Their stories reveal how easily postpartum symptoms are dismissed and how fiercely Black women must trust their intuition to survive.

The Clue Hidden in Anjellica’s Breathing

Shortly after giving birth, Anjellica Davis began noticing changes she could not explain. Walking across a room left her breathless. Climbing stairs felt impossible. Even talking took effort. She was exhausted in a way that rest did not touch, and her chest carried a heaviness she could not shake. Her body felt unfamiliar.

She tried to fold it into the story of new motherhood. New mothers are tired. New mothers swell. New mothers push through. She kept pushing because she did not want to seem dramatic or ungrateful for motherhood. But her body kept insisting that something was wrong.

“I kept telling myself it was normal postpartum exhaustion, but deep down I knew something was off.”

Postpartum cardiomyopathy is often mistaken for the fatigue of new motherhood. It is a form of heart failure that disproportionately affects Black women and can be deadly when overlooked. Anjellica spent weeks questioning herself before someone close to her finally said what she had been afraid to admit. This is not normal, and you need help.

Motherhood in Survival Mode

When doctors told Anjellica that her heart was failing, her world shifted. Medication was not enough, and a transplant was becoming the best option.

She had just become a mother, and suddenly she fought to stay alive. Grief threaded through every part of her life, grief for the postpartum experience she imagined, the body she trusted, and fear of a future she might never reach.

“I did not have the luxury of processing it,” she says. “I was in survival mode. I was trying to be present for my baby while facing the possibility that I might not be here to raise him.”

Her son became her anchor, giving her something to hold onto on the hardest days.

A New Understanding of Maternal Health

Anjellica’s experience reshaped her understanding of maternal health and the inequities Black women face. “Black women are often not heard quickly enough,” she says.

“Symptoms are minimized. Pain is normalized. Exhaustion is dismissed. If I had not pushed and questioned, my outcome could have been very different.”

She now sees maternal health not just as a medical issue but as an equity issue, and she speaks openly about listening to your body, advocating for yourself, and trusting the intuition so many new mothers are taught to ignore. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Erin’s Mysterious Headache

Erin Adelekun’s story begins with a headache she rated a six or seven out of ten. She blamed it on exhaustion. She had just given birth, was up every two hours feeding her daughter, and was barely sleeping. Her pregnancy had been healthy. She had no high blood pressure and no complications.

A stroke was not even a possibility in her mind.

“I didn’t know a stroke could happen to someone like me.”

When she mentioned the headache at discharge, the doctor told her to take Tylenol. COVID protocols pushed hospitals to send patients home quickly, and staff believed going home posed less risk than staying. She trusted that if something were wrong, someone would say so.

The next day, her arm dropped and her words tangled. Something inside her went still. And then she remembered a stress ball she had been given, the one printed with four letters she barely noticed at the time: F.A.S.T.

Face. Arm. Speech. Time.

She had glanced at it once and moved on. Now those letters snapped into place. They told her exactly what was happening. She was having a stroke.

That moment of recognition is what saved her life.

Relearning Life While Raising a Newborn

Erin’s stroke left her with aphasia, a condition that kept her mind sharp while her words slipped out of reach. She knew exactly what she wanted to say, yet the connection between thought and speech felt broken. So, she learned to communicate in new ways, relying on gestures, communication charts, long pauses, and a patience she never expected to need.

Conversations became slower, heavier, something she had to work her way through rather than speak.

“I was a born communicator who could not communicate,” she says. “It was frustrating and humbling.”

She needed full-time care for two years. The loss of independence cut deep, and even though she had survived something many do not, she still felt like she had failed.

“I went from giving birth to needing full-time care myself.”

Her village carried her through. Her husband, family, and friends cared for her daughter while her therapists helped her relearn how to walk and talk.

Finding Her Voice Again

Aphasia reshaped Erin’s relationship with communication. She learned to speak up in medical settings and to trust her body. She also learned that being quiet can be dangerous.

“I do not minimize my symptoms anymore,” she says.

“If something feels off, I say it clearly. I do not sugarcoat it.”

She now teaches others the signs of stroke. She teaches her children and her community because she knows firsthand that knowledge is survival.

What Survival Looks Like Now

For both women, survival is not a single moment but a daily practice that lives in their bodies, their spirits, and the choices they make to keep going.

Anjellica protects her heart with rest, boundaries, and a long view of her health. “Surviving changed everything,” she says. “Motherhood now includes boundaries, grace, and listening to my body without guilt.”

Erin stays anchored through her appointments, her medication, her movement, and her peace. “Taking care of myself is part of taking care of my daughter,” she says.

Their stories are both warnings and reminders. They show how urgently the world must listen to Black women when they speak about their health, how deeply postpartum care must reach beyond delivery, and how community and medicine together shape survival.

And they show, without question, that when Black women say something feels off, the world must not ignore them.

The post The Body Knows: Two Mothers Who Survived the Unthinkable appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It’s a shift from the usual tone of health messaging, and it lands at a time when many men still avoid the topic entirely. For former Titans tight end Delanie Walker and longtime Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez, the message feels personal. Both joined the campaign with a sense of responsibility shaped by their own experiences and the people they care about.

Delanie Walker Understands What’s at Stake

Delanie Walker joined the campaign shortly after losing a family member to prostate cancer. The timing made the invitation feel heavier than a typical partnership.

“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “Something had just happened in my family, and now I can spread a message that might help someone catch it earlier.”

Before filming, Walker didn’t know a blood test could be used for screening. He assumed the exam always involved a more invasive examination that many men avoid. Learning about the blood test changed how he talks about screening with the people around him.

“I had no idea you could take a blood test to get screened,” he said. “We can relax, because it’s a blood test.”

Walker believes athletes can help open the door to conversations men usually sidestep.

“We want people to understand we’re just like them,” he said. He also knows how prostate cancer affects Black men at higher rates. “You’re not counted out,” he said. “If you are forty and up, getting screened can help with early detection.”

Walker explained why humor feels right for this message. The pun on “tight end” gives men permission to laugh before they listen, and it takes the edge off. It turns a tense topic into something people can discuss. “You kind of walk into that doctor’s room tight,” he said. “We’re telling you that you don’t have to do that. You can relax. It’s just a blood test.”

What stayed with him most was what he learned about his own health. “I really had no idea about prostate cancer,” he said. “Being part of this campaign, I learned even more about it and what I need to do to take care of myself.”

Tony Gonzalez on Taking the First Step

Tony Gonzalez joined the campaign for a deeply personal reason. Prostate cancer has affected several members of his family, including his grandfather and his uncle, both of whom passed away from the disease. “It is something that is personal to me,” he said. “It has affected members of my family, so it is personal from that standpoint.”

He recalls the anxiety surrounding the traditional exam. He has been through it himself and knows how many men avoid screening because of it. The campaign’s focus on a blood test felt like a chance to shift that fear into something more manageable.

“This is an alternative way to doing it,” he said. “It’s a blood test.”

Gonzalez wants men to understand how accessible that first step can be. Prostate cancer is common, and early detection gives people the best chance at a strong outcome. “You can go out there and just get the blood test,” he said.

The Super Bowl gives the message a reach that few platforms can match. Gonzalez knows how many men will be watching and how many partners, friends, and family members will be watching with them.

“When they can see guys they love watching play, it spreads that awareness,” he said. He hopes it encourages people to start conversations that often feel uncomfortable. “This is an important thing to do. It’s for your health.”

Why Tight Ends Work

The campaign features eight men, a deliberate nod to the statistic that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Seven are current or former tight ends, and each wore a jersey in the eighties at some point in his career. The number is symbolic, but it also helps connect the message to the people most likely to see it.

That connection matters because prostate cancer is often silent in the early stages. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures a protein in the blood that may indicate changes in the prostate. It’s a simple blood draw that saves lives.

What They Want You to Know

Both Gonzalez and Walker want men to understand that the hardest part is starting the conversation. The campaign offers a way in. A simple blood test.

“It’s a conversation that needs to be had,” Gonzalez said. Walker agrees. “If cancer is at its lowest, we can treat it,” he said. “If it’s too late, it’s hard to treat.”

The next move is simple. Take the test. Tell your loved ones. Stay ahead by catching early.

It doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Breathe in, breathe out, and relax. All it takes is a blood test.

Resources:

Find a Prostate Cancer Screening | Relax it’s a Blood Test

The post “Relax, It’s a Blood Test” Delanie Walker and Tony Gonzalez Talk Prostate Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

 

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A post shared by Barbie (@barbie)

At 99, Lee’s legacy is already part of American history. Seeing her story reflected in a doll designed by Carlyle Nuera, with packaging by Vicky Gevorkyan, adds a new layer to her impact and offers representation that young people can hold in their hands.

Her Activism in Focus

The doll mirrors Lee’s signature look from Opal’s Walk for Freedom, the annual two and a half mile walk she leads to honor the long gap between emancipation and the day freedom reached enslaved people in Texas. Dressed in a custom event tee, white joggers, and sneakers, the doll reflects the spirit of a woman who showed what it means to stand up for freedom.
For Lee, Juneteenth has never been just a date. She was born in Marshall, Texas in 1926. She grew up with the memory of her family’s home being burned down by white rioters on Juneteenth in 1939. That experience fueled her lifelong mission to ensure the holiday’s meaning was recognized across the country.

Decades of Determination

Lee spent years educating communities, organizing events, and urging lawmakers to acknowledge Juneteenth as a national holiday. Her work culminated in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law with Lee standing beside him.

Her advocacy continued long before and long after that moment. In 2016, she walked 1,400 miles from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., stopping in cities along the way to complete symbolic walks and build support. In 2024, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and earned her eighth honorary doctorate. Even when health challenges kept her from participating in the 2025 walk, communities carried the tradition forward in her honor.

Representation That Matters

Barbie and Lee shared the first images of the doll in a joint Instagram post, and the response was immediate. Fans celebrated the tribute as a milestone for representation and a meaningful acknowledgment of Lee’s influence.

Many wrote about growing up with Barbie and finally seeing dolls that reflect real women who shaped history. In addition to that reaction, others thanked the brand for recognizing that representation is not a trend but a responsibility.

 

A Legacy for the Next Generation

By honoring Lee, Barbie is preserving a story of resilience and liberation that has shaped Black families for generations. For Black children who will see this doll on shelves, it is a reminder that their history carries weight. It also reinforces that their future is theirs to shape.

Lee has always said that freedom is something we must work toward every day. Her likeness now stands as a symbol of that belief and an invitation for the next generation to keep moving forward.

Resources:

Barbie Inspiring Women Dr. Opal Lee Doll

The post Barbie Honors Opal Lee With a New Inspiring Women Doll appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Megan’s Turn at the Menu

Megan Thee Stallion is expanding her food footprint again, this time with a Dunkin collaboration that’s already getting attention. The limited-edition “Hot Girls Run on Dunkin,” cup comes in a sunset gradient with her signature neon heart, and it launched alongside Dunkin’s new Protein Refreshers made with Protein Milk. It’s a smart extension of the lane she’s been building for years, from her Hottie Sauce era to her Popeyes franchise ownership and the Miami Beach location she officially opened in January 2026. Megan’s steady presence in the fast food space has fans watching closely, curious about what she’ll put her stamp on next.

She recently shared a clip of herself with the cup, styled in Dunkin’s pink and orange palette, hinting that fans should get in on the drop while it lasts.

 

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How We Got Here

Megan’s moment isn’t happening in isolation. Over the past few years, celebrities have been shaping fast food from the inside out through custom meals, branded sauces, marketing takeovers, and even franchise ownership. The wave picked up in 2020 with Travis Scott’s meal, and it’s only grown from there.

McDonald’s kept the momentum going with a series of celebrity meals that followed.

In 2021, Saweetie came out with her combo, which included a Big Mac, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, a Sprite, Tangy BBQ Sauce, and “Saweetie’ N Sour” sauce, a renamed version of the classic Sweet ‘N Sour sauce. The campaign encouraged fans to mix and match the items however they liked, turning the meal into a kind of edible playlist.

Cardi B and Offset’s 2023 Valentine’s Day meal included her go-to cheeseburger with BBQ sauce and a large Coke, while he enjoyed a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a large Hi-C Orange Lavaburst, accompanied by fries and an apple pie to share.

Then, in 2025, Angel Reese, an NCAA champion and WNBA rookie, became the first female athlete to secure a national meal collaboration with McDonald’s. The Angel Reese Special included a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese featuring a new Bold BBQ Sauce, medium fries, and a drink of choice. The campaign leveraged her basketball legacy and rising profile to showcase her emerging talent in women’s sports.

Other Chains Join the Conversation

Fast food collaborations did not stop at McDonald’s. Lil Nas X took on a creative role at Taco Bell, helping relaunch breakfast and tie it to his album rollout. Ice Spice’s 2023 Dunkin’ drink, a frozen coffee with pumpkin Munchkins and caramel drizzle, dropped during the VMAs in a campaign directed by Ben Affleck. These were cross-platform moments designed to meet fans where they already were.

From Endorsement to Ownership

Some celebrities have moved beyond the promotional cycle and into long-term investments. Rick Ross owns over a dozen Wingstop locations and has a stake in Checkers. LeBron James owns 19 franchise locations for Blaze Pizza. Then there’s Shaquille O’Neal, whose food empire includes nine Papa John’s, 17 Auntie Anne’s, one Krispy Kreme flagship in Atlanta, and his fast-growing chain, Big Chicken. These business strategies truly reflect a shift in how celebrity influence is leveraged.

The Calorie Burden Behind the Hype

According to the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about 32% of U.S. adults consumed fast food on a given day between 2021 and 2023, with fast food accounting for 11.7% of daily calories. Among younger adults aged 20 to 39, the figure rises to 15.2%.

Celebrity meals are engineered for buzz, not balance. The Angel Reese Special clocks in at over 1,250 calories, which is more than half the recommended daily sodium intake for many adults. Saweetie’s meal and Cardi B and Offset’s combo offer similar nutrition profiles. It’s fun, and it may even be shareable, but making fast food a routine has profound implications for health outcomes.

Linking the Plate to Public Health

Between 2021 and 2023, 35.8% of Black children and adolescents had obesity. According to CDC data published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, this is the highest rate among all racial groups. Experts attribute food insecurity, targeted advertising, and reduced access to safe physical activity as the primary contributors.

But the Office of Minority Health report says Black or African American students in 9-12 grade were at the most significant risk. “Non-Hispanic Black or African American female students were almost 2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white female students.”

Colorectal Cancer is Also Rising in Younger People

Meanwhile, colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults, and the outlook is particularly harsh for Black Americans. The American Cancer Society’s 2025 report shows that Black men are 20% more likely to be diagnosed and 40% more likely to die from colorectal cancer than white men. Early 2026 projections indicate that these disparities have not improved.

For Black women, incidence is 14% higher, and mortality is 25% higher. Processed, low-fiber diets, typical of many fast-food options, are associated with an elevated risk, alongside structural barriers to screening and treatment.

This isn’t about feeling guilty for indulging in the latest trendy meal. However, it’s worth taking a moment to consider the more profound implications of seeing so many of our favorite celebrities promoting foods that don’t support our health. Our community already faces health disparities; it doesn’t exactly help to see a beloved musician holding up a burger stacked with sodium, sugar, and branding. When entertainment and marketing merge seamlessly, it’s easy to forget what’s truly at stake.

Dinner with a Side of Influence

Celebrity meals aren’t changing the food industry outright, but they’ve shaped how we engage with it. They blur the line between marketing and entertainment, and between habit and hype.

No one is forcing the order, but these meals reflect how easily pop culture can infiltrate our routines. We’ll leave it to you to decide who holds the influence: the celebrity, the brand, or the part of you that values your health over the hype.

Resources

How Hip-Hop Superstar Travis Scott Has Become Corporate America’s Brand Whisperer

NCHS Data Brief, Number 533, June 2025

Obesity Prevalence Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2011 to 2023 | Annals of Internal Medicine

Obesity and Black/African Americans | Office of Minority Health

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025

The post The Rise of Celebrity-Endorsed Calories appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But when you look closely at where cancer research is strongest, a pattern emerges that is hard to ignore. The states leading the country in research are not the states where Black Americans live in the greatest numbers. That gap shapes who benefits from the country’s most advanced cancer breakthroughs.

The States Winning the Research Race

SmileHub’s 2026 ranking of the best states for cancer research highlights the places with the deepest research ecosystems. These states have the most researchers per capita, the strongest funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), the highest clinical trial output, and the most robust cancer care infrastructure.

