Health Update: Learn about the Annual Family Wellness Expo benefits | Local News – What Experts Say

Health disparities often disproportionately impact minority communities.

Dr. Tiundra Love with the Chattanooga Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, says that is why the Annual Family Wellness Expo is so important.

“The focus is to address all the disparities that’s in the community, the negative impact of negative health economics in your community, and basically pour into our community because you want a healthy community.

Statistics show that minorities face:

• A higher infant mortality rate

• More likely to be diagnosed with and die from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

• More than twice as likely to be uninsured

• Less likely to receive mental health treatment

• And more likely to have a negative healthcare experience

“We see a lot of cardiovascular challenges, whether it’s diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,” Love said. “So, we will have someone to address screenings when it comes to blood pressure, when it comes to our colon screenings, breast screenings. Breast is pretty much for women, the number one top for cancer, and then we have colon cancer as well.”

The Annual Family Wellness Expo is part of a nationwide initiative to help families gain access to information, screenings, and services that can help prevent illness and improve quality of life.

“This event is from toddlers all the way up to seniors. It’s those things that impact us at different age spectrums,” Love said.

Families receive a wide range of resources and activities focused on prevention and healthy living.

“So being health literate about your health and how it will impact your health and the point of prevention and compliance when you have medication, then we come to the side of patients just not access,” Love said.