CHARLOTTE — The average life expectancy for black men is 68 years. This compares to about 74 for men from other ethnic backgrounds.
“When you think about all the black men who have died recently from prostate cancer, it shouldn’t be happening because it’s preventable,” Health Equity Director Duane Read said.
Black Men’s Wellness Day, an event aimed at bringing important health information to underserved communities, was held Saturday in the Queen City.
Event organizers say the disparity in life expectancy is due to several issues, including mistrust of medical companies, hurdles to accessing care, and internalized fear among black men about getting regular check-ups from doctors. said.
“When you have the awareness and information to know your family history and what you’re susceptible to, you can go to your health care provider and feel empowered and in control of your health,” Reed said. continued.
Channel 9’s Damani Lewis moderated the event, which offered a variety of biometric health screenings including blood pressure, blood sugar, BMI, and peripheral artery disease.
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