The top 10 states for cancer research are:

1. Massachusetts
2. New York
3. California
4. Pennsylvania
5. Colorado
6. Maryland
7. Oregon
8. Virginia
9. Connecticut
10. Minnesota

The ranking is built on thirteen metrics, including NIH grant funding, ACS funding, clinical trial activity, and hospital quality data from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer.

Massachusetts leads the list with top scores in both research funding and research output. New York ranks first in health care infrastructure. California sits in the top three across funding, output, and hospital quality. These states have long histories of academic investment, major research universities, and strong philanthropic networks.

But this map tells only one story. The real story is about who lives where.

Where Black America Actually Lives

Neilsberg’s 2025 analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data shows a clear picture of where Black Americans live today. The five states with the largest Black populations are Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and California. These states anchor the modern Black population map. Pew Research Center reports that more than half of all Black Americans, about 56 percent, live in the South, which underscores how deeply rooted the population is in this region.

According to Neilsberg’s Black population ranking, Texas has 4,146,550 Black residents, which is 11.66 percent of the state’s population. Florida has 3,900,650, or 15.24 percent. Georgia has 3,648,016, representing 31.27 percent of the state. New York has 3,519,047, and California has 2,841,399.

Together, these five states account for more than 38 percent of all Black Americans.

A Map That Leaves Too Many Behind

The states with the largest Black populations rarely appear near the top of cancer research rankings. Georgia ranks thirty-eight. Florida ranks thirty. Texas ranks twenty-two. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina all fall in the bottom fifteen, even though they are home to some of the country’s most concentrated Black communities.

That gap has real consequences. Black Americans continue to face the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. When the strongest research ecosystems are located far from the communities carrying the highest burden, access to clinical trials, specialty care, and advanced treatment becomes uneven by design.

When Distance Becomes a Barrier to Survival

Cancer research is tied to place. Clinical trials usually require in person visits. High quality cancer hospitals cluster in specific regions. Funding from the National Institutes of Health flows to institutions with long established research capacity. Insurance coverage varies by state. These factors shape who gets early detection, who gets advanced treatment, and who gets to participate in the studies that guide national standards of care.

When research is concentrated in the Northeast and West, and the highest burden communities are concentrated in the South, the result is a structural divide.

Black Americans are less likely to live near cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They are less likely to be offered clinical trial participation. They are less likely to receive proper care. These patterns appear consistently in national cancer disparities reports and peer-reviewed research.

SmileHub did not create these disparities. But when its data is read through a different lens, the gaps reveal themselves with uncomfortable clarity.

What Real Investment Would Look Like

Imagine a South with more NCI designated cancer centers, stronger clinical trial networks, and research universities that anchor long-term investment. A South with increased NIH and ACS funding, deeper community-based research partnerships, better insurance coverage, and high-quality cancer hospitals within reach.

Imagine a research landscape that follows need instead of legacy.

The data points toward a future where investment is measured not only by scientific output, but by who can reach the front door of a research center. A future where breakthroughs are shaped by the communities that carry the highest burden. A future where geography is not destiny.

The Question We Cannot Ignore

The United States is investing billions to end cancer. But unless research infrastructure expands into the states where Black Americans actually live, the benefits of that investment will remain uneven. The communities with the highest cancer burden will continue to be left behind.

The country has the science, the momentum, and the resources to change the story of cancer. What remains uncertain is whether that progress will reach the communities that have carried the heaviest burden for the longest time.

Resources:

Cancer statistics, 2026 – Siegel – 2026 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

Best States for Cancer Research in 2026

Best Hospitals for Cancer in the U.S. | Rankings & Ratings

States in United States ranked by Black population – 2025 | Neilsberg

Facts About the U.S. Black Population | Pew Research Center

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025 – Saka – 2025 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

The post Cancer Research Isn’t Reaching Black America appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Why Our Donations Matter So Much

For many of us, the people behind these numbers are not hypothetical. They are our children, our siblings, our neighbors living with sickle cell disease. According to the CDC, sickle cell affects more than 100,000 people in the United States and more than 90 percent of those affected are Black.

When the donor pool does not reflect our community, the people we love feel the impact first. According to Kaiser Permanente, blood transfusions can treat severe complications of sickle cell disease and help prevent additional problems, including lowering the risk of stroke in children. The safest matches often come from donors with similar genetic markers. As noted by the American Red Cross, this includes rare blood types such as U-negative and Duffy negative, which are found mostly among people of African descent.

The Hesitation Around Donation

In 2023, the NHLBI spoke with Black adults across the country to learn how they think and feel about blood donation. The conversations were honest and familiar. People named the history that still shapes their choices, including the segregation of blood supplies and the sense that donation drives rarely show up in Black neighborhoods or center Black experiences.

Researchers held twelve focus groups with adults ages 18 to 50. Some had donated once. Others had never donated but were open to it. Younger participants tended to know more about the process. Older participants often felt they did not have enough information to feel confident. Across every group, people said convenience, representation, and trust mattered.

Participants wanted to see blood drives in places they already go. They wanted clear information from trusted Black medical professionals. And they wanted to understand who their blood would help. Sickle cell disease affects more than 100,000 people in the United States, most of whom are Black, and many rely on transfusions throughout their lives. One in three Black donors is a match for someone living with sickle cell. Some rare blood types, including U-negative and Duffy negative, are found almost entirely in the African American community. A diverse blood supply is essential for patients who need those matches.

The message from the focus groups was simple. People want a donation experience that feels honest and connected to their lives.

Building a Donation Experience That Works

The NHLBI research makes one thing clear. When Black communities receive information that feels trustworthy, relevant, and grounded in their lived experience, willingness to donate rises. Change begins with meeting people where they are.

Convenience matters. Donation sites placed in familiar community spaces such as churches, malls, recreation centers, barbershops, and neighborhood hubs can remove a major barrier. Many participants said they would be more open to donating if the process felt easy to access or if they had someone to go with them. Compensation, even something modest like food or a small incentive, was also named as a meaningful motivator.

Trusted messengers matter just as much. Participants wanted clear information from Black medical professionals who could explain the process, address myths, and show the real impact of donation. They also wanted to understand exactly who their blood would help. Stories of patients living with sickle cell disease, families navigating weekly transfusions, or community members relying on rare blood types can create a sense of connection that national messaging often misses.

Helping others remains the strongest motivator. Many participants described the emotional pull of knowing their donation could save a life or support someone in crisis. When that impact is visible and personal, hesitation shifts toward action.

Building a more diverse blood supply is possible. It starts with information that feels honest, spaces that feel familiar, and outreach that reflects the communities it hopes to serve.

This Is About Health Equity

The shortage of Black blood donors reflects gaps in access and trust, shaped by a long history that has given our community real reasons to question the medical system. That history still leaves many people without the information or reassurance they need to feel confident about donating. It’s a health equity issue.

It’s also a place where meaningful progress is possible. When Black donors give blood, they strengthen a safety net that protects their own families and communities. They help a child with sickle cell get the match they need. They fill a gap that only this community can fill.
This moment can be a turning point. Not because the system has suddenly changed entirely, but because Black patients deserve the security that comes with a reliable and diverse blood supply.

Showing up for one another has always been a source of strength, and this year may be the year that strength reaches the donation room.

Resources:

How Black Americans Can Save Lives by Donating Blood

Blood Transfusions for Sickle Cell Disease | Kaiser Permanente

Rare Blood Types | Red Cross Blood Services

blood_donation_motivators_and_barriers.pdf

The post Why Don’t We Donate Blood More Often? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

That is precisely why regular screenings matter. A glaucoma screening is simple, painless, and one of the most powerful ways to protect your sight. If you have never taken one or are unsure what to expect during the exam, here is a guide to help you walk in with confidence.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the part of the eye that sends visual information to the brain. This usually occurs when fluid inside the eye doesn’t drain properly, causing pressure to build up over time. You may not feel this pressure, but it can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss, especially in peripheral vision. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, but early detection can slow or prevent further damage.

It’s a Real Risk for Us

Glaucoma often develops under the radar. Most people don’t feel pain or notice vision changes until the disease has already caused damage. That is why screenings are so important, especially for Black families who face a higher risk and earlier onset.

Research shows that glaucoma appears earlier and progresses faster in African Americans, and blindness from glaucoma is significantly more common in our communities. And this is precisely why glaucoma screenings are so important. Glaucoma can affect anyone, but it shows up earlier and hits harder in our community.

Who Should Get Screened

How often you need an eye exam depends on your age and your risk. If you’re under 40 and don’t have any risk factors, an eye exam every few years is generally fine.

For our community, the risk is higher. Because glaucoma often shows up earlier and moves faster for Black people, experts recommend a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years beginning at age 40. The National Eye Institute notes that African Americans should begin glaucoma evaluations earlier than other groups because of this increased risk.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology also offers general guidance on how often to get checked:

•  Every 2-4 years for adults ages 40–54
•  Every 1–3 years for adults ages 55–64
•  Every 1–2 years for adults 65 and older

For our community, these timelines often shift earlier because of the higher risk.

You should also get screened if:

• You have a parent or sibling with glaucoma
•  You have diabetes or high blood pressure
•  You have had an eye injury
• You have been using steroid medications long-term

Family history is significant. Siblings of people with glaucoma have a much higher chance of developing it themselves.

How Glaucoma Screening Works

A glaucoma screening is typically included in a comprehensive eye exam. It is not scary, and nothing should hurt. The BrightFocus Foundation provides a clear overview of the tests involved, and here is what the appointment typically includes.

A conversation about your eye health

Your doctor will ask about your vision, family history, and any medical conditions. This helps them understand your personal risk.

A check of your eye pressure

This is called tonometry. Some clinics use the puff of air. Others use a small device that gently touches the surface of your eye after numbing drops are applied. High pressure can be a sign of glaucoma, but pressure alone does not confirm the disease.

A look at your optic nerve

Using a bright light and a magnifying lens, your doctor examines the optic nerve at the back of your eye. Glaucoma affects this nerve first, so this step is essential.

A test of your side vision

This is the visual field test. You look straight ahead and press a button whenever you see small lights appear in your peripheral vision. Glaucoma often affects side vision before central vision.

A measurement of your corneal thickness

This is called pachymetry. A small probe touches your eye after numbing drops are applied. Corneal thickness can affect how intraocular pressure is measured, and thinner corneas are associated with higher glaucoma risk.

Imaging of the optic nerve

Some clinics use OCT imaging, which provides detailed images of the optic nerve and retinal layers. It helps track changes over time and can detect early damage.

What Happens After the Screening

Your doctor will review your results and let you know if anything looks concerning. They may recommend follow-up testing or regular monitoring. If glaucoma is suspected, early treatment can slow or prevent vision loss. Most people start with prescription eye drops, and many never need surgery.

How to Prepare for Your Appointment

Bring your glasses or contacts, a list of medications, and any information about family history. Expect your eyes to be dilated, which can make you sensitive to light for a few hours. And remember, choosing to get screened is something to be proud of. It’s a meaningful step to protect your health.

What to Remember

Glaucoma screenings are quick, painless, and one of the best ways to protect your vision. If your results show anything concerning, your doctor will walk you through the following steps. There are several effective treatments for glaucoma, but the first and most crucial step is getting screened.

Resources:

African Americans And Glaucoma – Glaucoma Research Foundation

Racial Disparities in Glaucoma: From Epidemiology to Pathophysiology – PMC

Eye Health Among Black/African American People | National Eye Institute

Frequency of Ocular Examination – American Academy of Ophthalmology

The Glaucoma Eye Exam: 6 Common Tests

The post What to Expect During a Glaucoma Screening appeared first on Black Health Matters.

COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to circulate during the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season. According to the CDC’s Respiratory Illness Data Channel, national COVID activity is low but increasing, and the virus remains one of the primary contributors to winter respiratory illness alongside influenza and RSV.

Clinicians are also noting shifts in how COVID is showing up this season. In an interview with Parade, infectious disease experts reported that recent variants are causing more upper respiratory, cold-like symptoms rather than lower-respiratory pneumonia that was more common early in the pandemic.

COVID-19 Symptoms

The CDC notes that people with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

COVID-19 Vaccination

COVID-19 can still be serious, especially for older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and those who are immunocompromised. The CDC recommends a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 6 months and older, based on individual decision-making, and emphasizes that vaccination is particularly important for adults 65 and older and others at higher risk for severe disease.

Influenza (Flu) 

Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across the United States and continues to rise, according to the CDC’s latest surveillance data. The 2025-2026 flu season is shaping up to be rather severe, with widespread illness and rising hospitalizations reported across the country. Many states are reporting high or very high flu activity, and several regions are seeing sharp increases in emergency department visits and flu-related hospital stays.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that influenza A (H3N2) is one of the major strains circulating globally this season, and it has been associated with increased illness in several regions.

Flu Symptoms

Yale Medicine notes that flu symptoms can range from mild to severe and often begin suddenly. Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
•  Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Flu Vaccination

The CDC recommends a flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, with extra importance for adults 65+, young children, pregnant people, and those with underlying conditions. For 2025-2026, the Food and Drug Administration and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices introduced updates to flu vaccine options, including expanded age approvals.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common respiratory virus that can affect people of all ages, but it tends to cause the most severe illness in infants, young children, and older adults. According to the CDC, RSV activity is elevated in many parts of the country, with emergency department visits and hospitalizations increasing among children ages 0-4 this season.

RSV Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear four to six days after infection and may include:

• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing

RSV Vaccination

For the 2025-2026 season, the CDC recommends RSV vaccination for adults 75 and older, adults 50-74 at increased risk, and protection for infants through maternal vaccination or a one-time RSV monoclonal antibody dose before their first RSV season.

Protecting Yourself and Others

The symptoms of these viruses can overlap; to be accurately diagnosed, concerned patients should consult their medical professionals for laboratory tests. In addition to getting vaccinated, people can do a few things to protect themselves, such as:

• Wearing a well-fitting mask in higher-risk situations to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets.
• Utilizing air filters and promoting air circulation by opening windows.
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces to reduce the spread of germs.
• Washing hands regularly with soap and water.

When trying to prevent the onset of respiratory diseases, the quality of being proactive should not be undervalued. Using one’s discernment is a priceless tool, as it is imperative to stay away from people who are sick; close proximity to illnesses can significantly increase the chances of exposure to a respiratory virus.

 Resources:

Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC

Most Common COVID-19 Symptoms Right Now (January 2026) – Parade

Symptoms of COVID-19 | COVID-19 | CDC

Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines | Covid | CDC

Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 52, ending December 27, 2025 | FluView | CDC

New influenza variant is surging, but vaccination still our best bet: WHO | UN News

Influenza (Flu) | Fact Sheets | Yale Medicine

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2025–26 Influenza Season | MMWR

Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC

RSV Vaccine Guidance for Adults | RSV | CDC

Immunizations to Protect Infants | RSV | CDC

The post COVID-19, Influenza and RSV: Respiratory Triad Prevention & Peaks appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but some groups face higher risk. For Black communities, the risk is especially serious. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States, and while there is no cure, early detection and treatment can protect your sight.

The Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma isn’t just one disease. It’s a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, usually because of increased pressure inside the eye. The most common form in the U.S. is primary open-angle glaucoma, which develops slowly and without symptoms.

There are other types as well:

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

This type happens when the drainage angle suddenly becomes blocked. Pressure rises very quickly and it causes strong eye pain, headache, nausea, and blurry vision. This is an emergency and needs immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma develops because of another problem in the eye, like an injury, inflammation, advanced diabetes, or long-term steroid use. These issues can raise eye pressure and block the drainage system. It can develop slowly or more quickly, depending on the cause.

Congenital Glaucoma

This rare type is present at birth. The eye’s drainage system didn’t form the right way, so pressure builds early. Babies may have large or cloudy-looking eyes, tearing, or sensitivity to light. Early treatment is important to protect vision.

Who Is at Higher Risk for Glaucoma?

Race

Black Americans face a disproportionate burden. According to a 2024 meta-analysis published in JAMA Ophthalmology, 3.15 percent of Black adults had glaucoma in 2022 compared with 1.43 percent of white adults.

Age

Risk increases with age. Adults over 60 are much more likely to develop glaucoma than younger adults.

Family History

A family history of glaucoma increases your risk, especially if a parent or sibling has been diagnosed.

Medical Conditions

Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease may increase glaucoma risk. These conditions already affect our communities at higher rates, which makes regular eye exams even more important.

