Staying Healthy Long Enough to Get Your First Social Security Check

One of the benefits of practicing medicine, in the African American community, is hearing many funny stories that affect patients who provide entertainment about their health concerns.

One of my patients wanted to be checked for heart disease and relayed to me that one of his friends died at an early age.  He was quite upset that his friend did not live long enough to receive his first Social Security check.

I gave his concern some thought and concluded that he made an interesting point.  Too many black males will die early because they have not taken the proper measures to decrease the risk of dying before the age of 62. This is the earliest age at which they can start receiving their Social Security check (or wait until the age of 65).

New studies reveal that half of adult men have a medical problem that requires medical attention.  Hypertension and diabetes are two of the common conditions.