February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the many contributions of Black individuals and communities in the United States. It’s also a time to raise awareness around health and wellness, particularly when it comes to conditions that disproportionately impact African-American and Black people.

In the last couple of years, the topic of health disparities has become a part of the national conversation. COVID-19 shined a spotlight on how people experience the healthcare system unequally in America, and how people of color are at higher risk for certain diseases and conditions.

For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, which impacts nearly half of the Black population. Nearly two out of five African American adults have high blood pressure, which is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. When it comes to cancer, Black men and women are more likely to die from it than people from other backgrounds. And when you look at particular cancers, such as breast cancer, Black women are 40 percent more likely than white women to die from it; and Black men are more likely than others to get prostate cancer, which tends to start at a younger age and grow faster than in other groups. Additionally, African Americans are 1.5 times as likely to be obese as white Americans.

The reasoning behind health disparities is nuanced and complex. But it’s important to know about the elevated risks because awareness can lead to early diagnosis and treatment. In addition, there are certain actions people can take that can help reduce the risk for the above conditions, and more. Below, you’ll find seven steps you can take, starting this month, to improve your health year-round.

1. Learn about your family history. If your relatives have experienced a chronic disease, such as cancer, diabetes, and/or heart disease, you may also be at risk. That’s why it’s important to gather as much information as you can about conditions that run in your family. The Surgeon General has an online tool called My Family Health Portrait that can guide you in whom to speak with and what to ask when documenting your family health history. After completing the survey, share the information you learned with your healthcare providers so that they can suggest tests and screenings that might be appropriate for you. For example, if your dad, mom, brother or sister got colorectal cancer before the age of 50, your doctor might recommend that you get a colonoscopy earlier and/or more frequently than the guidelines suggest.    
2. Find a primary care doctor you trust. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 describes health disparities as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.” These disparities are often rooted in structural racism and discrimination. Because of that, it’s critical you find a doctor you’re comfortable with, who listens to you, and whom you trust. If you haven’t yet found that healthcare provider, talk to friends and family, connect with community groups on social media and keep looking. Your health is worth it.
3. Make an appointment with that healthcare provider for an annual wellness exam. During that exam, talk to him or her about any concerns you might have and get up to date on any and all tests, screenings, vaccines and other preventative services you might need. If there’s an area of your health that you’d like to improve, ask for advice.
4. Manage your medical conditions. If you have been diagnosed with a health condition, it’s important that you follow your doctor’s orders and take care of that condition, and your overall health. If you experience a change in your condition, contact your healthcare provider and let them know, so that they can document the change and instruct you on next steps.
5. Eat a healthy diet. Make fruits and vegetables a priority in your diet, along with lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and plenty of water. A healthy, balanced diet can be as helpful to your health as some medicines. Visit myplate.gov for guidance on healthy eating and portion size. 
6. Move more, sit less. Physical activity is great for the body and the mind! Moving your body gets your blood pumping, and that’s good for your heart and your waistline. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your weekly routine. It could be joining a sports team, a fitness class, cycling, walking, weightlifting, running, dancing or anything that makes you move! The experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate-activity intensity a week, along with two sessions of muscle-strengthening workouts.
7. Make healthy choices a habit.  Only you can choose to be healthier. That means quitting what’s bad for you—like smoking and heavy drinking—and incorporating habits that are good for you, like keeping up social connections, getting enough sleep and finding ways to relieve stress. Once you start making these changes, you may find it’s easy to keep them up. Feeling good tends to be its own reward.

Black History Month honors the achievements and struggles of African Americans. One ongoing struggle that many in the community face is the inequities in the healthcare system that can contribute to health disparities. As awareness rises around these topics, we can all play a role in advocating for a better system, where patients everywhere are treated equally. Along the way, it’s important that we become educated, activated and engaged patients who make healthy choices for ourselves and our families.