Corticosteroid Use

Steroids, also called corticosteroids, are medications that reduce inflammation and are commonly used for asthma, allergies, and autoimmune conditions. Most people use low doses safely, but long-term or high-dose use can raise eye pressure. This is a reminder to talk with your doctor about any long-term medications and how they may affect your eyes.

Eye Injuries

Serious eye trauma can raise eye pressure or damage the drainage system. Glaucoma from injury can show immediately or even years later.

Other Factors

Extreme nearsightedness, thin corneas, retinal detachment, eye tumors, and chronic eye inflammation can all contribute to glaucoma risk.

How Often Should You Get Checked

How often you need an eye exam depends on your age and your risk. If you’re under 40 and don’t have any known risk factors, a comprehensive eye exam every few years is usually enough.

Once you turn 40, eye health starts to change, and glaucoma becomes more common. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends:

• Every 2-4 years for adults ages 40-54.
• Every 1-3 years for adults ages 55-64.
• Every 1-2 years for adults 65 and older.

Because glaucoma is more common in the our community and tends to appear earlier, Black adults should start getting exams  every 1-2 years beginning at age 40.

How to Protect Your Eyes

You can’t fully prevent glaucoma, but small habits can support eye health and lower your risk.

• Protect your eyes during sports, yard work, or any activity where something could hit your eye.
• Know your risk factors, including age, family history, diabetes, and long-term steroid use.
• Keep up with regular eye exams since glaucoma often has no early symptoms.
• Limit very high caffeine intake if you’re at higher risk, since large amounts can raise eye pressure.
• Avoid activities that put your head lower than your heart for long periods, like headstands, because they can temporarily increase eye pressure.
• Eat leafy greens like spinach and kale to support healthy blood flow to the eyes.
• Stay active, even with simple daily movement, like walking.
• Avoid smoking and heavy alcohol use.
• Take glaucoma medications exactly as prescribed if you already have the condition.

The Good News

With medication, laser treatment, or surgery, it is possible to slow or stop further vision loss. Early detection is key. Protecting your sight starts with showing up for that eye exam, especially if you are Black, over 40, or have a family history.

Resources:

VEHSS Modeled Estimates: Prevalence of Glaucoma | Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS) | CDC

Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022 – PMC

Frequency of Ocular Examination – American Academy of Ophthalmology

The post Are You at Risk for Glaucoma? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But here is the thing we do not always admit out loud. Sometimes, the stress is not just what is happening around us. It is how hard we judge ourselves for feeling anything other than cheerful.

Why Holiday Stress Feels So Intense

Holiday stress is a reality for many. A report from the American Psychological Association found that 89 percent of adults feel stressed during the holiday season due to money concerns, missing loved ones, or anticipating family conflict. When you are carrying all of that at once, the season can feel heavier than expected. For Black families and caregivers, these demands often sit on top of year-round responsibilities and cultural expectations to stay strong for everyone, which can make the pressure feel even more intense.

When stress rises, the body’s alarm system stays switched on. Sleep becomes lighter, patience gets shorter, and small frustrations feel bigger. None of this means you are doing anything wrong. It means your nervous system is carrying more than usual.

Researchers also note that emotional self-judgment makes stress heavier. People who criticize themselves for feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed tend to stay stressed longer. Those who accept their emotions as normal human responses recover more quickly.

The Pressure to Get It Right

Many of us walk into the holidays with an invisible checklist. Perfect meals. Perfect gifts. Perfect behavior from everyone involved. Social media, family traditions, and cultural norms all feed the idea that joy must look a certain way.

Many Americans feel pressure to create meaningful holiday experiences even when they are tired or financially stretched. When you are the one holding the season together, it is easy to believe that one misstep will ruin everything.

The truth is that most families remember connection more than perfection. They remember who made them laugh, who listened, and who created a moment of calm. They rarely remember whether the table settings matched or the desserts looked flawless.

What Your Feelings Are Saying

Psychologists often describe emotions as signals. Sadness can be a support request. Frustration can be a sign that a boundary has been crossed. Anxiety can be a reminder that you need rest or clarity. When you treat emotions as information rather than problems, you create space to respond rather than react.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that acknowledging emotions early can prevent them from building into something heavier.

This is especially important during the holidays, when many people feel pressure to push through discomfort for the sake of tradition.

You can accept an emotion without accepting the situation that caused it. You can feel irritated and still decide to set a boundary. You can feel lonely and still reach out for connection. You can even feel overwhelmed and still choose to slow down.

How to Take Care of Yourself This Season

Sometimes the most challenging part of the holidays is knowing where to start. These small shifts can help you protect your energy and move through the season with more ease.

Keep It Simple

Overscheduling is one of the most significant sources of holiday burnout. Choose the gatherings that genuinely bring you joy and let the rest go. Protecting your time is part of protecting your well-being.

Make Travel Easier

Holiday travel is stressful for almost everyone. If you are flying, choose the simplest route you can. If you are driving, limit the number of stops and events you commit to. The goal is to arrive with your peace intact.

Spend Mindfully

Financial stress is one of the top holiday triggers. A simple budget can make a real difference. Small, thoughtful gifts are just as meaningful as expensive ones. Homemade treats or shared experiences often mean more than anything you can buy.

Eat and Drink with Care

The holidays come with plenty of opportunities to overdo it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages moderation with both food and alcohol. Enjoy what you love, stay hydrated, and listen to your body.

Enjoy Family Your Way

Family time can be beautiful and complicated. If you need a breather, take one. A short walk or a quiet moment can help you reset. Caring for yourself is not disrespectful, it is necessary.

Find Common Ground

Differences can feel louder during the holidays. Try to center the things you share rather than the things that divide you. If a conversation becomes tense, it is okay to step away or set a boundary.

Take a Moment

Rest is essential. Give yourself pockets of time to read, nap, stretch, or simply be still. Even ten minutes of quiet can help your nervous system settle.

Honor Your Grief

The holidays can make loss feel sharper. Make space for your feelings, light a candle, or maybe share a story. Create a small ritual that keeps your loved one close.

Keep Your Rhythm

Your body thrives on consistency. Regular meals, enough sleep, and a little movement each day can help you feel more grounded.

Reach Out

If this season is hard for you, you do not have to carry that alone. Lean on your community. Talk to someone you trust. Let people show up for you. The holidays don’t require perfection. They require presence, honesty about what you can and cannot do, and compassion for yourself and the people you love.

You deserve a season that feels like yours, not one where you’re performing for everyone else. The holidays are gentler when people are comfortable, and comfort starts with taking care of yourself in small, real ways. Permit yourself to do that this year.

Resources:

Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans

Critical Things to Know About Emotions for Mental Health and Healing | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Alcohol Use and Your Health | Alcohol Use | CDC

The post The Secret to a Stress‑Free Holiday Season appeared first on Black Health Matters.

People don’t always talk about it, but grief has its own calendar. It doesn’t care that the world is covered in lights or that everyone else seems to be in a matching pajama mood. It arrives when it wants to, sometimes softly, sometimes like a wave that knocks the wind out of you.

And if you are feeling that this year, you are far from alone.

How Grief Colors the Holidays

The holidays intensify emotional stress, especially for people who are grieving. In a 2023 national survey by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of U.S. adults said that missing family or loved ones is one of the biggest sources of holiday stress. That number sits right alongside financial pressure and family conflict, which shows how deeply loss shapes the season. The number reflects how rituals, traditions, and family gatherings are built around connection. When someone is missing, the whole season feels rearranged.

For many people, the weight can feel even heavier when they are not only grieving someone they have already lost but also preparing for the loss of someone they still have. Anticipatory grief can be its own kind of heartbreak. You find yourself trying to memorize the sound of their voice, the way they laugh, the small details of who they are in this moment. You hold on tightly to the present, knowing that soon these moments will become memories. Living in that in-between space can make the holidays feel tender in a way that is hard to explain, and even harder to carry.

How Grief Sneaks Up on You

Grief does not always arrive in the same way. Sometimes it drifts in slowly, something you can almost steady yourself against. Other times it rushes in all at once, sharp and overwhelming, leaving you confused by how quickly everything inside you can change.

You may find yourself exhausted for reasons you can’t name, avoiding certain songs or certain stores without fully realizing why. A scent, a recipe, or a familiar melody can stop you mid-step. A memory you didn’t ask for can rise up out of nowhere. It’s the quiet kind of grief that settles into your days and your body before you even have the language for it.

None of this means you’re failing or falling apart. It means your heart is carrying something it never wanted, and if we’re being honest, something no one can ever truly prepare for.

You Don’t Have to Pretend You’re Okay

Grief can make you feel out of rhythm with the world, especially during the holidays. In the American Psychiatric Association’s 2024 Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, 47% of Americans said that grieving a loss or missing a loved one was one of their top sources of holiday stress, and 28% said they felt more stressed than the previous year.

So, if everyone else seems to be celebrating while you’re just trying to get through the day without breaking down in the middle of the grocery store, you’re not imagining it; the season really does hit differently when you’re grieving.

Ways to Care for Yourself This Season

There is no single right way to move through grief during the holidays, but there are practices that can make the season feel a little more manageable. Here are a few options you can reach out to when you need support.

Let yourself feel what you feel.

Grief is unpredictable. You may feel heavy one moment and surprisingly okay the next. Both experiences are normal. Permitting yourself to feel what is true for you can ease some of the pressure you may be carrying.

Name what is coming up for you.

Writing down the emotions you expect to feel or those already showing up can make the season feel less overwhelming. Naming things often makes them easier to hold.

Allow the grief to move.

Trying to push grief away usually makes it stronger. Letting it rise and fall in its own rhythm can reduce the intensity of the pain.

Practice self-compassion

If you have the energy to join a gathering, go. If you do not, it is okay to stay home. You are not letting anyone down by honoring your limits.

Take care of your body.

Grief affects sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration. Rest when you need to. Move when it helps. Step outside for light and air. Small acts of care matter more than you think.

Ask for support

The holidays add extra weight to everyone’s plate. If you need help with errands, childcare, cooking, or simply company, reach out to someone you trust. You do not have to carry everything alone.

Tell people what you need.

If certain traditions feel too painful, say so. If you want someone to mention your loved one’s name, say that too. Clarity helps others show up for you in the right way.

Create a small ritual of remembrance.

Light a candle, pour libations, make their favorite dish, play a song they loved, or share a story; rituals do not have to be elaborate to be meaningful.

Start new traditions (if you need to).

If recreating past holidays feels impossible, allow yourself to do things differently this year. Change can be a form of care.

Be around people who feel safe.

You do not have to be cheerful or “on.” You need to be with people who let you be exactly where you are in this moment.

For those who are facing the anticipated loss of a loved one, the holidays can carry a different kind of weight. Try to stay close to what feels meaningful right now instead of worrying about how you think you should feel. Spend time with your loved one in ways that feel natural, take breaks when emotions run high, and let others help with the practical things. It’s okay to feel sadness, fear, gratitude, and love all at once. You don’t have to hold everything together. You only have to move through this season at a pace your heart can manage.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Grief shows up differently for everyone, but these are some of the experiences many people share:

• changes in sleep or appetite
• difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally foggy
• waves of sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness
• fatigue or low energy
• withdrawal from social activities
• irritability or restlessness
• physical tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort
• trouble feeling connected to things that once brought joy

If you notice these signs in yourself, you’re not doing anything wrong. They’re common responses to loss, and they often shift over time.

You might also find it helpful to talk with a mental health professional if the grief feels overwhelming or complicated to navigate alone. Therapy can offer a steady place to process what you’re carrying and get support that fits your needs.

There is no magical cure for grief. It finds its way into your core, often defying your requests for peace. While that may feel unsettling, remember that grief is natural, your feelings are valid, and your path through this season is uniquely yours. You are allowed to move at your own pace. That in itself is an act of strength.

Resources:

Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans

Psychiatry.org – One Quarter of Americans Say They Are More Stressed This Holiday Season Than in 2023, Citing Financial

The post Finding Your Way Through Holiday Blues & Grief appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Reality of HS

Frank is one of the 1 in 100 Americans living with HS, based on prevalence estimates reported in JAMA Dermatology. It is a chronic immune-related skin condition that causes painful bumps, lesions, and flare-ups in areas where skin rubs together. These flare-ups can make holiday travel unbearable, turn festive outfits into sources of dread, and transform simple gatherings into moments of physical stress. HS is often invisible to others, but its impact is constant.

How HS Shapes the Holidays

“Living with HS has always made the holidays feel different for me,” Frank said. “While others focused on the excitement, I was constantly wondering if a flare-up would hit. I felt pressure to show up looking and feeling fine even when I was not.”

Instead of slipping easily into celebration, he found himself quietly calculating pain levels, comfort, and how much his body could handle.

“So, instead of simply enjoying the moment, I often had to prepare myself both physically and emotionally in ways my peers did not.”

When Joy and Pain Collide

Frank remembers one holiday in particular. It was a moment that should have been simple and warm.

“I remember spending parts of the holidays feeling really uncomfortable, even when everything around me was joyful,” he said. “On the outside, I looked fine, but inside, I was fighting through discomfort that made even simple moments feel heavy.”

It is the kind of invisible burden many people with chronic illnesses carry, especially during a season that expects cheerfulness.

Adjusting Traditions and Expectations

Over time, Frank learned to adapt holiday traditions in ways that protected his body and energy.

“I choose clothing that will not irritate my skin. I try to avoid long stretches of sitting in uncomfortable chairs or tight spaces. I build in moments to step away and rest if I need to,” he explained. “I enjoy the holidays, but I just participate at a pace that honors where my body is.”

Balancing Participation and Pain

The desire to be fully present does not disappear, but neither does the unpredictability of HS.

“I had to learn that giving myself grace is not the same as missing out,” he said. “Some years I could do everything, and some years I needed to move slower or say no. My worth is not tied to how much I can physically do.”

What He Wishes Others Understood

Frank wishes that people could see the whole picture.

“I wish people understood that even when I look fine, I may still be dealing with real discomfort,” he said. “I am not being distant or disengaged if I need to sit something out. I am still grateful to be there. I am just listening to my body.”

Strategies That Help

Managing HS during the holidays often means focusing on what can be controlled.

“I take Cosentyx to help manage my symptoms,” Frank said. “Rest is a big one. Staying mindful of stress and protecting my peace is another. I stick to a gentle routine that keeps my body supported, even when my schedule gets busy. And honestly, asking for help or slowing down when I need to has made a huge difference.”

The Power of Community

“Recently, I was part of a Cosentyx event. That was a turning point for me,” Frank said. “Sitting in a room with people who understood this condition on a personal level reminded me of the power of community. Hearing our stories side by side made it clear that none of us are walking this alone.”

During a season when many people with chronic conditions feel isolated, that sense of connection matters.

A Message to Others Living With HS

For people navigating HS or any chronic condition during the holidays, Frank offers a message rooted in compassion and truth.

“You are not behind, you are not broken, and you are not alone,” he said. “Your body may move differently, but your light is still just as strong. Take things at your own pace, protect your peace, and know that there is a whole community of people who understand exactly what you are carrying. You belong in every room you enter, exactly as you are.”

Resources:

Frank Grimsley (@franknthecity) • Instagram photos and videos

The Circle Netflix (@thecirclenetflix) • Instagram photos and videos

Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis | Dermatology | JAMA Dermatology | JAMA Network

Hidradenitis Suppurativa | COSENTYX® (secukinumab)

The post Frank Grimsley of The Circle on Living With HS During the Holidays! appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A new report from The Harris Poll, Challenger Retail 2025, explores how different generations are reshaping the retail landscape. We spoke with Justin Pincus, managing director of QuestBrand by The Harris Poll, to understand how rising prices and shifting expectations are reshaping how people shop.

“Consumers treat pricing as a moral signal,” Pincus said. “It’s not just a math equation anymore.”

For Black consumers, that signal matters. We’ve seen what happens when brands talk about equity but remain silent when costs rise. In this climate, transparency is not optional.

Black Spending Power is Rising

At the same time, Black consumer spending in the United States is projected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2030, according to McKinsey & Company. This growth reflects a shift in how trust, identity, and values shape purchasing decisions across generations.

From beauty and wellness to home goods and fashion, Black consumers are shaping trends and demanding accountability. But spending power does not mean spending blindly. We are asking harder questions. Is this brand showing up for us when it counts? Are they raising prices without explanation? Are they still investing in inclusive campaigns, or pulling back when budgets tighten?

Retailers who want loyalty need to earn it. That means transparent pricing, consistent messaging, and products that reflect our lives.

What Our Spending Reflects

This isn’t just about retail. People make decisions differently when money feels tight, and trust demands proof. The QuestBrand report is not a psychology study, but it reveals something psychological. Pricing, messaging, and consistency shape our emotional responses to brands.

