Wellness in the black community

Just last week, President Obama announced Dr. Regina Benjamin as his choice to be the next surgeon general of the U.S.   He referred to her as a "relentless promoter of prevention and wellness programs" after witnessing first hand the great number of lives cut short by diseases that could have otherwise been deterred.

Benjamin said that diabetes, hypertension, HIV and lung cancer from smoking were among the reasons her immediate family was not there, at the announcement. 

As CNN continues to examine many of the issues facing African-Americans with "Black in America 2," (Watch July 22 & 23 at 8 p.m. ET) a major topic that comes up is health. I wanted to answer the question: What steps can be taken immediately to stop these devastating diseases and their complications later in life? 

I turned to Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, chief of cardiology and a professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, Georgia.  She stressed that the measures you take to delay or stop one condition overlap with the prevention of others.  Diabetes and high blood pressure are major threats to the African-American population, she said.  Obesity – a risk factor for so many chronic conditions – continues to be a chief concern in the black community, according to a new report by the CDC.  

But there are some immediate steps people of any race can take to keep from becoming a statistic. 

1.) Knowledge is half the battle. Awareness of your family history enables you to take steps to avoid, delay the onset of, or slow down a condition.  Ofili suggests being very diligent about keeping a record of what runs in the family. 

2.) Jump into action.  The other half of the equation is taking action.  Many people may find themselves overwhelmed with all of the available information.  Sort through what is relevant to you and your family's health history - set aside the rest. 

3.)  Walking works. Aim for a simple 30-minute walk three times a week, then graduate to five times a week.  Walking consistently will help you maintain your weight and keep your blood pressure in check. You don't have to jog or run to reap the health benefits. 

4.)  Keep stress in check.   Stress hormones cause the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to go up - something most of us have experienced.  Using food as a coping mechanism against stress also contributes to obesity and hypertension.  Ofili says each person needs to decide which stress-buster works best for them, whether it's yoga, walks or finding time to reflect each day.

Finally, Ofili encourages everyone to be their own advocate in health, but not to hesitate drawing in other resources.  Engage your physician - or another expert in nutrition, physical fitness or wellness – as a partner.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays