Racism: Eroding the health of Black communities. - 2023

ABSTRACT: Even in the context of major advances in medicine, racial minorities continue to suffer worse medical outcomes. Although race is defined as a social, nonscientific construct, researchers have continued to use it as proxy to explain genetic and evolutionary differences among patients. Poorer health outcomes among Black Americans are known to be related to the psychosocial and physiological stress of racism. Black communities experience premature health deterioration because of the cumulative effects of social, economic, and political oppression and marginalization. Additionally, recent assertions that racism is best seen as a chronic disease has added value to understanding the effect of racism on the health of Black people. Using evidence-based information to assess the health of Black patients is a key step to assist clinicians in promptly addressing this chronic threat to the health of Black patients. Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Physician Associates.


English

0893-7400

01720610-202305000-00009 [pii] 10.1097/01.JAA.0000923552.50265.66 [doi]


*Black or African American
*Health Status Disparities
*Racism
Humans
Racism/px [Psychology]
White--Curated


MedStar Montgomery Medical Center


Emergency Medicine


Journal Article