For Black consumers, those responses are layered. We are not just asking “Is this worth it?” We are asking, “Does this brand see me?” And in an economy where every dollar has to stretch further, that question carries weight.

Trust Looks Different by Generation

“Each generation isn’t just a demographic, it’s a worldview shaped by the economy and culture they came of age in,” said Pincus.

Boomers still see reliability as the ultimate proof point. Gen X values accountability. Millennials reward emotional intelligence and consistency. And Gen Z looks for transparency and collaboration.

Younger Generations Are More Frugal

Zoomers is reframing what value means. “Gen Z’s embrace of resale isn’t about frugality, it’s about ethics and identity,” said Pincus. In 2024, 63 percent of Gen Z purchased second-hand clothing. A third said they would pay more for sustainable products.

“To Gen Z, resale isn’t a fallback; it’s an ecosystem,” he explained. “They view it as an active way to participate in the circular economy.”

Millennials Want Consistency

Millennials now make up the largest share of retail spending. They are parents, professionals, and household decision-makers. And they are not impressed by gimmicks.

“Millennials reward reliability, but that doesn’t mean invisibility,” said Pincus. “They value consistency, quality, and convenience.”

That expectation shows up in how they judge pricing as well. Millennials want brands to manage costs responsibly without cutting corners. Stores like TJ Maxx and Williams-Sonoma keep their costs in check by working with multiple suppliers, buying directly from factories, and adjusting prices as needed to avoid losses.

What Dependability Looks Like

Dependability is not about being flashy. It is about showing up consistently. “Younger shoppers want brands that understand them, but also deliver without surprises,” said Pincus. “It’s less about dazzling them and more about doing what you say you’ll do.”

Seventy percent of shoppers say they spend more with businesses that understand their preferences. Even so, that connection only builds loyalty when brands stay consistent. That’s why 71 percent of consumers stick with companies that stay true during economic uncertainty.

Transparency Builds Trust

“Transparency drives both trust and momentum,” said Pincus. When shoppers feel kept in the loop, they are more than twice as likely to stay loyal, even after a price increase.

“In a volatile economy, openness signals stability,” he added. “Brands that communicate clearly, explaining not just what changed but why, earn the credibility to keep moving forward.”

Loyalty Comes From Proof

“Stop chasing loyalty programs and start building loyal behavior,” said Pincus. “Younger consumers don’t want to be won back; they want to be recognized.”

That recognition has to show up in product, tone, and timing. Retailers build long-term loyalty by using data to anticipate needs, simplify decisions, and communicate clearly. In contrast, those who rely on discounts alone risk falling behind.

For younger shoppers, loyalty isn’t about perks. It’s about proof.

Brands Win With Us When They Keep Their Promises

A recent Harris Poll found that 74 percent of consumers say they are more loyal to brands that deliver precisely what they promise. But what counts as a promise has changed. For younger consumers, it is about shared values and ongoing engagement. For older ones, it is about steadiness and proof over time.

Understanding how people spend, what earns trust, what signals respect, and what reflects lived experience is essential.

Resources:

Challenger Retail 2025 – Harris Quest

QuestBrand – Harris Poll

The state of Black consumers | McKinsey & Company

Home | Mass Blackout

The post How We Spend Our Money Matters appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The 2025 State of the Period report shows just how common these moments are. Board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Fran Haydanek, partnering with Thinx, a company known for its reusable period underwear, says the findings reveal the weight of stigma and the urgent need for support.

Basic Menstrual Health Screenings Are Not Always Available to Black Teens,

“From the 2025 State of the Period findings, it’s clear that period shame is showing up in the smaller, everyday moments for Black teens,” Dr. Haydanek explains. Eighty-three percent report tucking pads or tampons away when they leave class. More than half avoid specific movements or activities due to concerns about leakage. She says these patterns show how many teens feel they must manage their periods quietly, without the support or understanding they deserve.

The survey also found that nearly one in five Black teens has never received a basic menstrual health screening. Many are navigating their symptoms without guidance, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and isolation.

A Lack of Support and Preparation

Teens want products they can count on, honest, accurate education, and adults who understand menstrual health and take their pain seriously. Yet only three in ten feel their school supports them.

“Even though access to free products has improved in some places, stigma has grown since 2023,” Dr. Haydanek says. That gap is why she partnered with Thinx to share practical tips for parents, coaches, and after-school instructors.

The disconnect also shows up in education. Many teens report that they first experienced their period before they learned about the menstrual cycle. That lack of preparation leaves them feeling unready and unsupported at a critical moment.

Creating Safe Spaces

Dr. Haydanek believes adults play a central role in shifting stigma. “It is up to parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors to shift the stigmas associated with periods by normalizing and helping teens to feel safe asking for support,” she says.

Her advice is straightforward. She urges adults to create judgment-free zones, empower teens with education, encourage open communication, and suggest products designed for teens. She points to Thinx Teens period underwear, which offers up to twelve hours of leakproof protection, as one option that helps teens move through their day with less worry.

The findings also show that when teens feel supported, they are more likely to ask questions. When asked who they would turn to with a private health concern, many said they would go to a parent or trusted adult rather than a teacher or health professional. That trust is an opportunity for families and mentors to step in with accurate information.

The High Cost of Access

“For a lot of families, it comes down to cost and inconsistent access,” Dr. Haydanek says.

Teens spend about forty dollars a month on products, which can strain tight budgets. Nearly half of Black teens say their families have had to adjust what they buy because of financial pressure. That often means wearing products longer than recommended or relying on friends.

Economic pressure also affects participation in sports and extracurricular activities. Teens report missing activities because of cramping, fatigue, irritability, or fear of spotting. These experiences show how stigma and cost combine to limit opportunities.

Where Brand Messaging Stops Short

“We need to have more discussions about warning signs when it comes to menstrual health,” she says. Periods can signal what is happening inside the body. Irregular cycles, pain that causes missed school or work, or the disappearance of periods altogether should be evaluated by an OB-GYN.

Yet brand messaging often focuses only on empowerment without addressing these health realities. Teens need clear information about when to seek care, not just slogans.

They Are Ready to Break Taboos

The findings also show teens are pushing for change themselves. Eighty-two percent want more advocacy around menstrual health in 2025. Even though only 62% feel in control of their periods, 81% say they have helped someone feel more comfortable talking about theirs. Peer support is reshaping the conversation and breaking the silence.

Measuring Impact

Dr. Haydanek says awareness is not enough. “We need to continue to push for things like the removal of the pink tax on items like menstrual products, because they are not a luxury good. We need access to menstrual products in schools, especially for populations with limited resources. And most importantly, I am pushing for continued funding for gynecologic research.”

The survey makes clear that stigma is real, but so is resilience. Teens are speaking up, supporting one another, and asking for change. With adults who listen and policies that prioritize menstrual health, the next generation can move through their lives with confidence instead of shame.

Resources:

PERIOD SOTP 2025 Report_10.20.25_SHARED

Period and Bladder Leak Underwear | Thinx

Shop All: Teen Period Underwear | Thinx

The post Black Teens Are Confronting Period Stigma appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Dr. Annelle Primm, M.D., MPH, Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, has spent her career addressing mental health disparities. She explains how the break between semesters can be both restorative and isolating, and what families and communities can do to help students feel supported.

Independence Meets Family Traditions

“College students who have grown accustomed to independence may have to readjust to their family environment when they come home for the holidays,” Dr. Primm says. That shift can spark conflicts over routines or even political beliefs. For students without supportive home environments, the break can feel isolating rather than restorative.

Signs Your Student May Be Struggling

Families should pay close attention to changes in behavior. Dr. Primm points to withdrawal from activities, sleeping much more or less than usual, or significant shifts in appetite. “Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or frequent tearfulness are important signals,” she explains. More concerning signs include talk of being a burden, reckless behavior, or giving away meaningful possessions.

The Extra Burdens Black Students May Carry

While all students face stress, Black students often shoulder additional burdens. “Financial concerns may affect Black students disproportionately,” Dr. Primm notes, pointing to the ripple effects of job losses among Black families. Grief also weighs heavily, as shorter life spans in Black communities mean young people often face losses earlier.

“These pressures converge during the holidays, when financial strain intensifies, and family absences feel most acute,” she says.

Belonging Can Feel Complicated

Returning home can strengthen a sense of belonging through cultural traditions and family connections. But for some, it highlights differences. “If the student’s family is conflicted about them attending college and the student has adopted new ways of thinking, they may feel out of place or estranged,” Dr. Primm observes.

For those staying on campus, an empty environment can amplify loneliness. Social media often compounds the feeling, showing peers surrounded by family and celebration.

Family Moves That Make a Difference

Dr. Primm recommends mindfulness meditation as a way to reduce stress. “Take one step at a time so as to focus on the here and now,” she says. She also urges families to start open, judgment-free conversations, validate students’ experiences, and respect their independence while maintaining connection.

The Steve Fund’s Holiday Mental Health Toolkit offers practical tips and reflection tools to help families navigate this season.

Faith and Community as Healing Spaces

Churches and community groups can play a vital role in reducing stigma. “It is important for people to know that mental health concerns do not signify a failure of faith,” Dr. Primm explains. Trusted messengers can reassure students that seeking help is not a weakness but a strength.

Tech Can Connect or Disconnect

Platforms like My Digital Sanctuary foster community through love, hope, and creativity. But Dr. Primm cautions, “Anything in excess can be problematic. Exclusive reliance on technology without in-person connection may be a barrier to strong mental health.”

Building Year-Round Support

Dr. Primm stresses that support cannot be seasonal. “Creating cultures of care on campus that take into consideration lived experiences should be a goal of the administration, faculty, and staff,” she says. Sustained change requires transparent reporting, inclusion of Black student voices, and dedicated funding.

The holidays should be more than getting through the challenging moments. With care, honesty, and lasting commitment, families and communities can create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and embraced not only during the season of celebration but throughout the year.

Resources:

The Steve Fund

Holiday Mental Health Toolkit – The Steve Fund

My Digital Sanctuary – The Steve Fund

The post College Students Home for the Holidays May Need Mental Health Support appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), led by President Anthony Fletcher, MD, is confronting this crisis through its Every Heart Counts: ABC Cardiology Deserts Campaign.

What Are Cardiology Deserts

Dr. Fletcher describes a cardiology desert as “a community where people don’t have reliable, timely access to cardiologists or preventive cardiovascular care.” These deserts exist in both rural and urban settings. In rural areas, patients may travel long distances to see a specialist, while in cities, socioeconomic barriers and overburdened health systems often block access.

Barriers Beyond Distance

Even proximity to a clinic does not guarantee care. A recent ABC survey found that:

• One in four adults must travel 10 to 20 miles to see a heart specialist, particularly in Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi.
• Twenty two percent of respondents said they tried but could not secure a cardiology appointment.
• Nearly one in five Black adults have never received a basic heart screening.

Knowledge gaps add to the challenge. Forty percent of Americans surveyed had no prior awareness of the two major types of cholesterol. HDL is commonly referred to as good cholesterol, and LDL is commonly referred to as bad cholesterol. Among Black respondents, that number rose to 54 percent. Only about one third of adults know their own cholesterol levels.

Changing Perceptions Through Trusted Voices

Dr. Fletcher notes that heart health involves more than treatment after a diagnosis; prevention is essential. Survey findings show that one in five adults believe they do not need heart care, with an emphasized prevalence among older adults, rural residents, and women. In response, ABC works with local leaders, churches, and community organizations to encourage screenings and preventive care. Fletcher explains that these community voices help make heart health feel safe and achievable.

Supporting Primary Care Providers

In many under-resourced areas, primary care providers are the only option for heart health. ABC equips them with training, tools, and resources to identify risks earlier and connect patients to appropriate care. With seed sponsorship support from Amgen, the campaign is already active in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, states where the need for preventive care is most urgent.

Building Long Term Change

For communities historically excluded from heart health conversations, long term change means breaking cycles of crisis care. ABC’s goal is to move from emergency interventions to sustained, equitable access to preventive screenings and education that reflect lived experiences.

A Call to Black Families

The numbers are shocking, nearly one in five Black adults have never received a cardiovascular screening. That means millions may be living with hidden risks. Dr. Fletcher urges families to learn their heart health history, schedule annual screenings, and regularly check blood pressure and cholesterol. These simple steps, he says, “can be lifesaving.”

Cardiology deserts are a national crisis, but they do not have to be permanent. With trusted voices and equitable access, ABC’s Every Heart Counts campaign is working to ensure that every heart truly counts.

Resources:

Association of Black Cardiologists – Saving the hearts and minds of a diverse america

FILE_4757.pdf

Missing Coordinates: America’s Cardiology Deserts | Amgen

The post Every Heart Counts: Tackling Cardiology Deserts appeared first on Black Health Matters.

They are often brushed off as routine, but in older adults they can masquerade as something else entirely. That is what makes them tricky, and sometimes dangerous.

When a UTI Looks Like Something Else

Doctors and caregivers know that UTIs in seniors rarely follow the textbook. Instead of the familiar burning sensation or urgency, the infection can show up as:

• Sudden confusion or delirium, often mistaken for dementia progression.
• Excessive sleepiness or fatigue, dismissed as “just aging”.
• Loss of appetite, confused with depression or medication side effects.
• Dizziness and falls, attributed to balance problems or frailty.
• Bed-wetting or incontinence, assumed to be a bladder control issue.

According to Harvard Health, these atypical signs are especially common in postmenopausal women, whose hormonal changes leave urinary tissues more vulnerable. And as UCSF clinicians point out, delirium caused by infection is often mistaken for dementia, a misdiagnosis that can delay treatment until the infection becomes severe.

Why Risk Rises With Age

Several factors make UTIs more common in older adults:

• Weakened immunity with age.
• Chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.
• Catheter use in hospitals or nursing homes.
• Functional disability that limits self-care.
• Exposure to bacteria in long-term care facilities.

According to Cleveland Clinic, urinary tract infections are among the most commonly diagnosed infections in older adults. For women over age 65, the incidence rate is over 10 percent, and it rises to almost 30 percent for women over age 85. Misdiagnosis rates in hospitalized older adults may be as high as 40 percent.

The Treatment Puzzle

Treating UTIs in older adults is not always straightforward. Doctors often need to be careful about which antibiotics they prescribe, because many seniors are already taking medications for diabetes or kidney problems. Some antibiotics can interfere with those medicines or make side effects worse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises using targeted antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin or fosfomycin. These are drugs that specifically attack the bacteria most likely to cause UTIs. On the other hand, the CDC warns against using fluoroquinolones in people with advanced kidney disease.

Fluoroquinolones are a powerful class of antibiotics, but in older adults they can sometimes trigger confusion, known medically as delirium, dangerously low blood sugar, or even problems with blood vessels.

In 2025, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published its first set of guidelines for what doctors call “complicated UTIs.” A complicated UTI is one that happens in someone with other health issues, or one that does not respond to standard treatment. According to the IDSA, certain bacteria are now resistant to many of the usual antibiotics. “Resistance” means the bacteria have adapted so the drugs no longer kill them effectively. As a result, doctors often have to turn to stronger medications, which can clear the infection but also carry more side effects.

What Happens If It’s Missed

In many older adults, a UTI may not cause a fever. Without that obvious warning sign, the infection can go unnoticed and untreated for a long time. When bacteria are left to multiply, they can travel from the bladder up into the kidneys. This more serious infection is called pyelonephritis, which simply means a kidney infection.

A kidney infection can cause urine that looks cloudy or smells bad, sharp pain in the back or side, fever with chills, and nausea or vomiting. If the infection continues to spread, it can enter the bloodstream and affect the whole body. This stage is called urosepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to infection, and in this case it starts in the urinary tract.

Urosepsis is a medical emergency. It can cause dangerously low blood pressure, damage to organs, and in severe cases, death. Early signs include confusion, rapid breathing, and swelling in the tissues. That is why recognizing a UTI early, even when it does not look typical, is so important for older adults.

Prevention That Works

While UTIs are common, there are practical steps that can reduce risk:

• Stay hydrated with plain water. Drinking enough fluids helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract.
• Practice good hygiene. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom, and choose showers instead of long baths to limit exposure to bacteria.
• Urinate regularly. Avoid holding urine in, which allows bacteria to multiply and weakens the bladder over time.
• Consider vaginal estrogen. For postmenopausal women, this can restore tissue health and lower infection risk.
• Explore methenamine. This non-antibiotic option is gaining attention for preventing recurrent infections, according to JAMA Network Open.

