Black Americans have historically been less likely, due partly to medical racism, to properly check ourselves for preventive measures in cancer, diseases, and life-threatening health issues. This is true especially for Black men, who have been taught that it is a lack of strength to get checked out.
More and more, we are seeing men of color in the media utilize their platforms to encourage men to get checkups on their mental and physical health.
Here are five key health screenings every Black man should consider:
Colon Screening
When men reach the age of 45, it is important to get a colon cancer screening annually. Early detection can help in preventive measures for health.
The diagnosis of colon cancer is the third highest in Black men. It is encouraged to begin getting screenings early on so anything can be caught to prevent spreading.
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer highly impacts Black men in the world. Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than any other race.
Making sure to do regular screening to prevent or get on track with treatment will allow things to move in a better direction. Prostate screenings will allow for information to bring awareness to unknown symptoms and treatments.
Skin Cancer Screening
Skin cancer can come at any age and men should see a dermatologist regularly because they are more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer compared to women. Checking yourself regularly for abnormalities will help in treatment or prevention.
Skin cancer can be harder to detect in people of color due to pigmentation and other issues. Not doing a regular check-up can lead to more serious issues.
Taking care of your skin by what you are consuming and having more knowledge about what to clean your skin with can have a great deal of impact. Preventive actions will help in future issues.
Diabetes Can Lead to Cardiac Issues
Black men are high on the list for having heart disease. According to The Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
It is recommended that men get a heart screening every two to four years, depending on the patient’s risk factors. If you are diabetic, you have a higher chance of developing heart disease.
Mental Health Check-In
According to the American Journal of Men’s Health, Black men experience higher levels of chronic stress and are at a greater risk of depression.
Despite these findings, a majority of Black men do not take care of their mental health. Luckily, celebrities such as Charlamagne Tha God and Jeezy are helping to destigmatize therapy and asking for help by being open about their struggles.
“You can’t heal what you don’t reveal,” Charlamagne told VeryWell Mind. “I would be very disingenuous if I had conversations with individuals about things that they were going through, and I wasn’t expressing things that I went through.”
He continued, “I went through decades of unlearning. It’s like everything I thought I knew was a lie, everything that had gotten me to a certain point didn’t.”