternatives and ways to prevent the diseases that may come from unhealthy eating.

That will conclude my presentation, these are my resources, thank you.

Resources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. QuickStats: Life Expectancy at Birth, by Sex and Race/Ethnicity - United States, 2011. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6335a8.htm.

1. Kennard, J. What Health Issues Should Black American Men Be Concerned About? Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/black-american-mens-health-2328772.

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, December 2). Stroke | CVA | Cerebrovascular Accident. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/stroke.html.

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, December 10). Diabetes | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html.