The Core Message

UTIs in older adults are common, but their disguises make them easy to miss. Families and caregivers should pay attention to sudden changes in mood, appetite, or cognition, which may be signs of infection rather than aging. With smarter prevention and careful treatment, older adults can avoid the complications that turn a simple infection into a serious health crisis.

References:

UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection, and what to do about it – Harvard Health

1015-Degesys- UTI in the Elderly HREM 2025 Final pdf.pdf

The Truth about UTIs in Older Adults

Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults | Antibiotic Prescribing and Use | CDC

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI): Clinical Guidelines for Treatment and Management

Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Pediatrics and Adults: A WikiGuidelines Group Consensus Statement | Infectious Diseases | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

The post UTIs in Older Adults: The Hidden Confusion Behind a Common Infection appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When Tweens and Teens Do Not See Themselves

“The biggest challenge I see among my patients is when they go online and don’t feel a sense of belonging. For many Black and Brown youth, scrolling through social media means constantly viewing beauty products marketed primarily for white complexions and rarely seeing themselves authentically reflected in wellness or beauty content,” Dr. Hartman explains.

“This lack of representation sends a harmful message that their natural features aren’t valued or ‘standard.’ When teens can’t find themselves in the images that define beauty and health, it has a profound impact on how they perceive themselves. They’re left feeling like outsiders, which is especially harmful in spaces that claim to be about self-care and confidence.”

The Sephora Kid Phenomenon

It may have been a rite of passage for teenagers to get their first skincare system from Clinique decades ago, but today, skincare is being marketed to younger and younger audiences.  An article in the journal Pediatric Dermatology, “This new obsession has been coined the ‘Sephora Kid’ trend, where young children engage in complex, multistep skincare regimens, spurred on by influencers on social media.”

“However, the increasing use of skincare products poses real physical dangers to young people, and the impact of unrealistic beauty ideals and social pressures is mounting. Social media has dramatically increased opportunities for comparison outside of one’s peer group.”

The article mentions the psychological impact of two things: highly-edited, and unrealistic images, combined with stealth advertising dominating their social feeds. They give teenagers, tweens, and those even younger “distorted realities that challenge their self-esteem.”

What the Research Shows

Recent studies confirm what many Black families already know. Social media can be both empowering and harmful, depending on what teens see and how they interpret it.

A 2024 study from the University of Southern California (USC) found that online platforms can support identity development for Black youth, but only when they see themselves reflected in affirming ways. Without that, constant exposure to Eurocentric beauty standards and curated perfection can erode self-esteem.

The 2025 USC follow-up study found that daily exposure to exclusionary content, limited representation, and online racism, including algorithmic bias, was linked to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in Black adolescents. Algorithms are the behind-the-scenes systems that decide what content shows up in your feed. If those systems favor certain beauty standards or viral videos, they can reinforce harmful patterns without teens even realizing it.

Excessive screen time and symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially among girls and Black youth, were among the findings of a 2025 CDC report. Teens who reported feeling less attractive or less confident after scrolling were more likely to experience sleep disruption, disordered eating, and social withdrawal.

These findings support what Dr. Hartman sees in her practice. When Black teens do not see themselves reflected or feel pressured to conform to narrow standards, they are more vulnerable to self-doubt and digital burnout.

Watch For the Red Flags

Dr. Hartman encourages parents to watch for two major red flags. She says increased time on their phone, coupled with a noticeable decline in mood, is a key signal.

“If your teen is spending more hours scrolling but seems increasingly withdrawn, anxious, or down afterward, that’s a signal something isn’t sitting right. You might also notice them constantly checking for likes or comments, seeming preoccupied with how posts perform, or making negative comments about their appearance after being online.”

Boundaries That Build Trust

“It’s helpful, and encouraged, to establish clear boundaries around social media, and parents shouldn’t be afraid to set them,” Dr. Hartman explains. “I think sometimes parents worry so much about being liked by their teen that they lose sight of the fact that parenting is our job, not friendship.”

She recommends setting guidelines such as time limits on social media, no phone use after 9 PM, deciding which apps are acceptable or off-limits, and actively monitoring accounts. “Here’s something important to remember. Just because their friends are on certain platforms doesn’t mean your child needs to be.”

Dr. Hartman also urges parents to go beyond rules and talk about how social media works.

“Help your teen understand how social media works behind the scenes. Talk with them about how algorithms are designed to keep them scrolling, how influencers are often paid to promote products or lifestyles, and how many posts are carefully curated or edited, and aren’t real life,” she says.

“When teens recognize they’re being marketed to, often in ways designed to make them feel inadequate so they’ll buy something, they feel more empowered to think critically about what they’re seeing. This shifts the conversation from ‘you can’t use this’ to ‘let’s talk about what’s really happening here and how to protect yourself.’”

Cultivate Habits That Instill Confidence

Dr. Hartman recommends starting with phone-free zones and times. “No devices at mealtime, during family time, or late at night. These boundaries create natural pauses and protect sleep, connection, and presence.”

She also emphasizes emotional awareness.

“Encourage your teen to notice how social media makes them feel. After scrolling, do they feel energized or drained? Inspired or inadequate? Building this self-awareness helps them become more intentional users, not just passive victims of the algorithms. They can learn to curate their feeds by unfollowing accounts that trigger negative feelings.”

Diet Culture is Back

“Diet culture is having a major resurgence right now, and it’s showing up across social media platforms with different, and often dangerous, trends,” Dr. Hartman warns. “The good news is that parents don’t need to keep up with every viral trend. But parents can notice whether their teen’s relationship with food has changed.”

She lists warning signs to watch for.

“Skipping meals or significantly decreasing portion sizes, making excuses to avoid eating, eliminating entire food groups, using the bathroom during or immediately after meals, or dramatically increasing exercise. If you notice these behaviors, I’d suggest a conversation with them and considering reaching out for professional support with a doctor, school counselor or therapist.”

Model What You Want to See

“The most important thing, and admittedly the hardest, is to model the behavior you hope to see in your teen,” says Dr. Hartman.

“This means setting time limits for yourself, not scrolling at the dinner table, putting your phone away at night, and being fully present during family time. Teens are incredibly perceptive. If they see you constantly on your device, while you’re also telling them to limit screen time, it isn’t going to be as effective. When you demonstrate healthy boundaries with technology, you’re showing them it’s not only possible but that you find it valuable.”

Resources:

Lauren Hartman, MD – Aspen Grove Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine | Adolescent medicine | California, USA

New study finds that Black and Latinx youth online engagement can foster a positive sense of self | USC Rossier School of Education

Pediatric Dermatology

USC Rossier study links online racism, including algorithmic bias, to negative impacts on Black adolescents’ mental health | USC Rossier School of Education

Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers

The post Perceptions of Beauty: Social Media’s Impact on Our Teens appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Let’s break down the myths and get to the facts.

Myth 1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes develops from a mix of genetics, insulin resistance, and lifestyle factors. Insulin resistance means your body doesn’t respond well to insulin, the hormone that helps move sugar from your blood into your cells. Eating a lot of sugar doesn’t directly cause diabetes, but it can contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) confirms that excess calories from any source, not just sugar, can lead to obesity, a major risk factor.

FACT: Sugar doesn’t cause diabetes, but too much of it can raise your risk if it leads to weight gain.

Myth 2: Type 1 diabetes is more serious than type 2.

Both types are serious and require lifelong management. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition and is usually diagnosed in childhood. Type 2 diabetes is more common and often linked to lifestyle, but both can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, and vision loss if not managed properly. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) emphasizes that neither type should be minimized.

FACT: All types of diabetes are serious and deserve proper care.

Myth 3: If you don’t take medication, your diabetes must not be that bad.

Some people manage type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone, especially early on. But diabetes can change over time. Even if you’re not on medications now, that could shift later. Regular monitoring is key.

FACT: Medication isn’t a measure of severity. It’s one of many tools to manage diabetes.

Myth 4: Insulin cures diabetes.

Insulin helps control blood sugar, but it’s not a cure. There is currently no cure for diabetes, though research is ongoing. The ADA notes that insulin is essential for many people, but it’s part of a broader management plan.

FACT: Insulin is a treatment, not a cure.

Myth 5: You’ll eventually lose your sight or limbs if you have diabetes.

Complications are real, but they’re not inevitable. With regular checkups, blood sugar control, and healthy habits, many people with diabetes live full lives without major complications.

FACT: Managing your diabetes can help prevent serious complications.

Myth 6: You can’t eat dessert if you have diabetes.

You can enjoy sweets in moderation. The key is balance. If you’re having cake, cut back on other carbs that day. The Joslin Diabetes Center recommends counting desserts as part of your total carbohydrate intake.

FACT: Dessert isn’t off-limits. It just needs to fit into your overall carb count.

Myth 7: Carbs such as bread and pasta are off-limits.

Carbohydrates are part of a healthy diet. The trick is portion control and choosing whole grains when possible. The ADA encourages people with diabetes to include carbs thoughtfully, not avoid them entirely.

FACT: You can eat carbs. Just be mindful of portions and pair them with fiber and protein.

Myth 8: Certain foods like grapefruit or cabbage soup burn fat.

There’s no magic food that melts fat. Only a calorie deficit and physical activity lead to weight loss. The National Institutes of Health confirms that while some foods may slightly boost metabolism, they don’t cause fat loss.

FACT: No food burns fat. Exercise and balanced eating do.

Myth 9: Eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain.

It’s not about the clock. It’s about how much you eat and how active you are overall. The CDC notes that late-night eating only leads to weight gain if it pushes your daily calories over your needs.

FACT: Timing doesn’t cause weight gain. Extra calories do.

Myth 10: Skipping meals helps you lose weight.

Skipping meals can backfire, especially for people with diabetes. It can lead to overeating later or dangerous blood sugar drops. That drop is called hypoglycemia, and it can cause symptoms that include shakiness, confusion, dizziness, or even fainting. The ADA warns that skipping meals can increase your risk of hypoglycemia if you’re on insulin or other medications.

FACT: Eating regular, balanced meals supports better blood sugar and appetite control.

Myth 11: Managing diabetes means you have to follow a super restrictive diet.

Diabetes requires thoughtful eating, but that doesn’t mean your meals have to be bland or joyless. You don’t need to cut out entire food groups. Instead, focus on portion control, choosing whole grains over refined carbs, and pairing carbohydrates with fiber, protein, or healthy fats to slow down blood sugar spikes.

The CDC also recommends building meals around foods you enjoy, using smart swaps, and consistent meal timing. Restrictive diets often backfire. They can lead to frustration or binge eating. A sustainable approach includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and even occasional treats, just planned with intention.

FACT: Diabetes management does involve boundaries, but it doesn’t mean cutting out everything you love. Smart planning and balance are key.

Managing diabetes isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying informed and refusing to let myths shape your care. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one, you deserve clear information and a plan that fits your life. The science continues to evolve, and so can your approach.

If you’ve heard these myths before, now you know better. If you’ve lived by them, now you can move forward with truth.

Resources:

National Diabetes Statistics Report | Diabetes | CDC

Know Your Facts About Diabetes | American Diabetes Association

What Is Diabetes? – NIDDK

Managing Diabetes During Rosh Hashanah | Joslin Diabetes Center

Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss – Consumer

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Weight | Healthy Weight and Growth | CDC

Causes and How to Prevent Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose) | American Diabetes Association

Diabetes Meal Planning | Diabetes | CDC

The post Stop Believing These 11 Diabetes Myths appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What followed changed everything. The pace of her days. The demands on her body. Her sense of control. But now she’s telling the story herself. She’s a breast cancer survivor, and she’s still here.

The Moment She Feared Had Arrived

Toks had gone years without a full mammogram. Between breastfeeding and the demands of daily life, it stayed on the back burner. After several reminders, her OBGYN became more direct and told her it was time to stop waiting. So, she went.

During the scan, doctors found calcifications. These are tiny calcium deposits that can form in breast tissue. While often harmless, certain patterns can signal early signs of cancer. A biopsy confirmed it in August 2022.

“I was told I had stage zero triple negative breast cancer,” she said.

Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive types. According to the American Cancer Society, it grows quickly and does not respond to hormone therapies because it lacks three common receptors. That limits treatment options and increases the risk of recurrence. Within three weeks, her cancer had already advanced to stage one.

Toks had always feared cancer. It ran deep on her mother’s side with diagnoses across generations. Her father’s side, rooted in Nigeria, had fewer known cases, though she believes there may have been more that went unnamed. So when the biopsy confirmed triple-negative breast cancer, she wasn’t shocked.

“I had been terrified to get cancer my whole life,” she said. “I was almost relieved, honestly, to just know which one it was and get it done.”

Then Came the Reality Check

At just 46 years old, Toks had to shift into survival mode. In September, weeks after her diagnosis, she began treatment with a lumpectomy and radiation. A lumpectomy removes the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. But when the pathology came back, the margins were not clear. That meant cancer cells were still present at the edges. She would need more surgery and chemotherapy.

Before starting chemo, she tried one round of egg fertilization. She and her husband had hoped for a second child. But her gynecologist stepped in.

“He’s like, stop it. Triple negative moves so quickly you’re gonna die,” she said. “I was like, okay, all right, Jesus.”

From Lumpectomy to Mastectomy

After another surgery with no clean margins, her oncological surgeon recommended a mastectomy. A mastectomy removes the entire breast to prevent further spread. Toks chose to remove both.

“She was like, listen, none of this is showing in any of the imaging we did,” she recalled. “We’re not seeing any of what we’re taking out of your body, so it’s making us really nervous.”

She began chemotherapy in early November, just after wrapping Fatal Attraction. The treatment was intense. Every three weeks, she returned for another round.

“I did four rounds of very strong chemo,” said Toks. “A week after I stopped chemo, I started working on Frasier.”

To help protect her hair, she used cold capping. The process involves cooling the scalp during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss, and it worked. Toks was able to keep about 50 percent of her hair.

The Circle That Held Her

Toks kept working, not to prove anything, but because it helped her feel like herself. Work was also essential to Tok’s healing.

“My husband was picking me up from work. My mother was dropping me off,” she said. “I had tons of people helping me carry things. That was a little difficult because I couldn’t carry my kid for a really long time.”

Her sister, best friend, and nanny helped care for her son. Insurance paperwork was handled by her financial manager. On set, her team made space for her to rest when she needed it.

“Sometimes I was like, I need to go upstairs and just rest for 25 minutes,” she said. “And they’d be like, yeah, no worries, we’ll make time for you.”

Parenting Through Treatment

While navigating surgeries and chemotherapy, Toks was also parenting a young child. Her son was still small and still used to their routines. She had to explain why things were changing, why she couldn’t carry him, why their time together looked different.

“We used to call my boobs my boo boos,” she said. “I said, so we can’t do boo boo time anymore, and he was sad, but he understood.”

She approached those conversations with honesty and compassion. She didn’t hide what was happening, but she didn’t overwhelm him either.

“I keep in mind that my kid is new here,” she explained. “I don’t put things on him that he doesn’t deserve.”

Her son responded with kindness. He would come in to chat, then tuck her into bed.

“He’d be like, Mommy, you need your rest,” he’d say.

She believes children know when something is wrong, even if no one tells them.

“I feel like you’re actually just making them more scared and anxious because they don’t know what the thing is,” she said.

Rest Is a Right

Toks spoke directly to the pressure Black women face to keep going no matter what. She spoke about how Black communities are among the most capable in the world.

“Especially Black women. We are versatile, good at problem solving and hard working. And we are insanely intelligent.”

She knows how deeply that pressure can affect health.

“One of the reasons that Black people get sick so much is that we don’t rest,” she said. “We have to stop believing the myth that rest equals laziness.”

A Community Lifeline

For Toks, healing was never just about her body. It was about being part of something larger. She spoke openly about the realities Black people face, and the strength that comes from community.

“I feel like Black people are placed in a position of being stressed out and not being able to give our families what they need,” she said. “We are placed in a position of not being able to live in clean areas, not being able to afford healthy food, not being able to afford health care, not being able to afford to take time off work.”

She named the systems that create those conditions. But she also named the power our communities hold.

“I think that we need to start talking to each other,” she said. “We need to start asking questions. We need to start sharing information.”

Advocacy Begins with Access

Toks now works with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She is using her voice to push for better access, better care, and better outcomes for Black women.

“Almost half of the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are going to be Black women,” she said. “And one of the reasons for that is the disparity in what is available to us. We are placed in a position of being stressed out and not being able to give our families what they need.”

