The consequences of discrimination against Black women in the US reverberate in just about every aspect of our lives.
Discrimination can limit Black women’s educational and economic opportunities and hamper our access to quality healthcare. These circumstances don’t occur in a vacuum, and they result in major health disparities compared to white Americans.
“Disparities play a huge role in the disease burden of Black women,” says Dr. Kecia Gaither, an ob-gyn in The Bronx, New York. Gaither says that many Black women face implicit bias in the doctor’s office and aren’t offered many of the same treatment options or screenings as white women. They’re also frequently underrepresented in the medical profession and in clinical trials, which further undermines specificity in treatment.
These disparities add up: The all-cause mortality rate for Black people is 24 percent higher than for white people, which means more than 74,000 Black people die unnecessarily every single year.
This isn’t an inherent health issue — and it’s something we can push back against. To help stay ahead of the game, medical experts recommend that Black women prioritize the following types of health screenings.
Genetic disorders and risk factors
Since we face higher risks for certain illnesses and causes of death, screenings are invaluable tools that help providers keep tabs on Black women’s health. Screening for health and genetic conditions can improve outcomes for Black women and their families.
Many populations have a higher risk of passing on specific conditions to their children. For Black families, one of the most notable is sickle cell disease. Certain disorders arise from genes and identifiable mutations, which means parents can undergo genetic testing before they have children to see if they’re at greater risk for passing on a condition. New treatments are also in development, including an experimental gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Talk to a genetic counselor about what kinds of screening panels are appropriate for you and your family. This can involve looking at your family health history to see if any health conditions consistently pop up. If you do find that you and your partner are carriers for a condition like sickle cell disease, reproductive options like preimplantation genetic testing and in vitro fertilization can help you and your family sidestep certain risk factors for genetic disorders.
Breast and cervical cancers
“Unfortunately, Black women are more likely to die from some types of cancer than non-Black women, in part due to disparities in cancer diagnosis,” says Melanie Hardy, director of genetic counseling services at Emory University’s JScreen in Atlanta. “Later diagnosis often means fewer treatment options and poorer outcomes.”
Despite a higher rate of breast cancer diagnosis in white women, Black women experience a nearly 8 percent higher mortality rate. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made matters worse; women across the nation delayed or canceled crucial mammograms to avoid Covid-19 exposure.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends women age 50 to 75 get a mammogram every year. Women 40 to 49 may also get mammograms based on their family history, other risk factors and recommendations from their physician.
“Educating women on breast self-exams is a way to monitor any changes in the breasts and to have an expedited physical exam by your provider,” says Gaither. “This helps to detect cancer earlier with greater options for treatment.”
Cardiovascular health
Almost 60 percent of Black women over the age of 20 have heart disease. “Heart disease is the ‘silent killer,’” says Gaither. “Black women are significantly more likely to die of cardiac disease than white women.”
Black women are also more likely to have risk factors for heart disease, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The best way to catch cardiovascular health issues is for your doctor to screen for these risk factors and pursue further testing if any results come back abnormal.
Diabetes
Black people are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white people. It’s a complicated disease that affects every facet of daily life. It’s also linked to other serious chronic illnesses that decrease both quality of life and lifespan.
“Starting at age 35, Black women should be screened for diabetes once every three years, even if they don’t have any symptoms,” says Gaither. A doctor can screen for diabetes with a simple blood test that measures your blood sugar.
Pregnancy complications
The maternal mortality rate for Black women in the United States is alarming: We’re three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
These dire statistics stem from racism and the health disparities it creates. For instance, Black women are at increased risk for various pregnancy-related complications. Preeclampsia, which causes dangerously high blood pressure and damage to the kidneys and liver, affects up to 6 percent of all pregnancies, but like so many other conditions, Black women are much more likely to develop it than white women.
Ob-gyns are supposed to screen women for preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related conditions throughout gestation. They check pregnant women’s blood pressure at prenatal appointments to note any new increases in blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is often one of the first signs of preeclampsia.
Talk to your primary care provider about health screenings
Health screenings are readily accessible to most people who regularly visit a primary care provider. Many are conducted at annual physicals.
If your chosen provider hasn’t recently screened you for conditions that disproportionately affect Black women, you have a few options:
- Request health screenings at your next appointment.
- Ask your doctor to order labs between visits.
- Find a new provider who prioritizes health screenings.
Don’t leave your health to chance. Schedule your annual physical and health screenings so you can stay on top of your health and catch health issues early.