When you’re thinking about your health, it’s a good idea to take your ethnic group and culture into account. This is because genetic and social factors can play a part in whether you get certain health conditions during your lifetime.
When you’re thinking about your health, it’s a good idea to take your ethnic group and culture into account. This is because genetic and social factors can play a part in whether you get certain health conditions during your lifetime.
Some conditions and diseases are more likely to occur in particular ethnic groups. This doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop a certain problem – it’s simply that your risk may be a bit higher than people with different backgrounds.
Read on to find out what health conditions may be more likely to affect you if you’re white, and what you can do to reduce your risk.
A Caucasian person is someone with origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa. Classifications used to describe people who are Caucasian include:
Some people have one Caucasian parent and one parent from another ethnic group. Classifications used to describe people who are of mixed or multiple ethnic groups include:
The way you choose to live can play a role in whether you get certain health problems. For example, eating a lower fat diet may be good for your health, while smoking is known to be bad for your health. So, if you’re aware that people of your ethnic group or culture are more at risk of a particular illness, you may be able to reduce that risk by making different lifestyle choices.
If you’re Caucasian, you could be at higher risk of some of the following health conditions.
UK research suggests that
is more common in Caucasian females than Black or Asian females, and more common in Caucasian and Black men than Asian men. In some cases, such as with colorectal cancer, the difference is linked to genetic factors. It’s thought that lifestyle and diet may play a part in other cases.Caucasian people also have a higher risk of developing skin cancers, as they don’t have as much protective pigmentation (melanin) in their skin.
Of course, anyone can be affected by mental health issues, but certain problems may be more common among white people. In the UK, for example, research shows rates for suicidal thoughts, self-harm and alcohol dependence are highest among the Caucasian population.
In the USA, meanwhile, studies have shown that Caucasian people tend to drink more alcohol, and drink more often, than many other ethnic groups. Binge-drinking and alcohol-related problems are common in white men and women, and in young and older age groups. You can find more information about alcohol misuse
.Finally, it’s worth noting that, in the UK, the white Gypsy or Irish Traveller population has particularly poor health. Both men and women in this group have twice the rate of limiting long-term illnesses compared with white British people.
While there are some risk factors you can’t change – such as age and family history – making some lifestyle changes can help to lower your risk of certain conditions and illnesses.
Unfortunately, you can’t do anything to protect yourself against genetic conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy and cystic fibrosis.
But lifestyle choices can help to reduce your risk of cancer. You should try to:
Caucasian people in particular should also take extra care when in the sun, as they have a higher risk of skin cancer. You can wear long-sleeved clothing to protect your skin, and apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) to exposed areas.
Some mental health services offer counselling for specific issues, such as alcohol dependency. This can involve help to take control of your drinking, and advice about a long-term plan of action.
If there’s anything you feel like you can’t control, or you feel like you need support with your mental health, talking to your doctor is a good place to start.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.