Persuasive Essay

Because many African American men don’t go to the doctors regularly they unintentially put them selves at risk for developing lupus a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. According to the Lupus Foundation of America one in 2,000 people in the United States has Lupus. But regularly check ups can help detect early stages of the disease, which in turn can help patients avoid the need for Dialysis or a Kidney transplant. As African American women whose brother has recently battled with lupus, I understand how debilitating and frightening this disease can be. I also understand how, in many cases, such suffering may be needless. Indeed, had my brother gone to the doctor’s and been proactive in his healthcare, his Lupus could have been averted. I argue all of my readers, especially African American men, to do what they can to protect their health, including receiving regular physical exams and adopting health maintenance habits. Around June 2009, my brother Justin 29 began to get ill. Most days he was fatigued and had some slight swelling in his feet. Expecting that the swelling was only temporary, he didn’t go to the doctor. However as the symptoms worsened and swelling continued moving from his feet to his knees he finally went to the doctor. “I thought I was having an allergic reaction to something I ate and would be better in a couple of days” he remembers. Months and months went by; doctor’s visits increased and the doctors still couldn’t give him a static diagnosis. First they told him it was just water on the knees. Then they said he had high blood pressure because of his weight, so they began medication for his high blood pressure. Justin started to feel better after the high blood pressure medication but months later he relapsed and symptoms worsened and that began the first of many visits to the