Prevalent Barriers to obesity within the African American population.

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.

High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) refers to elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—which is widely regarded as a key modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). LDL-C can deposit in arterial walls, forming plaques that narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Meanwhile, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps transport cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver for excretion. Several factors can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, as indicated below

Factors That Contribute to Elevated Cholesterol

• Poor diet
• Lack of Physical Exercise
• Excess body weight
• Smoking increases cholesterol profile, and excessive alcohol increases triglycerides
• Genetic traits
• Chronic stress and poor sleep
• Diet low fiber

To decrease high cholesterol in the blood, it is important to make positive changes to health behaviors by following the strategies below:

Strategies to Decrease High Cholesterol Levels

• Reduce intake of saturated and trans fats, and substitute with MUFA and PUFA-rich foods such as fatty fish(Salmon and Mackerel), olive oil/canola oil, Avocado/nuts

A study by Okobi et al. (2023) found that an avocado-rich diet can lower total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

• Increase consumption of food high in soluble fiber, such as oats, fruits, apples, and legumes.
• Regular aerobic exercise for 150 minutes/week lowers LDL and triglycerides and improves HDL.
• Losing excessive weight will improve LDL profiles.
• Quitting smoking will improve cardiovascular health and HDL levels

Research reports that American women are disproportionately affected, with the highest obesity rates among all groups in the U.S. About 80% are classified as overweight or obese.

Disparities in weight loss

Research indicates that African American (AA) women tend to lose less weight compared to their Caucasian counterparts.

Contributing Factors

The contributing factors to the disparities are;

• Limited access to nutritious food
• Inadequate health insurance
• Lack of safe spaces for physical activity

Barriers to Weight Management

Challenges that hinder weight management efforts include:

• Personal beliefs
• Limited time
• Family dynamics
• Lack of motivation
• Financial constraints

Cultural Influence on Body Image

Cultural norms within the AA community, which often embrace larger body sizes and promote a positive body image, can also influence health behaviors. While fostering a positive body image has psychological benefits, it may reduce motivation to maintain a healthy weight. In Black culture, obesity and being overweight are often considered acceptable and carry little to no stigma. Cultural perspective may partially explain why general health promotion efforts are less effective in this community. The study reports that many Black female students aim to embody the culturally valued “thick and curvy” figure, consuming specific foods to shape their bodies while avoiding activities that might result in weight loss.

Why it may be difficult to seek care

A deep-rooted distrust of the healthcare system makes it difficult for many AA women to seek medical advice or treatment.

Physical inactivity as a health risk factor

Underestimating body weight can reduce engagement in healthy behaviors, such as regular physical activity. Physical inactivity is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases and mortality, emphasizing the need to address these issues within the AA community.

Introduction

One of man’s best inventions is drugs, especially disease-specific ones. Drugs are substances other than food, which can prevent, relieve the symptoms, or cure an abnormality or disease. Globally, the cost of drugs has soared over the years, resulting in a situation whereby low-income earners are unable to buy branded medications. In underdeveloped and developing countries where food and drug agencies have poor capacity to perform their regulatory functions optimally, we tend to see the proliferation of substandard or fake drugs. So many times, this ugly trend is energized by not just greed but by the market demands for affordable medications.

Why Medication exceeds expiry date

 To mitigate the challenge of not being able to buy drugs, when necessary, people from resource-limited settings stack up some essential medications in their homes, which eventually exceed the best before or expiry dates on them. Sometimes, doctors could change a patient’s prescription because of reactions, allergies, or inability to purchase the drug, which could result in leftover drugs that eventually exceed the expiration date. Also, big pharmacies and patent-drug stores cannot sell all their stock, leading to the expiration of some drugs. This situation has raised many questions about the safety of these drugs after their expiration or beyond the “best before” date. Because of the importance of drugs and the health risks involved when taken wrongly, people have always consciously discarded unused drugs when it’s past the expiration date, even one day.

How Safe is a drug after the expiry date?