She has seen the consequences of delayed care and poor insurance firsthand. People she loves have waited far too long for the imaging and procedures they needed. She knows how quickly diseases can spread and how dangerous those delays can be.
She encourages people to ask questions, share what they learn, and help each other navigate the system.

“You need to figure out, as young as you possibly can, what your plan for your health care is,” she said. “If you’re going to somebody and you don’t feel heard, or you feel dismissed, or you feel like you can never get an appointment, find somebody else.”

And she wants Black women to know they matter.

“You need to see yourself and your life as precious,” she said. “We take care of so many other people. We have to be healthy too. Otherwise, we can’t take care of everybody else.”

Resources:

Triple-negative Breast Cancer | Details, Diagnosis, and Signs | American Cancer Society

Breast Cancer Research Foundation | BCRF

Will Scalp Cooling Save Your Hair During Cancer Treatment?

The post Actress & Activist Toks Olagundoye on Surviving Breast Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A Nonstop Schedule

Her fiancé Jesse Collins, who runs his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment, has overseen mega events including the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the BET Awards, and more. Together, they’ve built careers on precision and performance.

“We both work hard and don’t always take care of ourselves the way we should,” she explained to People. “And sad to say, several of our friends have dropped dead of heart attacks because it’s a high-stress world. Jesse started his own company after his boss, John Cossette, died of a massive heart attack, so there’s always been that fear.”

So when she saw the post, she looked up the company and booked an appointment for the two of them.

Prenuvo’s scans range from $2,500 to $4,500, and appointments can take months to secure. Dionne booked two, one for herself and one for Jesse. At the time, she was more concerned about him.

They got scanned in March 2024. Jesse’s came back healthy. Unfortunately, Dionne did not.

Dionne Had No Symptoms

Her scan revealed a large mass in her right lung. The technician told her to contact a pulmonologist right away. A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in lung health, and even they were initially skeptical. Dionne had no symptoms. She didn’t smoke. It didn’t add up.

Still, she followed through. First came a chest X-ray, then a PET/CT scan. Unlike a regular scan, this one shows how tissues and organs are functioning, not just how they look. The results confirmed that the mass was active, and that meant cancer was likely. She was sent for a biopsy, where doctors removed a small piece of tissue to test under a microscope.

The diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. Graeme Rosenberg, a thoracic surgeon at USC. It was lung cancer, Stage 3.

“Most lung cancers are found by accident in the non-smoking population,” Rosenberg told People.

During surgery, doctors found that the cancer had already reached one of Dionne’s lymph nodes. The spread was microscopic, too small to appear on scans, but it changed her diagnosis. She was officially considered stage 3, despite having no symptoms and no visible warning signs.

Her surgeon told her they had acted just in time. A few months later, the cancer might have moved further, limiting her treatment options or removing them altogether.

“If you had found this six months later, we’d be talking about how to make the rest of your life comfortable,” Dionne recalled being told. “I would’ve died, for sure.”

She underwent robotic-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci system, which resulted in part of her lung being removed. The operation was a turning point. It gave her a chance to recover before the cancer could spread further.

Why Lung Cancer Gets Missed

Dionne’s story isn’t rare. It’s just rarely caught. Lung cancer is still widely seen as a smoker’s disease, but that assumption leaves too many people overlooked. According to the American Cancer Society, early-stage lung cancer often comes without symptoms. And when signs do appear, they’re easy to dismiss. A lingering cough. A little wheezing. Fatigue that feels like stress. For Dionne, there was nothing. No warning. Just a scan that saw what she couldn’t feel.

If There Had Been a Sign

Some of the earliest signs of lung cancer can include:

• A persistent cough.
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or laughing.
• Shortness of breath or wheezing.
• Hoarseness or voice changes.
• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Unexplained fatigue or weight loss.

Dionne had none of these. No cough, no fatigue, no unexplained weight loss. By all accounts, she was fine until the scan said otherwise.

Recovery Wasn’t Pretty

The surgery was successful, but the recovery was difficult. Dionne, known for her independence and Type-A energy, had to rely on her mother for basic care. “My mom having to help me in the bathroom and wipe me was insane,” she recalled. Her fiancé Jesse became her full-time support system, keeping everything running while she healed. “It was amazing how he instantly went into support mode. Nothing mattered besides making sure I was okay and got through this.”

Instead of chemotherapy, Dionne qualified for a targeted drug therapy. She swallows one pill daily and schedules lung scans every six months. So far, everything has been clear.

In April 2025, Dionne ran the Paris Marathon. It was her way of reclaiming her body and her life.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to run this Paris marathon,'” she said, “just to prove to myself that I could, a year after my surgery and with [only a portion] of my right lung.”

From Survivor to Advocate

Now, Dionne is working with Rosenberg to launch a foundation focused on early lung cancer detection. She also got the chance to thank Kardashian directly. Her team reached out, and Kardashian responded with a post and a kind message. For Dionne, it was a meaningful moment. She told People that the post had ultimately led to her diagnosis and treatment, and she considers it life-saving.

A Warning to Black Women

The experience reshaped how Dionne thinks about health and visibility. She had always pushed through, showing up even when rest might have served her better. But this time, she paused and listened to her body. And it made all the difference.

Resources:

Emmy Producer Discovers Stage 3 Cancer After Prenuvo Body Scan (Exclusive)

Comprehensive whole body MRI scan for preventative care | Prenuvo

Lung Cancer Signs & Symptoms | American Cancer Society

The post A Full Body Scan Found Lung Cancer & Saved Her Life appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What Is COPD and Why Does It Matter

COPD is an umbrella term for lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It makes breathing harder over time, and there’s no cure.

• Emphysema damages the air sacs in the lungs, making it harder to take in oxygen.
• Chronic bronchitis causes swelling and mucus buildup in the airways, leading to a persistent cough and breathing difficulties.

In 2023, COPD was the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming over 141,000 lives, as reported by the CDC in its 2025 Data Brief.

To make matters worse, Black Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with COPD, even when they have symptoms. That means fewer chances for early treatment and more risk when pneumonia enters the picture.

The Dangerous Duo: COPD and Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs. For someone with COPD, pneumonia can be life-threatening. The lungs are already compromised, and the infection adds fuel to the fire. According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2025 report, pneumonia is one of the most common causes of hospitalization and death among people with COPD.

The pneumonia vaccine is an essential tool for managing COPD, yet it’s not reaching our community equally. That shortfall leads to more complications and more loss, as documented by the CHEST Foundation in 2023.

A Look at the Numbers

In 2023, the age-adjusted prevalence of COPD among Black adults was 3.5%, compared to 4.4% in White adults, according to the CDC. At first glance, that might seem like good news. But experts warn that underdiagnosis is a major issue in Black communities. A study published by the Journal of the COPD Foundation found that race and gender disparities are evident across all severities of airflow obstruction. In plain terms? Too many Black patients with COPD are left undiagnosed and unheard. And when pneumonia hits someone with undiagnosed COPD, the outcome can be devastating.

Why the Disparities?

These disparities reflect systems that haven’t been built with Black communities in mind. The gaps in care, diagnosis, and trust are real and reinforced in everyday clinical settings.

• Delayed diagnosis: Black patients are less likely to be referred for lung function tests. Symptoms are overlooked. Screenings get skipped. The result is missed opportunities for early treatment and a higher risk during flare-ups.
• Lower vaccination rates: Pneumonia and flu vaccines are essential for COPD management, but they are reaching Black adults at lower rates. That shortfall increases complications and leads to more hospital visits.
• Barriers to care access: Limited insurance coverage, long commutes to clinics, and under-resourced neighborhoods make accessing basic care more challenging. And once patients do reach the doctor, they often face shorter appointments, fewer referrals, and lower chances of seeing a specialist. As reported by Healthgrades, Black Americans with COPD are less likely to see a pulmonologist and more likely to be managed solely by primary care providers, where only 19% recommend pulmonary rehab, compared to 54% of specialists.
• Broken trust with health systems: Black patients have endured dismissal, bias, and neglect within medical spaces for decades. That history shows up in rushed visits, poor follow-up, and misdiagnoses. The system has earned mistrust. Rebuilding trust means delivering care that’s culturally competent, designed with equity in mind, and backed by accountability.

CHEST also reports that, over the last two decades, Black Americans have experienced the smallest decline in COPD mortality, just 0.7 per 100,000, compared to 5.5 among White Americans.

Spotting Pneumonia in COPD

COPD and pneumonia share similar symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue; however, they’re not interchangeable. For someone living with COPD, pneumonia can slip in, disguised as a routine flare-up. But sure signs stand out:

• Fever or chills: COPD rarely causes fever or chills. If it spikes, think infection.
• Sharp chest pain when breathing: Not typical of COPD alone.
• Sudden changes in mucus color or volume: Green or yellow may indicate an infection.
• Rapid breathing or heart rate: A sign the body’s under stress.
• Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness: Red flags like these often indicate that it’s more than just COPD.

Spirometry, also known as a lung function test, is often overlooked or misread in primary care. A 2024 study published in PLOS ONE found that many patients diagnosed with COPD were actually dealing with asthma or had normal lung function. At the same time, people who truly have COPD often go undiagnosed and face their symptoms without medical support, which raises the risk of serious complications like pneumonia being mistaken for a routine flare-up.

For caregivers and loved ones, noticing these changes can be the difference between early treatment and a dangerous spiral. You don’t need a medical degree, just awareness and trust in your instincts.

What You Can Do

If you or someone you love has a chronic cough, shortness of breath, or frequent respiratory infections, take it seriously. Ask your doctor about COPD and ensure that lung function testing is part of the conversation. Misdiagnosis can delay treatment and put lives at risk, especially when pneumonia is mistaken for something less urgent.

Get vaccinated against pneumonia and the flu, and lean on trusted resources like community clinics and health fairs for support. COPD and pneumonia continue to disproportionately affect our community. With awareness and advocacy, that reality can change. Breathing is a biological right, but too often it’s treated like a resource only some can afford to protect. Striving to know more is the first step in the right direction.

Resources

Products – Data Briefs – Number 528 – April 2025

2025 GOLD Report – Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease – GOLD

Partnering With the African American Community to Curb COPD – American College of Chest Physicians

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases | Journal of the COPD Foundation

COPD in Black Americans | Black People and COPD

Exploring the causes of COPD misdiagnosis in primary care: A mixed methods study | PLOS One

The post When Breathing Gets Harder (COPD and Pneumonia) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Despite its alarming toll, lung cancer remains overlooked, under-screened, and underfunded. Black women have higher death rates despite lower smoking rates. While lung cancer rates are declining among men, they continue to rise in women. And it’s no longer just about smoking.

Why Lung Cancer Deserves More Attention

According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer causes more deaths than breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers combined. Yet public awareness remains low, and many women still believe they’re too young or too healthy to be at risk.

Black Americans are disproportionately affected. As reported by the American Cancer Society, systemic barriers in screening, diagnosis, and treatment contribute to worse outcomes, even though Black communities smoke less on average.

Here’s what every woman needs to know about lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Doesn’t Care How Old You Are

Many women in their 20s and 30s still believe lung cancer is an older person’s disease. But that’s not the full story. While most diagnoses occur between ages 55 and 65, women under 50 are now being diagnosed at higher rates than men in the same age group. In fact, women younger than 45 are more likely than men to develop lung cancer, according to a report published by the American Cancer Society.

You Don’t Have to Smoke to Be at Risk

Smoking remains the biggest risk factor, but it’s not the only one. According to the CDC, about 1 in 10 lung cancer cases occur in people who’ve never smoked. And women who’ve never smoked are still more likely than men to develop the disease. Exposure to radon, air pollution, and certain processed foods may also increase risk.

If you do smoke, quitting is still the most powerful step you can take. But don’t assume that being a nonsmoker means you’re in the clear.

Survival Rates Aren’t Improving Fast Enough

Here’s the good news: five-year survival rates have doubled, rising from 13% to 27%, according to the Lung Cancer Initiative. That’s thanks to better screening, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. But lung cancer still causes more deaths than any other cancer in the U.S.

Women with lung cancer often face worse outcomes than men, especially when diagnosed late. Symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for other conditions. Watch for:

• A persistent cough.
• Shortness of breath.
• Hoarseness.
• Chest pain.
• Coughing up blood.

If something feels off, don’t wait.

You Might Need to Advocate for Screening

Low-dose CT scans can detect lung cancer early, before symptoms appear. But access and awareness remain uneven. Updated guidelines from the American Cancer Society now recommend screening for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history. Still, fewer than half of eligible people are getting screened.

If you’re at risk, ask your doctor directly. And if you’re uninsured or underinsured, look into community screening programs or patient navigators who can help.

Treatment Is Evolving and You Have Options

Today’s lung cancer care looks very different than it did even five years ago. Advances include:

• Targeted therapies for specific genetic mutations like KRAS, EGFR, and ALK.
• Immunotherapy that activates your immune system to fight cancer cells.
• Minimally invasive surgeries and robotic techniques that reduce recovery time.
• Same-day diagnosis and treatment in some centers, reducing delays.

If you’re diagnosed, your care team may recommend surgery, radiation, medication, or a combination. You may also qualify for a clinical trial offering cutting-edge treatments.

The Bottom Line

Lung cancer is still the deadliest cancer for women, but it doesn’t have to be. Awareness, early detection, and access to care can change the outcome. Whether you’re a smoker, a nonsmoker, young, or older, your risk is real, and your health is worth protecting.
If you’re concerned, speak up. If you’re eligible, get screened. And if you’re diagnosed, know that you are not alone, and you are not without options.

Resources:

Lung Cancer Trends Brief | American Lung Association

Cancer Disparities in the Black Community | American Cancer Society

Cancer Incidence Rate for Women Under 50 Rises Above Men’s | American Cancer Society

Lung Cancer Among People Who Never Smoked | Lung Cancer | CDC

ACS Cancer Updates 2025 | Lung Cancer Initiative

Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines | American Cancer Society

The post What Women Should Know About Lung Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Chronic illness affects millions, and more health experts now treat sleep as a key part of prevention and recovery. The CDC links sleep deprivation and sleep disorders to serious long-term health outcomes.

Diabetes

Studies show that short or disrupted sleep can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. Sleep affects how the body regulates blood sugar, and poor sleep can lead to higher levels of hemoglobin A1c, a marker for long-term glucose control. Improving sleep quality may help people with diabetes manage their condition more effectively. Harvard Health notes that sleep loss disrupts insulin sensitivity and increases inflammation, both of which play a role in diabetes.

Heart Disease

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It can make the body work harder overnight and raise the risk of high blood pressure, stoke, and irregular heartbeats. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that treating sleep apnea can lower the chance of cardiovascular risk and improve survival. One common treatment is a CPAP machine, which helps keep airways open while you sleep. Studies show that using a CPAP can reduce the risk of dying from heart-related issues in people with moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Obesity

Sleep affects metabolism and appetite. Children and adults who sleep less tend to gain more weight. The CDC highlights that sleep loss can disrupt the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls hunger and energy use. This is especially important for kids, whose brains are still developing. Kids who sleep less are more likely to gain excess weight, and those patterns can carry into adulthood.

Depression

Sleep and mental health are closely linked. People who don’t sleep well are more likely to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed. Another common sleep disorder is insomnia, which means having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early without feeling rested. In fact, sleep problems often show up before a mental health diagnosis. The same Harvard Health review found that teenagers with sleep issues developed depression 69 percent of the time and anxiety 27 percent of the time. Another study of young adults ages 21 to 30 showed that those with a history of insomnia were four times more likely to develop major depression within three years. Treating sleep disorders like apnea or insomnia can help ease symptoms and improve mood. That’s why sleep is now considered a key part of mental health care.

Emerging Insight

A global study of over 88,000 adults found that irregular sleep schedules, such as going to bed at different times or having a disrupted body clock, are linked to higher risks for dozens of diseases. These include liver damage and even gangrene.

Researchers say it is time to rethink what “good sleep” means. It is not about how many hours you get. It’s also about keeping a steady rhythm. That rhythm is called your circadian rhythm. It is your body’s natural 24-hour cycle that helps regulate sleep, energy, digestion, and immune function. When this rhythm is thrown off, it can trigger inflammation and raise the risk for chronic illness.

If you have been feeling off beat and restless, it may be time to take sleep seriously. Getting good rest is not a luxury. It is part of staying well. Talk to your doctor and consider tracking your sleep. Small changes can help your body recover what it’s been missing.

