From The Grio — We all have our deal breakers when it comes to dating. The annoying nail biting, the vulgar cursing and difference in religious preferences can all be grounds for dismissal. It’s one thing not to like someone for a bad habit, but what if they can’t control their problems? From a family history of diseases to bad breath or incurable sexually transmitted infections, theGrio explores health-related issues a dating partner may have and how to get past it.

Issue: Those scary three-letter combos…

STD rates are high among young people, especially in the African-American community. According to a 2010 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the infection rate among African-American women was 48 percent. Nearly four out of five people who have genital herpes (HSV-2) have not been diagnosed, and may not know they have the infection.

Although there is no cure for HSV-1 (cold sores) or HSV-2, there are antiviral drugs on the market that can greatly reduce the chances of transmission and the number of outbreaks an infected person gets per year. Other incurable sexually transmitted viral infections include HPV (human papilloma virus), Hepatitis B and HIV. Using condoms, even in monogamous relationships, can greatly reduce transmission of these viruses.

Issue: My momma got heart problems, my grandpa got cancer, my aunt is blind….

Heart disease, sickle cell anemia and prostate cancer is just a short list of the many diseases that greatly impact the African-American community. Unfortunately, unlike STD’s that can be prevented with safe sex and vaccines, these conditions are embedded into your DNA and you are prone to eventually getting the disease. To know where you stand, research each other’s family health history and getting tested for genetic diseases before starting a family. Each person must consider what it could mean to possibly take care of a sick spouse or partner long-term.

(Continue Reading @ The Grio…)

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