I would like to identify some additional challenges associated with the health issues of the homeless people. Those who belong to this vulnerable population face many health problems as well as the difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities (Edidin, Ganim, Hunter, & Karnik, 2012). Health issues of this population include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), dental problems, poor eyesight, chest pain, and persistent pain in joints. Moreover, there are many cases of substance and alcohol abuse among this population. STDs happen due to the way of living, poor hygiene, and lack of access to contraceptives. Physical health problems occur due to poor diet and bad living conditions. The homeless spend a lot of time outside or in poorly-lit shelters. Thus, they develop pain in joints and problems with eyes and teeth. Deterioration of mental health in this population happens due to the lack of family support (Beharry, 2012). Also, the homeless frequently experience stresses, disorders, and anxiety.
I would like to elaborate on health issues of African Americans. Apart from experiencing many social problems, as described by Parrish, these people also face a lot of serious health issues. The diseases that occur in this population group most frequently are diabetes, pneumonia (influenza), cancer, heart disease, and stroke (Mandal, Scott, Islam, & Mandal, 2013). Another serious health issue among African Americans is obesity that leads to various complications. Obese people have hypertension problems, they suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome and sleep apnea, and they may develop asthma and orthopedic problems. It is a well-known fact that African Americans are more susceptible to cancer and heart diseases than white population (Mandal et al., 2013). Therefore, it is necessary to pay particular attention to this vulnerable population and strive to eliminate their health problems.
References
Beharry, M. S. (2012). Health issues in the homeless youth population. Pediatric Annals, 41(4), 154-156.
Edidin, J. P., Ganim, Z., Hunter, S. J., & Karnik, N. S. (2012). The mental and physical health of homeless youth: A literature review. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 43(3), 354-375.
Mandal, A., Scott, J., Islam, N. K., & Mandal, P. K. (2013). Factors affecting African-American health: Empowering the community with health literacy. Journal of Bioprocessing and Biotechniques, 3(1), 1-2.