necessarily pinpoint UC. Given that Black patients are diagnosed at a significantly later age with UC, your best bet is just to get it all done. Comprehensive testing may not be enjoyable, but it can reduce all doubt of what’s really going on.
3. It’s Expensive
In today’s economy, good money ain’t easy to come by. Unfortunately, treatments for conditions like UC are far from cheap. Depending on the severity, Black patients with UC can expect to spend north of $20,000 per year. If you have private insurance, your chances are better, but with Medicaid or Medicare, the likelihood of getting successful surgery can plummet.
What can you do? The simplest thing – if you’re struggling for good insurance – is to be proactive. Note your symptoms, get them fully screened, and live a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking of lifestyle, let’s cover that next…
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4. Problem Diet
Sometimes, convenience is king. You grab some fast food after work, you throw together some processed meals when you’re tired or don’t feel like cooking. Or maybe you hang with family and get pressured to eat their food, which while delicious, isn’t exactly ideal for your body.
The easiest thing you can do if you have symptoms of UC is to constantly hydrate, eat smaller meals, and reduce fiber. Oftentimes, Black folks just accept symptoms of UC as a product of what they eat, not realizing that all those processed meats, sugary drinks, dairy, and spicy meals are triggering flare-ups of an actual disease.
5. Lack of Black Enterologists
Enterologists are doctors specializing in intestines (what a job). But here’s the thing. According to the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH), fewer than four percent of gastroenterologists and hepatologists in the U.S. identify as Black. Moreover, under six percent of active physicians in total identify as Black.
In other words, it’s hard to find someone who truly understands how UC affects you differently!
6. Medical Distrust
This one dovetails with a lack of Black enterologists. Because fewer specialists intimately understand UC symptoms unique to Black people, it can be hard to connect with the community overall.
Research also indicates that the community is less likely to seek medical help and more likely to simply endure the symptoms as part of life.
As a Black man or woman, you have every right to access the highest quality of care. If you suspect you have signs of UC, BlackDoctor.org is one resource you can trust! Get informed, speak with friends, and take your time to find a specialist who is there for you as a person, not just a patient.
Health is wealth. In the end, it’s more than worth the investment.