Resoruces:

Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Disorders, and Chronic Disease

How sleep deprivation can harm your health – Harvard Health

Advancing Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Research

Phenome-wide Analysis of Diseases in Relation to Objectively Measured Sleep Traits and Comparison with Subjective Sleep Traits in 88,461 Adults

The post How Sleep Affects Chronic Disease appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Antonia Walters, Co-Founder and CEO of Jayla Health, Inc., and Dr. Rachel Blake, Medical Advisor to Jayla Health, Inc., about what perimenopause really looks like and how culturally aware care can make all the difference.

Why Naming Perimenopause Matters

“When perimenopause is dismissed, Black women often end up suffering in silence for years,” said Antonia Walters. “Symptoms like heavy bleeding, brain fog, or fatigue can be brushed off as ‘just life,’ which delays treatment and increases the risk of more serious health issues, such as anemia or high blood pressure.”

She added, “For us, this stage is a health crossroads. Research from the SWAN study shows Black women tend to reach menopause earlier, experience longer and more intense symptoms, and face higher risks like fibroids and heart disease.”

Dr. Rachel Blake agreed. “When perimenopause symptoms are written off, particularly by healthcare providers, it truly endangers black women’s lives and livelihoods.”

What Support Should Look Like

“Supportive, culturally aware care means listening fully and meeting us where we are,” said Walters. “It looks like a provider asking about lived experience. Whether that’s how fibroids run in a family, or how cultural beliefs around menopause shape expectations.”

“It also means acknowledging systemic disparities. Black women are more likely to undergo hysterectomies, face misdiagnosis, or have symptoms dismissed as stress. Navigating these health risks requires more than just medical care. It needs understanding and care teams that reflect the women they serve.”

Dr. Blake added, “Culturally aware or culturally competent care takes into consideration the full lived experience of the patient in addition to their medical needs. It centers culture within discussions about goals of care, treatment plans, and even fears and anxieties about medical care.”

“For black women in particular, this is important given the historical context of racism and abuse in our healthcare system. This has unfortunately been passed down through generational trauma and must be considered in the care of every black woman.”

Hormone Changes Can Start Earlier

“I wish more of us knew that hormone changes can start earlier than expected, sometimes in the late 30s, and that symptoms don’t always look like hot flashes,” said Walters. “Subtle shifts like disrupted sleep, anxiety, or irregular cycles may be the first signs.”

“The SWAN study has shown that Black women often face heavier bleeding, more intense hot flashes, and longer symptom duration than White women. Understanding this helps us track what’s happening and seek support sooner, instead of wondering if it’s ‘just stress.’ With the right information and tools, we can take proactive steps to feel prepared instead of caught off guard.”

Dr. Blake said, “Throughout our 30s and even 40s, we are often hyper-focused on family planning. Be that childbearing and fertility, or contraception and pregnancy prevention.”

“I wish more Black women knew that during these times, particularly during our late 30s and early 40s, we also need to focus on our overall health. Many women don’t realize that hormonal health is an important component of overall health. Your hormonal health can be closely linked to your bone, heart, brain, and mental health.”

“So, by your overall health during your 30s and 40s, you can set yourself up to thrive during perimenopause, the menopausal transition and beyond.”

Testing That Reflects Your Cycle

“Our test is urine-based and measures follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which naturally rises as a woman approaches menopause,” said Walters. “It can be done at home every other day for five days, giving a fuller picture of hormone changes over time.”

“By contrast, most doctors use a blood test that captures only one point in time. That is, unless you have the time and money to go back repeatedly. The real value comes from pairing this data with a telehealth consultation led by a provider specially trained in perimenopause and menopause.”

“No single test can ‘diagnose’ perimenopause, but when results are combined with clinical expertise, the insights are powerful. And because 90 percent of our providers are women of color, patients also see themselves reflected in the care they receive.”

Dr. Blake said, “Jayla’s FSH test is performed in the comfort of your own home, which, for many women, may be easier and more convenient than getting the test done at a physician’s office.”

“FSH can fluctuate over the course of the menstrual cycle, so this type of serial testing is beneficial to obtain a clearer picture of what is happening inside each woman’s body. Following up this hormone testing with a telehealth consult helps patients to understand their results and really put this result into context with their overall symptom profile and menopause journey.”

Care That Doesn’t Dismiss You

“Jayla is building care that goes beyond prescriptions,” said Walters. “We’re a full-stack model that combines testing, telehealth, pharmacy, and education in one place.”

“For Black women, stress, systemic barriers, and the ‘weathering’ effects of discrimination influence our health journey. We’re intentional about making care seamless and supportive so that women don’t feel left behind.”

“Our approach is rooted in science but also in lived experience, recognizing that hormones influence every part of life. Ultimately, our goal is to modernize women’s healthcare. That means care that is accessible, relatable, and trustworthy. Too many of us have been underserved for far too long.”

Dr. Blake added, “All of Jayla’s providers are certified by the Menopause Society, which means that they can counsel patients about the full range of perimenopause and menopause symptoms and treatments.”

“Jayla providers are certified by the Menopause Society and specialize in perimenopause and menopause care. They follow evidence-based guidelines and take every symptom, question, and concern seriously during this often-confusing time.”

That kind of care is expert, evidence-based, and culturally aware. It is exactly what Black women deserve. Ready to take the next step? Jayla Health’s 2-minute quiz can help you get matched with perimenopause care that fits your needs.

Resources:

Expert Perimenopause Care – Jayla

Disparities in Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health between Black and White women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) | Women’s Midlife Health | Full Text

Quiz – Jayla

The post Jayla Health Knows Perimenopause appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What She Told Cam Newton

K. Michelle joined Cam Newton on his Funky Friday podcast for a conversation that felt honest and unfiltered. They talked about music, body image, and the years she spent recovering from cosmetic procedures.

When Cam asked what she wanted people to know, she didn’t hesitate. “I’m not against plastic surgery. Do your research. Do what you need to do if that is for you,” she said. “But no amount of plastic surgery is going to make you love yourself anymore.”

She described what it was like to have one of the most talked-about bodies in the industry while quietly dealing with pain. “I had the hugest [butt] in life. I could not walk,” she said. “People magazine said I had one of the best bodies ever. That almost cost me my life.”
She explained that once silicone is injected, it doesn’t leave.

“You can take out a breast implant. You can take out things like that. But once you inject silicone shots into your body, that is motor oil that forever lives in your body.” She called it a permanent decision for a temporary fix.

The conversation also touched on shifting beauty standards. K. Michelle is no stranger to shifting trends, especially when it comes to the body types that have been favored over the decades. The truth is, it moves fast and rarely makes room for those who made permanent choices to fit in. These days, she consistently emphasizes the importance of clarity before going on the table.

How It Started

Her honesty didn’t start with Funky Friday. K. Michelle has long been vocal about what her body’s been through.

“I had just got a new record deal, and I felt like the bigger the butt, the bigger the career,” she told Essence in 2022. “I already had a big butt. It was just ridiculous.”

In 2012, she underwent illegal silicone injections to enhance her hips and butt. “I wanted to look like a Coke bottle,” she told PEOPLE. She had already had her breasts augmented and fat transferred from her stomach to her rear. When she learned that one of her favorite rappers had done it, she decided to go through with the injections, despite knowing the man in Atlanta offering them wasn’t a licensed doctor.

For a while, she was happy with the results. Her career gained momentum, and she was cast on Love and Hip Hop. But in 2017, her body began to break down. She experienced migraines, fatigue, and pain in her back and legs. Doctors initially suspected lupus before discovering that the silicone had spread through her tissue and was threatening her ability to walk.

She tried liposuction, hoping it would remove the material. Instead, it pushed the silicone further. After a few performances on tour, she was rushed to the emergency room.

Rebuilding Her Body, Reclaiming Her Voice

What followed was a long and painful recovery including multiple surgeries, two blood transfusions, and the removal of dead tissue. Speaking with PEOPLE, she explained, “I had these lumps, and I was very disfigured.

Her body was inflamed, her mobility was compromised, and the procedures were physically and emotionally draining. She spent months healing, adjusting to a body that no longer matched the image she once pursued. The experience forced her to slow down, reflect, and begin speaking publicly about what she had endured.

In her 2022 appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, K. Michelle described the physical toll of removing illegal silicone injections. She began the process of reclaiming her health and removing the foreign substances from her body, a journey that would span years and multiple surgeries.

“It took me about 13 surgeries later in three years.” she said.

Filming Her Truth

In 2022, K. Michelle launched My Killer Body with K. Michelle on Lifetime. The show featured real people dealing with botched procedures, emotional trauma, and the aftermath of chasing beauty. It also documented her own recovery and the realities of living with permanent damage.

The show challenges how beauty is presented online, where final images rarely reflect the risk or recovery behind them.

Healing With Honesty

Recovery is ongoing. K. Michelle still struggles with the physical and emotional impact of her surgeries. “Some days, I’m like, I’m never getting back on that table,” she told Essence. “But then I might put on something, and a dent from my reconstruction is there, and I say, I’m going to get this fixed. I’m human. I go back and forth.”

She’s faced speculation about her appearance, with fans assuming she’s had more work done. But she emphasizes that her focus is on health, not perfection.

“I feel hopeful, and I feel happy to be healthy and able to function,” she said. “I think that brings another beauty within itself.”

Beauty Isn’t Always Easy

K. Michelle’s story reframes the idea of beauty. She isn’t opposed to cosmetic surgery. What she challenges is the misinformation and lack of transparency that often surround it. Her experience has become a platform for pushing safer, more honest conversations about body modification, especially in communities where access to safe care is limited. She urges people to look beyond the polished results and understand the risks, recovery, and the emotional toll.

For her, surgery is not a casual choice. It requires research, preparation, and a clear understanding of what’s at stake. You only get one body, and it deserves to be protected.

Resources:

K. Michelle & Cam get BRUTALLY honest about Love, Regret, Dating Mistakes & Country Music Truths

With ‘My Killer Body,’ K. Michelle Wants To Tell ‘The Whole Truth’ About Plastic Surgery | Essence

K. Michelle Says Removing Butt Injections Was ‘Scary’

K. Michelle Had to Get 13 Operations to Remove Botched Silicone Injections

Watch My Killer Body with K. Michelle Full Episodes, Video & More | Lifetime

The post K. Michelle Opens Up About the Toll of Cosmetic Surgery appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER, about what it means to build care that reflects the truth of Black women’s experiences and what it takes to change the system.

How Breast Cancer Impacts Us Is More Than Just Data Points

“The devastating mortality numbers associated with being Black and diagnosed with breast cancer are so much more than just data points, they validate a wholly different lived experience and disease,” said Ricki Fairley.

“Most people, when they picture breast cancer, picture an older white woman. And everything about breast cancer care has oriented around that perceived ‘typical’ patient. Black women have been largely left out of the conversation.”

Fairley defines Black Breast Cancer as “the constellation of exposures, experiences, and lack of science for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer that causes Black women to face disproportionately worse breast cancer outcomes.”

How TNBC Affects Our Community

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a fast-growing subtype of breast cancer that doesn’t respond to hormone therapies or targeted treatments. It’s much harder to treat, more likely to return, and disproportionately affects Black women, especially those under 40.

“We now have data that validates that the biology of a Black TNBC breast cancer cell looks significantly different from a white breast cancer cell,” Weldon said. “The treatments that we currently have available were based on clinical trials where the patient participation was not commensurate with the burden of disease.”

In other words, Black women are underrepresented in the very trials that shape today’s treatments, despite facing the highest risks.

TOUCH launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org in 2024, a TNBC resource created by the community, for the community. Unite for HER expanded access to its Wellness Passport Program, offering integrative therapies, nutrition support, and community care.

“This wrap-around approach ensures that, even in the face of limited medical options, the women we serve are seen, supported, and given the care they need to truly live well,” Weldon said.

Unite for HER’s model is built around restoring quality of life. Patients receive therapies that ease side effects, reduce stress, and help them reclaim joy in their days. The program also fosters community, offering a space where women feel seen and supported.

The Care for HER Model is Designed Especially for Us

Care for HER is a new delivery model for Black breast cancer care. Co-created by TOUCH and Unite for Her, it fuses two proven systems. Patients receive round-the clock nurse navigation rooted in cultural experience, along with integrative therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition counseling, and wellness support. These services are now offered as one unified program, available nationwide and free of charge.

“We asked, what if we combined resources?” said Weldon. “We created a comprehensive approach to help Black women better access and adhere to their treatments. At the same time, we knew it was vital to amplify education about the stark health disparities, most notably that Black women die from breast cancer at a 40% higher rate than white women.”

Why Black Nurse Navigators Are Critical

In 1990, Dr. Harold Freeman created patient navigation to reduce delays in care for Black breast cancer patients. TOUCH Co-Founder Valarie Worthy, a longtime nurse and survivor, trained under Freeman.

“You have to have walked this path, both culturally and medically, to truly understand what it feels like,” said Fairley. “For patients, this is an unparalleled resource, to be understood, to have a trusted expert in their corner, and to see someone who has survived this disease.”

Today, Black women still receive later diagnoses and face a 40 percent higher mortality rate than white women. Most have never encountered a nurse navigator, and even fewer have access to one who shares their lived experience. TOUCH’s program fills that gap with culturally grounded guidance and 24/7 support, because cancer doesn’t care what time it is.

Spotting Access Barriers

The barriers to timely, equitable breast cancer care are layered. Obstacles such as dismissal by doctors at young ages, earned medical mistrust, and the inability to take time off work, among others, are major roadblocks. “There are too many barriers blocking access to care for Black patients to count,” said Fairley.

“Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at twice the rate of white women and die at three times the rate. The screening guideline of age 40 is too late for us.”

Clinical trial participation stays low because Black patients are rarely invited. When they are, it’s often during a crisis, like right after a diagnosis. Some women fear they’ll be denied real treatment. In clinical trials, a sugar pill refers to a placebo, a harmless fake treatment used for comparison. “Many of the Black Blessties who participated in our research mistakenly thought they were going to get a sugar pill and die,” Fairley said.

TOUCH uses the term Blesstie to describe a Black woman diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a term that honors survival, sisterhood, and support.

Building Impact and Equity

“This growth reflects the importance of forming meaningful referral partnerships,” said Weldon. “We work with hospitals, cancer centers, and community organizations that share our mission. When these partnerships come together, the impact is profound. The metrics clearly affirm the value of this approach in advancing equitable care.”

That impact requires sustained investment. “At Unite for HER, we cannot keep up with the growing demand for our program without it,” Weldon said. “Each woman we serve receives $2,000 in integrative therapies and services. We’re proud to offer these resources. We have to raise the full amount every year.” TOUCH’s 24/7 navigation also depends on funding. “We wish we could offer it to everyone,” Fairley said.

“No woman should have to search for these resources or worry about how to afford them. They should be seamlessly built into every treatment plan,” Weldon said. Fairley added, “Until clinical trials reflect the burden of disease, we won’t get drugs that truly treat Black Breast Cancer.”

The vision is clear. Weldon said, “A future without Black breast cancer disparities is one where no woman feels unseen, unheard or dismissed.” She added, “True equality would be transformative.” Fairley shares that hope. “We don’t want anyone to die of breast cancer. But we do want to close the survival gap for Black women.”

This is where equity really begins.

Resources:

Touch BBCA

Unite for HER | Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Support & Services

Home Page – Black TNBC Sanctuary

Your Wellness Passport | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Care for HER | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Blesstie Love – Touch BBCA

The post Care for HER: A New Model for Black Breast Cancer Support appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The State of Maternal Health 2025 report, released by The Harris Poll, draws from the experiences of more than 2,300 women across the United States.

The findings highlight how often Black women enter pregnancy without the information they need and leave childbirth without the support they expected.

Whether during prenatal visits or in the weeks after delivery, the gaps in care continue to put lives at risk.

Discrimination Shapes Access to Care

Black women were three times more likely than white women to report discrimination, bias, or profiling as a barrier to receiving care during pregnancy or childbirth.

Forty percent said they faced challenges accessing care at all, including difficulty taking time off work or finding childcare to attend appointments.

These barriers reflect a system that places the burden on patients to navigate obstacles that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

Limited Prenatal Guidance

The report found that Black women are less likely than white women to receive adequate prenatal care. Many also reported not being informed about key aspects of labor and delivery. Among those who have been pregnant:

• 87 percent did not know cervical checks during labor are optional.
• 80 percent were unaware that provider-directed pushing can negatively affect both mother and baby.
• 66 percent did not know lying flat during labor can reduce blood flow to the baby.
• 56 percent were unaware of the risks associated with elective inductions.
• 54 percent did not know upright birthing positions can benefit outcomes.

