These days, everyone is striving to increase their financial health, and that’s great. Yet, let us not forget about our personal health while we’re expanding our portfolio. 

Here are the top five health conditions that deserve investment and preventative attention:

• Cardiovascular diseases: These can include high blood pressure, stroke, or congestive heart failure. Mentioned by the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the number one killers of Black women.
• Cancer: According to CentraState Healthcare System, although cancer is the number two killer for all races, Black women under 35 years old experience breast cancer at twice the rate of white women and are threes times as likely to die from the disease due to lack of resources and access tend to targeted treatments.  
• Metabolic diseases: These can include type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. Causes have been known to be genetic and environmental.
• Maternal health: Black women are three to four times more likely than other groups to die of pregnancy-related complications, due to preeclampsia, ectopic pregnancies, medical discrimination, and racism where physicians are not attentive to concerns, conditions, and requests.
• Stress and depression: Stress can cause arteries to narrow, leading to weight gain and obesity and at risk of high blood pressure and ultimately a heart attack.

Being healthy is one of the most important investments we can make in our life. Taking good care of our medical health and staying current on our doctor visits and screenings can help ensure that we are staying in the best possible shape. Additionally, having a strong immune system and staying consistent with our vitamins, supplements, and meal choices can help protect us from viruses and diseases and keep our bodies functioning properly.

Understanding that the wealthiness and wellness of our personal health are just as important as the wealthiness and wellness of our financial health should motivate us to take the necessary steps to keep close watch on our health. Regular exercise, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, reducing stress levels – all these habits are essential for maintaining optimal health and well-being. Investing in our health will not only benefit ourselves but also those around us in the long run.