3 Things to Know Before Getting Married

Guest Post by TeShayla Coates

Getting married to the person that you love should be one of the best moments of your life. Two individuals are coming together to form a union that will last for the rest of your lives. However, relationships are complicated and marriage is hard work. Each partner needs to constantly work to keep the marriage and relationship strong. You want to make sure that you can live long healthy lives together. That is why, before you get married it is important to know your future spouse’s health status. The Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO) suggests three critical things you should know about your partner’s health status before you say I do in 2022. 

Hypertension

Hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure, is oftentimes called the silent killer. This is because although over half of the population of the United States (US) has hypertension, many people have no idea they have it. The city of Detroit has the second-highest rate of Hypertension in the US. About 47% of Detroiters have hypertension, and that is only the people that know they have it. It could be an even higher number! 

It is important to know if your future spouse even has the risk for getting hypertension because genetics could play a role. If you want children in the future, it is important to know what you could potentially pass on to them. This will ensure you can teach them about hypertension and how they can manage the condition. 

In addition to thinking about your children’s futures, knowing how to manage your or your spouse’s hypertension could be something you can do together. You can help reduce the risk of severe health consequences for hypertension with lifestyle changes. Your partner and you could exercise, learn healthy recipes, and more to strengthen your relationship. It is much easier and more fun to manage a condition when both parties want to participate! 

COVID-19 Vaccination Status

When planning your wedding, you may not immediately think about whether your partner and you are vaccinated against COVID-19; However, it is imperative that you consider this so that you are both on the same page. The COVID-19 vaccination is a contentious debate and it could cause some problems between you and your future spouse if you don’t have an understanding of each other’s views and opinions. 

Although there are a lot of organizations like DABO that are trying to stop the spread by offering free vaccinations for COVID-19, only about 66.4% of the entire country is vaccinated against COVID-19. Communities of color are especially at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms because they have a higher rate of underlying health conditions such as asthma, COPD, hypertension and more. 

Your future spouse and you should take every step to ensure that you’re open and honest with one another about your vaccination status. You want to be sure that you are on the same page about how you feel about the COVID-19 vaccination. 

HIV and AIDS

Before your partner and you get married, you should both get tested for HIV. This is important even if you’ve been in a relationship for more than a year because the HIV virus can remain dormant in infected cells for decades! It is possible that your future spouse or you could have contracted it years before you had ever met. 

According to AIDSVU, in 2017 there were 6,932 people living in Detroit (Wayne County) who had HIV, with an additional 326 people being newly diagnosed the same year. Things such as race, education, poverty, and transportation all play a significant role in your risk for HIV. 

It is crucial that your partner and you both know each other’s HIV status as it can prevent transmission between one another. In addition, you can make sure the virus is manageable if the test comes back positive. There are many new treatment options for individuals who test positive for HIV to live a full and happy life! 

The Detroit Association of Black Organizations is playing a significant role in helping married couples and Detroiters test, educate, counsel, and advocate for individuals affected by hypertension, COVID-19, and HIV. You can schedule free hypertension tests, COVID-19 vaccinations, and HIV tests at https://dabodetroitinc.net/.