National Minority Health Month: Be the Change!

To wrap up National Minority Health Month, it is important to outline some of the steps we can take to help eliminate health disparities. These steps all include you! Age, sex, ethnicity, religion, language, sexual orientation and socioeconomic background do not matter when it comes to making a positive change in your life!

Take Charge of Your Health

Change begins with you! Though there are many external factors that can have an impact on our health, we have the power to make little changes that can make a big difference in our lives. For example, getting regular exercise does not always have to involve long hours at the gym. Walking instead of taking the train to work or school, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can add physical activity to your day. Invest in a pedometer and/or use a calculator for an estimate of the calories you’ve burned. Work with your physician to come up with a safe exercise plan.

Making small changes to your diet can also have a big impact on your health. Control the amount of food you eat at each meal. Reduce your intake of sugary drinks like soda and artificial fruit juice, and instead drink water. Eat less processed junk food like fast food, potato chips, cookies, and sugary candy. You can treat yourself to your small “guilty pleasure” snacks a few times a week. Don’t completely cut out treats as this can make you feel deprived, but greatly reduce unhealthy food packed with sugar, fat and preservatives. Balance is the key! Also, use of a free, online calorie counter such as My Fitness Pal to keep track of your diet and physical activity habits. This website also allows you to access a free app on your phone. Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake. These two steps paired with physical activity and a good diet can lower your risk of obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Work with your physician or a nutritionist to develop a regular healthy diet!

Go for regular check-ups. Whether you visit a physician in her private practice, or visit your local health clinic—go regularly! The best way to stay healthy is to prevent disease before it begins. In the case you have developed a health problem, treating it early can yield better health outcomes. Make sure to be tested regularly for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, and keep your immunizations current. In addition to a primary care provider, women can see a gynecologist at least once a year. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that teenage girls start seeing a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15. Developing a relationship with your physician early on can have a positive impact on your health! Please note that your health needs change as you age. Please visit this website for recommendations for your age group: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002125.htm

Stay Informed

Keep an eye out for current events and stories related to health (and all other issues). Before we can come up with a solution, we must know the problem! In the case of health disparities, exploring the problem and devising a solution will happen simultaneously but we must stay informed and aware. Reading the paper or online news articles, even if just for a few minutes a day, will empower you to formulate your own ideas about the world!

Spread the Word

You can be the teacher! Once you have taken control of your health and have been informed of the issues affecting your health, you can spread the word. By taking charge of your health you may inspire others to do the same. Even if you do not have a career in health care, just by talking and raising awareness about health disparities can help enact change!

For a list of resources regarding health disparities visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hsrinfo/disparities.html

Walk It Out-- for Health!

By Gladys M. Yensi
Gladys was an undergraduate premedical student at The City College of New York in 2010.

Since the first week of June I have been a leader of a walking group at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. This walking group is part of a larger city-wide initiative: "The 16-Week Walking Challenge." This initiative was developed by Mentoring in Medicine, Inc. and is sponsored by the Amercian Heart and Stroke Association to mobilize the community to get out there and get active. By becoming active in this endeavor, I have not only made an effort to become a little more active than I used to be, but I have also realized the underlying importance of what the walking challenge represents.

Exercise and healthy diet has been shown to prevent and/or alleviate some of the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, as well as diabetes. Other lifestyle changes, like the cessation of a smoking habit, also help to ward off some complications of these diseases. Sadly, quitting smoking and not putting those extra two pinches of Goya® Adobo while cooking, are habits that are difficult to get people to change quickly. Perhaps engaging people to participate in low impact exercise is a habit that could be adapted and maintained more easily, especially when encouraged over 16 weeks. Such has been the challenge this summer.

This walking challenge is pertinent to the fundamental values of the Minority Association of Pre-health Students (MAPS). MAPS at CCNY not only has an affiliation with Mentoring in Medicine through Dr. Lynne Holden, but is also associated with the communities that the walking challenge targets; those in urban settings which are underserved-- Harlem and Washington Heights to name a couple. Not only do some of our MAPS members come from similar communities, but some of us may even be afflicted by diabetes or hypertension, or have family members, friends, and neighbors who struggle with these diseases. All members of MAPS aspire to become health care professionals and combat health disparities as leaders in our communities.

It has been fourteen weeks since I committed myself to leading the Mt. Sinai Medical Center group of the walking challenge. During these recent weeks I have worked with old friends and made new friends. We have enjoyed the scenic views of Central Park during our walks on beautiful summer afternoons, and have shared smiles and laughs as I instructed them in basic belly dance moves. There are only four weeks left of the challenge, but it's never too late to start making walking a habit. Furthermore, at the end of the walking challenge in mid-September, there will be a closing ceremony which will acknowledge the walkers and offer the opportunity for a raffle and giveaways. There will also be a free concert for the walking challenge participants. The details of this event has yet to be announced.

There are six walking groups in total from all five boroughs of New York City. The two most conveniently located near CCNY are those stationed at Harlem Hospital and at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. To learn more, please email WalkwithMIM@gmail.com. I hope to see my fellow MAPS members in the upcoming walks :-)