Heart disease and high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association's 2026 statistical update, 63.0% of non-Hispanic Black men and 59.5% of non-Hispanic Black women age 20 and older have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, heart failure, stroke or high blood pressure. The CDC reports that 59.6% of non-Hispanic Black adults have high blood pressure, a higher prevalence than Hispanic, White or Asian adults.

Prostate cancer. This should command the attention of every man in our chapter. The American Cancer Society reports that Black men have a 67% higher incidence of prostate cancer than White men and approximately twice the prostate cancer mortality rate. ACS recommends that Black men discuss prostate cancer screening with a healthcare provider beginning at age 45.

Colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that colorectal cancer incidence is approximately 20% higher among Black men and women than White adults, while colorectal cancer death rates are 44% higher among Black men and 31% higher among Black women. Screening matters: finding and removing precancerous polyps can prevent cancers from developing, and screening can detect cancer earlier when it is generally easier to treat.

Diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports that 12.2% of non-Hispanic Black adults have diagnosed diabetes, compared with 7.1% of non-Hispanic White adults. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, nerve damage and other serious complications.

Mental health. Our health is not limited to what we can see or measure with a blood-pressure cuff. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 19.7% of Black adults experienced a mental illness in the previous year in its 2022 data. Among Black adults with a serious mental illness, only 62.3% received mental-health treatment during that year.