May is Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that results in the immune system attacking the body's own tissue and organs. Instead of the immune system protecting the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials, the immune system makes antibodies directed against "self.” Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most serious type of lupus and typically impacts minority women more often than non-minority women. SLE is very unpredictable and potentially fatal.
More than 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus. Lupus is two to three times more prevalent among African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians. Although lupus can strike men and women of all ages, 90% of individuals diagnosed with the disease are women, and 80% of those afflicted with systemic lupus develop it between the ages of 15 and 451,2. African-American and Hispanic women tend to develop symptoms at a earlier age than other women and have a worse prognosis. At this time, there is no definitive treatment or cure in existence. Lupus is often difficult to diagnose and hinders proper treatment, increasing morbidity and mortality.
You can learn more about lupus at the following links:
Lupus Awareness
Lupus and Minority Health
1Centers for Disease Control. Eliminate disparities in lupus. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/lupus.htm. Accessed November 1, 2005.
2Lupus Foundation of America. Statistics About Lupus. Available at: http://www.lupus.org/education/stats.html. Accessed January 2, 2006.
May is Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke has been reported as the third leading cause of death. The impact is greater for African Americans and women. The disease burden stemming from stroke is greater among African-Americans. In addition, of every five deaths from stroke, two occur in men and three in women (source: www.strokeassociation.org).
To learn more about how stroke can impact your patients and available resources to prevent stroke, please see the Web site above along with the National Stroke Association Web site for more information.
Additional minority health information and resources:
The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium has compiled the resources listed below for physicians and health care professionals to share with their patients. Members of the Minority Affairs Consortium Governing Council provided much of the content for these topics.
Exercise: a dose of medicine we all can use, as mentioned by AMA President, Ronald M. Davis, MD at the AMA-MAC Caucus.
Obesity and Minority Populations
Influenza Vaccination Disparities
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention
Other AMA resources related to minority health issues
Doctors Back to School Program
View these AMA publications:
Delivering Culturally Effective Health Care to Adolescents
Content provided by: Minority Affairs Consortium