For the longest time, Crohn’s was not a major concern. At least for Black folks, who had lower rates of the gastrointestinal disease than other races.
Unfortunately, that’s quickly changing.
Today, there is an alarming trend in diagnoses of the condition – everything from severe abdominal pain and discomfort to malnutrition, diarrhea, and even severe mental health impacts.
Why is Crohn’s disease increasing in Black populations?
Let’s take a deeper dive and consider the main social and biological factors at play here…
A History of Misdiagnoses
While there are many reasons for the increase in Crohn’s among the Black population, one explanation is that it’s not actually increasing that much. For many decades, Crohn’s was thought to be a mostly ‘White disease.’ Although Black patients reported similar symptoms, many of their symptoms were attributed to something else.
These biases came from narrow studies, which focused on people of European descent. As a result, many Black individuals suffered in silence, ignoring or enduring the pain, oftentimes receiving diagnoses that did not fully treat the issue.
The good news is, that this perception in healthcare systems is slowly but surely changing.
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Microbiome Differences
Your microbiome is essentially the environment in your gut.
It’s a very complex ecosystem all its own, filled with all kinds of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more. When the balance is tilted or upset, many health conditions can result. This is why the food and drink you ingest is so important.
Turns out, recent research shows that the microbiomes of Black folks may be different. In other words, Black individuals have different ratios of microorganisms that live in their intestines. Black culture – with certain diets, medications, and environmental exposures – also impacts these microorganisms.
For instance, many diets that contain inflammatory foods and processed foods are more likely to lead to conditions like Crohn’s. Because so many Black communities do not have access to organic whole-food alternatives, the risk grows.
Over time, this consumption of unhealthy foods can lead to inflammatory conditions just like Crohn’s.
Healthcare Access
Although we’ve already touched on this, let’s go a step further.
Consider, for example, systemic biases in healthcare. These can take many forms. You have a lack of adequate insurance coverage, which may discourage doctor visits. You have a lack of medical clinics and hospitals within communities, which can lead to poor diagnosis and treatment. And then you have the lack of Black doctors, which presents a cultural issue in misunderstanding how Black patients’ bodies respond differently.
And even when there are culturally sensitive doctors available, only a small percentage are fully trained in gastrointestinal disease management.
Due to these disparities in healthcare access, many Black patients with Crohn’s may never even get their condition evaluated, let alone diagnosed or treated!
Urbanization
Think about city environments for a moment. As societies have shifted from rural to urban living, many changes in food accessibility have occurred. Not only food access, but physical activity and stress as well. Sometimes, the congested cities – with people piled on top of each other – are like a petri dish for disease and illness.
Fast food abounds, but quality whole foods are often hard to get. Then add in the stress of urban living. Many of these areas are of low socioeconomic status, causing physical and psychological stress to residents.
This can affect lifestyle choices as well, leading to substance use and unhealthy habits simply to cope. From there, inflammation is almost unavoidable. Over time, the effects of urbanization can take a serious toll. If left unchecked and untreated, diseases like Crohn’s have the perfect opportunity to take hold.
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Genetic Factors
Finally, you have genetics.
Biologically speaking, various genes may play a role in the risk of developing Crohn’s disease. This happens because your body may deal with inflammation differently, which can lead to all kinds of problems with your overall health and well-being.
For example, variations in the OD2 gene are associated with Crohn’s in people of European descent, while IL23R gene variations are associated with Crohn’s disease in people of African descent.
Although genes alone do not mean you’re going to, or not going to, end up with Crohn’s, they can play a large role.
The good news is, you can affect your biology. Lifestyle changes, such as consistent exercise, healthier eating, and stress minimization can all do wonders.
So, if you’re worried about Crohn’s – take a breather. You possess the power to manage your health, day by day, making changes that will help in the long term.
Whether you’re Black, White, Brown, or Purple, you can take control of your health. And that’s something you should never forget!
