Prevalent Barriers to obesity within the African American population.

Sleep is essential for the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults. Quality sleep supports emotional well-being, metabolic health, cognitive function, mental health, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Additionally, getting sufficient, high-quality sleep helps reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents and injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents and workplace incidents.

Recommended Sleep Duration

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS) recommend that adults aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night to promote optimal health. Similarly, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) advises adults to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, with older adults requiring 7 to 8 hours.

Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and Mental Health Impacts

About one-third of the population experiences insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep. Additionally, 4% to 26% of individuals report excessive sleepiness, and 2% to 4% have obstructive sleep apnea. Insomnia is associated with a significantly increased likelihood of mental health issues; individuals with insomnia are 10 times more likely to experience clinically significant depression and 17 times more likely to experience anxiety compared to those without insomnia. Poor sleep is also linked to post-traumatic stress, eating disorders, and psychosis spectrum experiences, such as delusions and hallucinations.

Improving sleep Quality

Improving sleep quality benefits mental health, and research reports that sleep plays a causal role in mental health challenges. Better sleep positively affects future mental health, even those without clinical symptoms.

Strategies for Improving Sleep Quality

• Creating a relaxing sleep environment
• Limiting daytime naps
• Managing stress and worries
• Being mindful of food and drink choices
• Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule
• Incorporating physical activity into daily routines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), Cigarette smoking damages almost every organ in the body, leading to numerous diseases and overall health decline. In the United States, smoking is responsible for over 480,000 deaths each year, nearly one in five deaths. For women, smoking can make it more difficult to conceive and can adversely affect a baby’s health before and after birth. In men, smoking can reduce sperm quality, decreasing fertility and increasing the risk of congenital disabilities and miscarriage. Smoking also harms oral health, potentially leading to tooth loss. Moreover, it increases the risk of cataracts, which cloud the eye’s lens and impair vision. It can cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD), damaging a small spot near the retina’s center needed for central vision. Additionally, smoking is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus and can complicate its management, with active smokers having a 30-40% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to nonsmokers.

The four major diseases linked to smoking are

• Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Increased mortality rates due to smoking.
  • Elevated risk of ischemic heart diseases.
• Respiratory Conditions
  • Smoking is a primary cause of chronic respiratory deaths.
  • Increased risk of respiratory diseases and tuberculosis.
• Stroke
  • A Study reports a Positive correlation between smoking prevalence and stroke-related deaths.
• Lung Cancer
  • Study reports there is a higher likelihood of lung cancer with increased daily cigarette consumption.

Stress has a significant impact on overall health, playing a crucial role in the development of various diseases and placing a substantial strain on the healthcare system (Shchaslyvyi et al., 2024). It is closely linked to numerous long-term health problems, especially cardiovascular conditions, which are often worsened by daily psychosocial pressures like job-related stress (Shchaslyvyi et al.,2024) It is essential to understand the healthy ways to cope with or manage stress.

Various strategies recommended according to the CDC (2025)

1. Take Care of Your Mind

Limit news and social media exposure: Excessive exposure to harmful or distressing news can exacerbate stress.

Make time to unwind: Incorporate relaxation practices such as deep breathing, stretching, or meditation.

Keep a journal: Writing can help you process emotions, reflect on your thoughts, and release tension.

Spend time outdoors: Whether you are being active (walking, hiking) or just relaxing outside, nature can be a calming presence.

Practice gratitude: Regularly noting things you are grateful for helps improve emotional well-being.

Connect with others: Talking to trusted friends, family, or community/faith-based groups provides support.

2. Take Care of Your Body

Get enough sleep: The CDC recommends 7 hours or more per night for adults and suggests maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Move more: Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress; even small amounts can help.

Eat well: A balanced diet (fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy) supports both physical and mental health.

Limit alcohol and avoid substance misuse: Moderating alcohol intake, avoiding illegal drugs, and not misusing prescription medication are essential.

Avoid tobacco: Smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products can worsen stress or its effects.

Stay up to date with healthcare: Regular check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations help you maintain your physical health — which can help buffer stress.

3. Integrate Physical and Mental Health

The CDC emphasizes that mental well-being and physical health are closely linked. Regular physical activity is not only good for the body but also supports emotional resilience.

It encourages finding a “right combination” of coping techniques that work for you — not everyone copes the same way.

4. Know When to Seek Extra Support

The CDC notes that while stress is everyday, chronic stress (long-term) can lead to serious health problems.

If you’re struggling to cope or stress is affecting your daily life, it’s okay to reach out for help. They list resources, including crisis lines.

Sources

CDC. (2025)

 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), 1077–1077. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081077

Light at night (LAN) refers to the use of artificial or natural light during nighttime hours for visibility purposes.

 Deprato et al. (2025) reports that approximately 80% of the global population is exposed to light-polluted skies, and LAN is now considered a major environmental pollutant. Sources include streetlights, vehicles, homes, industries, and even atmospheric reflections.