The debate about drugs being safe after their expiration date has persisted over the years, as many people still hold the opinion that pharmaceutical companies deliberately label their drugs with short shelf lives to guarantee steady patronage. Eventually, most of these unused drugs are discarded. The context that drugs can still be safe for a long time after expiration has gained several affirmations. In a recent study by Benjamin Davido and others titled ‘Efficacy of Expired Antibiotics: A Real Debate in the Context of Repeated Drug Shortages’ published in MDPI Journal “Antibiotics”, it was reported that when appropriately stored in line with the expected conditions, no expired antibiotics tested failed to be potent after one year of expiration. In another study by Sushil Sharma and others, titled ‘A study to investigate the chemical potency, physical stability, and efficacy of analgesic agents over a period of two years post their expiry date’ published in the “Medical Journal Armed Forces India”, it was seen that drugs such as Diclofenac, Piroxicam, and Ibuprofen retained their stability, analgesic efficacy, chemical active ingredients and by implication their potency up to a duration of two years after expiration.

Important factors to consider

However, the issues of proper storage and handling can play a big role, especially in the tropical climate of West Africa and other geographical regions. Hence, people in the tropics may have to rely on their capacity to store their drugs in the required condition in deciding whether to use a drug past the expiration date or not.

Conclusion

This article doesn’t advocate for the use of expired medication but to reduce anxiety about accidental use. It is essential to understand factors that impact drug stability.

(Written by Ebenezer Dic-Ijiewere PhD.)

NB: Always consult your healthcare professionals regarding expired medications to ensure medication safety and effectiveness.

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.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a chronic and intricate ailment associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, primarily attributed to atherosclerotic lesions in coronary vessels, ultimately leading to myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Unhealthy eating habits, often influenced by chronic inflammation, are closely linked to CHD. Various health conditions, lifestyle choices, as well as your age and family history, can elevate the risk of developing heart disease; approximately 47% of Americans have at least one of the three primary risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and smoking. Certain risk factors for heart disease, such as age or family history, are beyond your control. However, you can proactively reduce your risk by changing the factors you can control.

Behaviors that heighten the risk for heart disease are

• Smoking: The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that cardiovascular disease causes 800,000 deaths and 400,000 premature deaths per year. About one-fifth and one-third of these result from smoking, respectively. Additionally, research reported that smoking resulted in a 51% increased risk of coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes. Cigarette smoking has the potential to harm the heart and blood vessels, amplifying the risk for heart conditions like atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Even nonsmokers face an increased risk of heart disease when exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can elevate blood pressure and elevate the risk of heart disease. It also leads to increased triglyceride levels, a fatty substance in the blood associated with an elevated risk of heart disease.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Insufficient physical activity is a precursor to heart disease and can strengthen the likelihood of other medical conditions that serve as risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Engaging in regular physical activity can effectively decrease the risk of heart disease.
• Unhealthy Eating Habits: A diet rich in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol has been associated with heart disease and related conditions like atherosclerosis. Recent research has provided more explicit evidence that trans-fat significantly raises the risk of cardiovascular disease by adversely affecting lipids, endothelial function, insulin resistance, and inflammation. For each 2% increase in calories consumed from trans-fat, there is a 23% higher risk of coronary artery disease. Recent studies and systematic reviews have focused on red and processed meat consumption. The research consistently demonstrates an increased risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular events. The risk ranges from 15% to 29% higher with red meat consumption and 23% to 42% higher with processed meat consumption

Measures for Reducing the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

•  Educating children and adolescents about the dangers of smoking to deter the initiation of tobacco use. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reported that the risk of coronary artery disease decreases to the level of lifetime nonsmokers within four years of quitting and within ten years. 
• The DASH, Mediterranean, and vegetarian diets have the most evidence for cardiovascular disease prevention. The DASH diet has been shown to lower systolic blood pressure by up to 11.5 mmHg in adults with hypertension. Additionally, reported findings indicate a 21% reduction in coronary artery disease risk with adopting the DASH diet.
•  The American Heart Association suggests substituting saturated fat with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. A 5% shift from saturated fat to polyunsaturated fat consumption is linked to a 10% lower risk of coronary artery disease.
• Engaging in about 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is characterized by activity that maintains a heart rate between 50 to 70 percent of the individual’s maximum heart rate, calculated as 220 beats per minute minus the person’s age.