Information provided by lgbthealth.net
Mental Health (including depression and anxiety screening)
LGBT people appear to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety than the general population. The problem may be more severe for those LGBT people who remain in the closet or who do not have adequate social supports. Adolescents and young adults may be at particularly high risk of suicide because of these concerns. Talk to your provider about any depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts that you have.
Sexual Health (including STD and HIV screening)
Talking to your health care provider about your sexual health is an important part of maintaining your whole health. Regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is important part of good sexual health. This includes STD infections for which effective treatment is available (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, pubic lice, and others), and those for which no cure is available (HIV, Hepatitis A, B, or C virus, Human Papilloma Virus, etc.). There is absolutely no doubt that safe sex reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevention of these infections through safe sex is key. Talk to your provider about your STD screenings and how to protect yourself and others from STDs.
Substance Use (including tobacco and alcohol)
Research indicates that illicit drugs may be used more often among LGBT people than heterosexuals. These include a number of substances ranging from amyl nitrate ("poppers"), to marijuana, Ecstasy, and methamphetamines. There may be added stressors in lives of LGBT people from homophobic discrimination to varying degrees of social support that contribute to higher substance use. Talk to your provider about your substance use habits
Alcohol
Although recent studies have improved our understanding of alcohol use in the LGBT communities, it is still thought that members of the LGBT communities may have higher rates of alcohol dependence and abuse than their straight counterparts. One drink daily may not adversely affect health, however alcohol-related illnesses can occur with low levels of consumption. Talk to your provider about your alcohol consumption.
Tobacco
A recent study found that nearly 40 percent of lesbian and bisexual girls reported that they smoked weekly compared to only 6 percent of heterosexual girls. Additional studies note that gay and bisexual men may use tobacco at much higher rates than straight men, reaching nearly 50 percent in several studies. Tobacco-related health problems include lung disease and lung cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a whole host of other serious problems. In addition, smoking increases the risk of blood clots for lesbian, bi and trans women taking estrogen–blood clots can stop the blood flow within your legs, lungs, brain (stroke) or heart (heart attack). All LGBT people should be screened for and offered culturally sensitive prevention and cessation programs for tobacco use. Talk to your doctor about getting help to stop smoking.
Heart Health
Heart health is important for all people, including LGBT community members. Smoking and obesity are the most prevalent risk factors for heart disease among lesbians and bisexual women. Similarly, smoking is an important risk factor for gay and bisexual men. Additionally, HIV infection and HIV drug medications may also increase risk for heart disease. Everyone should get an annual clinical exam where blood pressure is checked, cholesterol is measured, diabetes is diagnosed, and exercise is discussed. Preventing heart disease, which is a leading cause of death for both women and men, should be paramount to every clinical visit. Talk to your provider about heart disease prevention.
Fitness (including diet and exercise)
Research confirms that lesbians have higher body mass than heterosexual women. Obesity is associated with higher rates of heart disease, cancers, and premature death. What lesbians need is competent advice about healthy living and healthy eating, as well as healthy exercise. Problems with body image are more common among gay men than their straight counterparts, and gay men are much more likely to experience an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. While regular exercise is very good for cardiovascular health and in other areas, too much of a good thing can be harmful. The use of substances such as anabolic steroids and certain supplements can adversely affect health. At the opposite end of the spectrum, overweight and obesity are problems that also affect a large subset of the gay community. This can cause a number of health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Talk to your provider about your diet and fitness regimen.
Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence and Safety
Gay and bisexual men experience abuse in intimate partner relationships at a rate of 2 in 5, a rate comparable to that of domestic violence experienced by heterosexual women. Studies of lesbians have found that 47% had experienced repeated acts of violence and that 41% had been abused in at least one relationship with another woman. A survey of transgender and intersex individuals in one city found that 50% had been raped or assaulted by a romantic partner, though only 62% of these individuals (31% of the total) identified themselves as survivors of domestic violence when asked. For more information contact the National Coalition of Anti-violence Projects: ncavp.org. Talk to your provider about any violence in your life.
