Black Women’s Health

“Black women have higher rates of many illnesses,
such as hypertension, breast cancer at young ages,
diabetes, stroke, and lupus”.1

Umbrella

What may the Black Women’s Health Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Women’s Health
  • Women’s Health Conditions
  • Women’s Health Diseases
  • Women’s Health Issues

Illnesses

What illnesses do black women have higher rates of?

In About the Black Women’s Health Study the (United States) Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center elaborate on:

“Black women have higher rates of many illnesses, such as hypertension, breast cancer at young ages, diabetes, stroke, and lupus”.2

Heart Disease

Is there an association between Black women and heart disease?

On page 29 in Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2020 – 2021: G. Cardiovascular Health the (United States) Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) elaborate on:

“Heart disease is the number-one killer of Black women, with cancer and stroke as other leading causes of death. According to the American Heart Association, among African American women ages 20 and older, nearly half (48.3%) already have cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD kills nearly 50,000 Black women annually, but only one in five Black women believes she is personally at risk”.3

High Blood Pressure

Is there an association between Black women and high blood pressure?

In AMA, National Coalition Announce Campaign With ESSENCE To Advocate for Heart Health With Black Women the American Medical Association elaborate on:

“According to the American Heart Association, the prevalence of high blood pressure among Black adults in the U.S. is among the highest in the world, with the prevalence of high blood pressure in Black women nearly 40% higher than white women in the U.S. Additionally, almost 80% of Black adults living with high blood pressure do not have it controlled to goal, placing them at increased risk of heart attack and stroke”.4

Release the Pressure

What is Release the Pressure?

In About the Issue the (United States) Release the Pressure explain:

“Our mission is to join Black women in taking preventive action to protect their heart health. We’re encouraging Black women to be a part of a healthy blood pressure movement. And we want you to join us”.5

Breast Cancer Black Women National Health Policy Agenda 2020-2021

What are some differences between breast cancer and Black women compared to White woman?

On page 25 in Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2020 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice – Menopause the BWHI elaborate on:

“Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black women. Currently, Black women’s breast cancer death rates are 40 percent higher than for white women. Breast cancer incidence rates are also higher among Black women under age 45 than white women. The median age of diagnosis is 59 for Black women, compared to 63 for white women, with a greater percentage being diagnosed in their 40s and younger”.6

Diabetes

Is there an association between Black women and diabetes?

In Black Women’s Health Imperative Releases 2022 National Diabetes Agenda the BWHI elaborate on:

“As the Black Women’s Health Imperative Agenda notes, Black adults are 60% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes — and twice as likely to die of the condition”.7

Fibroids

Is there an association between Black women and fibroids?

On page 19 in Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2020 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Uterine – Fibroids the BWHI elaborate on:

“Black women suffer from uterine fibroids at two to three times the rate of white women; 80 percent of Black women will have them during their lifetime. Black women are also more likely to suffer from uterine fibroids at an earlier age and with greater levels of pain than women of other races, and they are more likely to undergo hysterectomy at some point for treatment. Around 25 percent of Black women will suffer from fibroids by the age of 25”.8

Menopause Age

Is there an association between Black women and menopause age?

In Menopause Is Different for Women of Color the author elaborates on:

“In the US, the median age for reaching menopause (the point at which a person has gone for 12 consecutive months without a period) is 51. The research in SWAN shows that Black women reach menopause at 49, two years earlier than the national median age”.9

Menopause Symptoms

Is there an association between Black women and menopause symptoms?

On page 22 in Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2020 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice – Menopause the BWHI elaborate on:

“After menopause, for example, one of the most common discomforts is hot flashes, characterized by sudden feelings of warmth that spread over the upper body, often with blushing and sweating. Even there, the differences are stark. White women experience hot flashes for around 6.5 years after their final period, while for Latinas it’s 8.9 years, and for Black women it’s 10 years”.10

Health Care Provider

Even if I feel fine, do I still need to see my health care provider regularly?

Even if you feel fine, it may be in your best interest to choose to see your health care provider regularly. In Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64: Information the (United States) MedlinePlus elaborate on:

“Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Black Women’s Health?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Black Women’s Health?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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  13. Black Women’s Health Imperative Anniversary Week, 23-29 September 2024: We Are Not Broken: Our Health Is Our Power [Video] [24 September 2024]
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  28. EmPOWERED To Serve
  29. FairWork [Black Women’s Health Imperative, United States]
  30. Female Genital Mutilation
  31. Fibroid Foundation [United States]
  32. Fibroids.bwhi.org

  33. First Nations Resources [Australia]
    Black Women’s Health
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  35. Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year
  36. Good Heart Health In Middle Age May Preserve Brain Function Among Black Women As They Age
  37. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
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  51. Lupus.org [Lupus Foundation of America]
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  54. Mayo Clinic Minute: Diet and Heart Disease In the Black Community [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  55. Mayo Clinic Minute: Heart Disease In African American Women [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  56. Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease In the Black Community [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  58. Mayo Clinic Minute: Sickle Cell Disease Explained [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  60. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Women Need To Be Screened for Cervical Cancer [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  69. Ncbw.org [National Coalition of Black Women, United States]
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    Black Women’s Health
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  72. Office of Minority Health [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
  73. Office of Women’s Health [Womenshealth.gov, United States]
  74. On Our Own Terms (OOOT)
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  76. Rarediseasediversity.org [RDDC Rare Disease Diversity Coalition]
  77. Release the Pressure
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. About the Black Women’s Health Study. Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center https://www.bu.edu/bwhs/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  2. About the Black Women’s Health Study. Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center https://www.bu.edu/bwhs/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  3. Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2021 – 2021: G. Cardiovascular Health. 2020:29. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://bwhi.org/2020/10/27/black-womens-health-imperative-releases-national-health-policy-agenda/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  4. AMA, National Coalition Announce Campaign With ESSENCE To Advocate for Heart Health With Black Women. 04 June 2020. American Heart Association https://newsroom.heart.org/news/ama-national-coalition-announce-campaign-with-essence-to-advocate-for-heart-health-with-black-women Accessed: 22 September 2024
  5. About the Issue. Release the Pressure https://releasethepressure.org/about-the-issue/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  6. Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2021 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice – Menopause. 2020:25. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://bwhi.org/2020/10/27/black-womens-health-imperative-releases-national-health-policy-agenda/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  7. Black Women’s Health Imperative Releases 2022 National Diabetes Agenda. 22 March 2022. Black Women’s Health Imperative https://bwhi.org/2022/03/22/black-womens-health-imperative-releases-2022-national-diabetes-agenda/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  8. Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2021 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice – Uterine Fibroids. 2020:19. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://bwhi.org/2020/10/27/black-womens-health-imperative-releases-national-health-policy-agenda/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  9. Velez, A. Menopause Is Different for Women of Color. 10 March 2021. https://www.endocrineweb.com/menopause-different-women-color Accessed: 22 September 2024
  10. Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2021 – 2021: E. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice – Menopause. 2020:22. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://bwhi.org/2020/10/27/black-womens-health-imperative-releases-national-health-policy-agenda/ Accessed: 22 September 2024
  11. Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64: Information. Review Date: 21 May 2024. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007467.htm Accessed: 22 September 2024
Topic Last Updated: 01 October 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 September 2024

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