LAN disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal 24-hour clock regulated by the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus. When artificial light interferes with natural dark–light patterns, it delays the circadian clock and sleep-wake cycle, leading to melatonin suppression, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of various diseases (Deprato et al., 2025). Blue-rich and bright LED lights cause the most significant disruption (Deprato et al., 2025). The study reports that LAN exposure is linked to higher rates of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other severe mental disorders, likely due to circadian misalignment, sleep deprivation, and changes in brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.

 Implications:

1.The findings suggest that light pollution and artificial light exposure at night are not only environmental/visual concerns but also have mental health implications.

2. Encourages rethinking nighttime habits — including screen use before bed, bedroom lighting, blackout curtains, and managing exposure to streetlights or indoor lights at night.

3.The implications of light at night may vary by culture or by groups

4. Designing homes and neighborhoods that minimize intrusive nighttime lighting in bedrooms, promoting lighting standards that consider human health

Prevention/ Mitigation strategies

1.Reduce screen time before bed: Use “night mode” or blue-light filters on devices, dim the brightness, and avoid stimulating content.

2. Improve bedroom lighting: Use blackout curtains, turn off or dim indoor lights, remove bright electronic indicators, and opt for warm, low-intensity lighting in the evening.

3. Maintain a consistent sleep–wake schedule: Even if artificial light is present, a regular circadian rhythm helps mitigate disruptions.

4. Use lighting design for sleep: In the evening, switch to warmer (red/orange) wavelengths; avoid bright overhead white/blue light late at night.

5.Monitor and adjust ambient outdoor lighting: If streetlights are intrusive, consider using blackout curtains or an eye mask; if indoor lighting spills into the night, turn off non-essential lights.

Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179188

Inadequate exercise or physical activity can contribute to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Given that non-communicable diseases account for over 80% of deaths in some nations, they are regarded as “the number one killer” globally. Physical exercise is any movement that requires energy, like housework, manual labor, walking, or manual labor. Exercise, on the other hand, is a regimen of physical activity that is organized and planned to enhance physical fitness.

Evidenced-based benefits.

1. Physical Health: Research reported that 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity led to a 14% risk reduction in all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. In healthy adults, the risk decreased by 7%. Regular exercise has been shown in numerous studies to be beneficial in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as improving the health of patients with a variety of other conditions, such as certain cancers. stroke, type 2 diabetes, age-related sarcopenia, obesity, and multiple sclerosis.
2. Mental Health: Research findings indicate that youth with mild to moderate mental health issues can benefit from organized sports and exercise programs. In one study, participants highlighted the significance of intensity choice for their enjoyment and commitment to the program, and it was shown that a self-selected intensity sport and exercise intervention was beneficial for depression. Research findings indicate that youth with mild to moderate mental health issues can benefit from organized sports and exercise programs. In one study, participants highlighted the significance of intensity choice for their enjoyment and commitment to the program, and it was shown that a self-selected intensity sport and exercise intervention was beneficial for depression. Also, engaging in physical exercise for 14 weeks can considerably improve mental symptoms, reduce anxiety and somatization, lessen obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and lift depressed moods.
3. Quality Sleep: Study indicated that quality of sleep was positively impacted by exercise. Additionally, insomnia was somewhat alleviated following the exercise intervention. For instance, studies reveal that first-year students who exercise more get better sleep than those who exercise less during the night.

Evidenced-based research recommended the following:

1. Adults should aim for more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity spread out over the week, or an equivalent mix of moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
2. Engage in moderate-to-intense muscle-strengthening activities that target all major muscle groups two or more days a week.
3. Adults 65 and older engage in multicomponent physical activity that involves functional balance and strength training at a moderate or higher intensity for at least three days a week in addition to aerobic exercises.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) represent the most prevalent non-cancerous tumors among women of reproductive age. Symptomatic fibroids can lead to significant health issues and are the primary reason for hysterectomies in the United States and globally, contributing to substantial socioeconomic impacts and affecting over 70% of women of reproductive age (Langton et al., 2024). African American women tend to develop fibroids approximately 10 years earlier than White women in the US and bear a disproportionate health burden from these tumors

Black women experience UFs at higher rates, with an earlier onset, more severe symptoms, and faster disease progression compared to other groups.

According to Sithembinkosi Ndebele (2024), 85% of participants were non-Hispanic Blacks. Black participants had a higher likelihood of a UF diagnosis, and the following risk factors were reported contributing to the high prevalence of UFs in Black individuals:

1. Socioeconomic Status: Lower socioeconomic status is reported to increase the rates of UFs.
2. Adverse Environmental Exposures: Increased exposure to environmental pollutants is associated with a higher prevalence of UFs.
3. Chronic Stress: Experiences that increase chronic stress are significant contributors.

Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, closely tied to neighborhood characteristics, further influence UF prevalence. These factors include:

1. Body Mass Index (BMI): A higher BMI correlates with a higher risk of UFs.
2. Alcohol Use: Regular alcohol consumption is positively correlated with UF diagnosis.
3. Income and Occupation: These factors influence access to healthy food and healthcare.