These gaps in education can directly affect how safe and prepared someone feels during childbirth.

Self-Advocacy Is Still Expected

Survey respondents were asked whether they felt they had to fight for care. Black women were more likely to agree.

Self-advocacy is often expected but not always met with clear information or responsive care.

For many Black mothers, it means carrying the weight of being both the patient and an advocate.

That kind of pressure can lead to a slow-burning exhaustion, one that leaves mothers feeling unsure and isolated.

Postpartum Support Falls Short

Among Black women who have been pregnant, 59 percent experienced postpartum mental health issues. Nearly half of those women said they received little or no support. More than half strongly agreed that the standard six-week checkup is not enough. And nearly one third said they felt forgotten once the baby was born.

Childbirth is still treated as a finish line, when it should be the start of support.

While delivery receives clinical attention, the weeks and months that follow are often overlooked. Emotional wellbeing, physical healing, and mental health support are treated as optional, leaving many Black mothers to navigate postpartum challenges without consistent care or follow-up.

Centering Recovery

When asked what should change first if Black women were centered in the design of maternal care, respondents pointed to patient education and postpartum support. That includes clear information about birthing positions, pain management options, and mental health resources. It also requires providers to stop assuming that patients already know what to expect.

Christina Lojek, Research Manager at The Harris Poll, reflected on the emotional toll behind the numbers. “I think women feel like they are alone and drowning, but don’t know how or want to scream for help because it feels like they are expected to just go without and get it done.”

She went on to describe how that pressure is shaped by cultural expectations. Pregnancy and childbirth are often treated as something women should push through, even without support, because generations before them did. That belief feeds into the bounce-back mentality, where recovery is rushed, care is minimal, and mothers are expected to move on without acknowledgment of what they’ve endured.

This study moves past statistics and into lived experience. It reflects what Black mothers have been naming for years and gives advocates something concrete to work with. It’s a step toward accountability, and a reminder that better care begins with paying attention to what’s been ignored.

Resources:

Third Annual State of Maternal Health Report

The post Black Mothers Are Still Being Left Behind appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Rise of True Crime Culture

True crime has gone mainstream. Once a niche genre, it now streams alongside rom-coms and dramas, drawing millions with every release. Each new series sparks online buzz, Reddit threads, and amateur investigations. Viewers dig into case files, map timelines, and debate motives. While that scavenger hunt can be informative and sometimes empowering, it also prompts a deeper look at why we turn to tragedy for entertainment.

Audio platforms have followed suit. True crime podcasts now dominate listening charts, pulling audiences with suspenseful storytelling and the promise of answers. But experts say that comfort might not be what it seems.

Why Do We Relax to Violence?

In a 2023 interview on The Mel Robbins Podcast, clinical psychologist Dr. Thema Bryant warned that watching true crime to relax may signal unresolved trauma. “If your idea of relaxing before bed is watching three episodes of Law & Order,” she said, “then I would encourage you to think about why is trauma relaxing to you.”

@melrobbins If your idea of “relaxing” before bed is watching a few episodes of Law & Order (or any other true crime show), listen up. @dr.thema has a really important question for you to ask yourself: “Why is trauma relaxing to me?” This was just ONE of the many incredible mic drop moments and knowledge bombs that Dr. Thema, the current president of the American Psychological Association, drops in this episode. Listen now! “6 Signs You’re Disconnected From Your Power and How to Get It Back: Life-Changing Advice From the Remarkable Dr. Thema Bryant” #melrobbins #melrobbinspodcast #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts ♬ original sound – Mel Robbins

This goes beyond personal preference. It reflects patterns of emotional regulation. According to Dr. Chivonna Childs of the Cleveland Clinic, repeated exposure to violent content can increase anxiety, skew our perception of danger, and desensitize us to real-world harm. What starts as curiosity can turn into a coping mechanism, one that numbs rather than heals.

What Happens in the Brain?

True crime doesn’t just entertain. It stimulates the brain in specific ways. According to a recent article from NeuroLaunch, watching true crime can activate the brain’s reward system. Each twist, clue, or reveal may trigger a release of dopamine, the chemical that helps us feel pleasure and motivation. That’s part of why the genre feels satisfying or even addictive.

But there’s another side. Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, can spike during intense or disturbing scenes. This can lead to sleep disruption, emotional fatigue, or increased anxiety, especially when the content is consumed regularly or late at night.

Experts also point out that our brains are wired to scan for threats. True crime taps into that instinct, offering a sense of control or preparedness. But when consumed too often, it can reinforce fear rather than reduce it.

In short, true crime can feel rewarding and informative. But it also has the potential to overstimulate the nervous system, particularly when it becomes part of a nightly routine.

True Crime, True Fixation

In 2025, Boston University researcher and assistant professor Dr. Kathryn Coduto, published a peer-reviewed study that helps explain why true crime feels so immersive and why it can be hard to stop watching, scrolling, or posting about it.

Her research looked at how people engage with crime stories online, especially when those stories are still unfolding. She found that many viewers experience something called cognitive preoccupation, which means they can’t stop thinking about the case. That mental pull often leads to compulsive behavior, like constantly checking for updates or posting theories on social media.

Coduto also introduced the term forensic fandom, a detective-like mindset where everyday people try to solve crimes using online clues. Social media platforms make this easy by offering visibility, shareability, and real-time updates. But the easier it is to engage, the harder it becomes to disconnect. Her study found that:

• People who felt emotionally connected to victims or perpetrators (called parasocial relationships) were more likely to post compulsively about the case.
• Compulsive posting and scrolling were linked to negative outcomes, including emotional distress, disrupted sleep, and difficulty focusing on work or school.
• Women were especially likely to experience emotional strain, often because they saw themselves in the victims or felt a need to stay informed for safety.

Whose Stories Get Seen and Whose Don’t

Most of the cases participants follow involve missing or murdered white women. These stories often receive widespread media coverage, which makes them easier to follow and more visible across platforms.

But this pattern is not random. Research has consistently shown that white victims, especially women, are more likely to receive national attention compared to Black, Indigenous, or other marginalized victims. This imbalance influences which stories people see, share, and emotionally invest in. It also means that many cases involving people of color are overlooked, underreported, or forgotten entirely.

The visibility of a case often determines how deeply people engage with it. When there is more information available, such as news updates, social media posts, or podcasts, it becomes easier for viewers to follow along, form opinions, and feel involved. However, that visibility is often shaped by race, gender, and perceived relatability rather than the facts of the case alone.

This raises a deeper question about whether we’re engaging with the full spectrum of harm or only the stories that are most visible.

What We Can Do Differently

True crime isn’t going away. But how we engage with it can change. Experts suggest setting boundaries around when and how we consume this content. That might mean avoiding it before bed, taking breaks from social media speculation, or choosing stories that honor victims, not exploit them.

It also means being mindful of whose stories we follow. If certain victims are always visible and others are not, we can ask why and seek out coverage that reflects a fuller picture.

True crime can inform and even inspire action. But it can also overwhelm, distort the truth and be distracting. The difference lies in how we choose to engage and whether we’re willing to step back when the story starts to take over.

Resources:

Conquer Overwhelm: Your Ultima… – The Mel Robbins Podcast – Apple Podcasts

How True Crime can Impact your Mental Health

True Crime’s Psychological Impact: Mental Health Effects Explored

Compulsive use of social media in emerging crime news stories: Perceived channel affordances and forensic fandom.

The post What Finding Comfort in True Crime May Cost Us appeared first on Black Health Matters.

How to spot signs of mental distress in your children before they begin to escalate.

BHM: How can parents stay present when a child insists, they’re fine?

Dr. McClure: Stay close without pushing. You might say, “I hear you saying you’re fine. I’ll be right here if you want to talk.” That steady presence, even without words, can speak louder than questions. It shows your child they’re not alone, even if they’re not ready to open up.

BHM: What does emotional pain look like when it’s masked by silence or composure?

Dr. McClure: It can look like you are doing everything right on the outside while shutting down on the inside. Some children learn to hide their distress to avoid judgment or protect themselves. Watch for subtle shifts such as less eye contact, irritability, pulling back from friends, or a kind of calm that feels rehearsed. These changes often mean it’s time to check in and connect them with support.

BHM: How can parents tell when stress becomes something deeper?

Dr. McClure: Stress comes and goes. Deeper pain sticks around and starts to disrupt daily life. If you notice significant changes in sleep, appetite, mood, or interest, or hear talk about hopelessness, don’t wait. These are warning signs. Act quickly and get help in place.

Advice on having conversations about suicidal thoughts, saying they’re fine when they’re not and finding support systems

BHM: How can parents ask about suicidal thoughts with care?

Dr. McClure: Be clear and speak with care. You might say, “Sometimes kids feel overwhelmed and think about not wanting to be here. Has that ever happened to you?” Asking directly doesn’t plant the idea. It opens the door for honesty and shows your child you’re strong enough to hear the truth and ready to help.

BHM: If a child insists they’re fine, how can parents keep the door open without pushing them away?

Dr. McClure: Respect what they say, but keep space open. You can respond with, “Okay, I’ll respect that. Just know you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here when you’re ready.” That balance of space and support builds trust and lets your child know you’re not going anywhere.

BHM: What support systems outside of therapy can parents lean on?

Dr. McClure: Look for trusted anchors, mentors, coaches, faith leaders, extended family, and community groups. These adults can offer another safe place for your child to turn. Parents don’t have to carry everything alone. Building a circle of care makes a real difference.

How distress shows up in younger kids versus teens, and how we can support our youth better in the future.

BHM: How do signs of distress differ between younger kids and teens?

Dr. McClure: Younger children often show distress through behavior, like acting out, regressing, or clinging. Teens may withdraw, isolate, or take risks. Younger kids need reassurance and stability. Teens need space and respect for their independence, along with consistent check-ins and presence from their parents.

BHM: What gives you hope in supporting Black youth mental health?

Dr. McClure: I see more families and schools talking about mental health early, not waiting for a crisis. That gives me hope. Parents should hold onto the truth that early help works. Building mental health through strength, routines, and safe connections matters just as much as preventing illness.

BHM: What would you change about how we care for Black children’s mental health?

Dr. McClure: I would rewrite systems that focus on deficits first. Care should begin with strengths and proactive support, not just reactions when problems show up. Every parent should know their child is not a problem to be fixed. They are a whole person with gifts, and early support helps those gifts shine.

Resources:

Dr. Byron McClure – 7 Mindsets

The post How to Know When Your Child’s Not Okay appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This phase before menopause affects hormones and can throw off your cycle, energy, and sense of balance. We spoke to Dr. Nicole Sparks, an OB-GYN and lifestyle content creator, about what to expect and when to speak up.

 The First Signs of Perimenopause

Perimenopause often begins subtly. Hormone levels shift, and these changes can manifest in various ways, such as trouble sleeping, mood swings, or irregular menstrual periods. Many people assume it is stress or aging, but these symptoms may be your body’s way of signaling something more specific.

“Some of the signs and symptoms associated with perimenopause are vague and non-specific,” says Dr. Sparks. “So, you may attribute them to stress or ‘getting older’ when it may be more serious than that. Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and irregular periods are some of the first signs patients present with.”

She adds, “It’s ok to have occasional irregular periods. Maybe you’ve started exercising more than usual, or were traveling, and your period came early or late. But if you notice a pattern of persistent irregular periods and symptoms over time, that’s when you should seek help.”

How Perimenopause Impacts Black Women Differently

“Most women start having symptoms of perimenopause in their mid to late forties, but some experience them as early as their thirties,” says Dr. Sparks.

“Perimenopause usually lasts four to eight years and ends when you’ve gone one full year without a period.”

For Black women, the timeline may be earlier and the symptoms more intense. “Studies show that perimenopause can begin earlier in Black women,” she says. “Because of chronic stress and socioeconomic factors, symptoms like irregular periods, sleep disturbances, and hot flashes may be dismissed as normal, and women may not seek help.”

How Shifts in Estrogen Impact Hair, Weight, and Hormones.

Estrogen is often regarded as a reproductive hormone, but it also plays a crucial role in hair growth, metabolism, and the body’s fat storage. During perimenopause, as estrogen levels begin to decline, these systems start to shift in noticeable ways.

“All of the symptoms during perimenopause and menopause tie directly back to a decrease in estrogen,” Dr. Sparks explains.

“Estrogen helps promote the active growth phase of hair follicles. When it decreases, follicles stay longer in the resting phase, and you may notice increased shedding and thinning.”

Estrogen also affects metabolism and the body’s fat storage. “You may notice your metabolism slowing down in your late thirties and early forties,” she says. “You’re burning fewer calories at rest. Fat storage shifts, especially to the abdomen. And when estrogen drops, so does your insulin sensitivity, which can lead to weight gain and increased appetite.”

Estrogen also helps maintain bone strength, so when levels fall, the risk of osteoporosis increases. That is a condition where bones become weaker and more likely to break. Supporting your body with calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing movement like walking or resistance training can help protect your bones during this transition.

They Also Affect Our Mood, Brain, and Mental Health

Hormonal shifts during perimenopause also influence brain chemistry, including neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These are chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and emotional stability.

Estrogen helps your brain produce and utilize serotonin, which supports emotional stability and sleep. It also affects dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in motivation and attention.

Progesterone works with calming systems in the brain that help you feel settled and sleep well.

When these hormones start to rise and fall unevenly, it can throw off how your brain handles emotions, focus, and stress.

“It’s not all in your head, and you’re not alone,” says Dr. Sparks. “Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that help regulate mood. When estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, you may feel irritable one minute and fine the next.”

She continues, “You may notice brain fog, struggling to find words or remember lyrics, and have difficulty concentrating.

These hormone shifts can contribute to anxiety and depression. Add in sleep disturbances and insomnia, and it can make everything feel worse.”

Sleep Disruptions

Sleep changes during perimenopause can mean trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or feeling unrested. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone also influence melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

When melatonin is disrupted, your body may struggle to determine when it is time to wind down.

Simple changes, such as maintaining a regular bedtime, limiting screen time before sleep, and avoiding caffeine late in the day, can help. If insomnia persists, consult your doctor about treatment options tailored to your needs.

Can It Impact Your Diabetes or Hypertension?

“If you are living with diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s important to know how perimenopause can affect your conditions,” Dr. Sparks says. “Estrogen is a protective factor for our heart. When levels decline, it increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in Black women.”

She explains that lower estrogen can also lead to insulin resistance, which affects how well your body manages blood sugar.

“These changes can lead to higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar, and increased weight gain. Let your doctor know if you start to notice shifts in these numbers.”

Perimenopause often overlaps with the onset of chronic conditions. Bone density, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can shift without apparent symptoms. Regular checkups and updates to laboratory tests, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c, can help detect changes early and guide your care.

Pregnancy Can Still Occur

Perimenopause doesn’t mean pregnancy is off the table. Ovulation can still happen, even if cycles are irregular or symptoms are hard to track.

Birth rates among women in their late 30s and early 40s have continued to rise, as more people choose to start families later in life.

This unpredictability can be stressful. If you’re trying to conceive, it may take longer and require fertility support. If you’re not trying to conceive, it’s worth reviewing your birth control options. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends seeking an infertility evaluation after six months of trying if you’re over 35, and before trying if you’re over 40.

Advocating for Better Care

“You aren’t married to your doctor,” says Dr. Sparks. “If your concerns are being dismissed, find a new provider. It’s unfortunate, but many women aren’t taken seriously when they bring up perimenopause.”

She encourages preparation. “Advocate for yourself. Bring a list of symptoms and why you’re concerned. Keep a diary so you can be specific. Ask if your symptoms could be related to perimenopause and what that means for your health.

“Make sure your labs, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings are current. If they aren’t, request updates. And if your provider still doesn’t listen, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion.”

You do not have to wait until things get worse. If you are noticing changes in your cycle, mood, sleep, or energy, start tracking them. The more specific you are, the easier it is to get answers and the care you deserve.

Resources:

About Nicole – Nicole Alicia MD

Evaluating Infertility | ACOG

The post This Is What Perimenopause Feels Like appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This year, he’s taking that work to a new level through national partnerships and candid storytelling that explores what it’s really like to live with Crohn’s.

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s an unpredictable illness that can flare up without warning, making everyday life a constant balancing act between managing symptoms and trying to lead a normal life.

From Crisis to Campaign

In September 2025, Williams partnered with AbbVie to launch Beyond a Gut Feeling, a national campaign aimed at breaking the stigma around gastrointestinal health. In the campaign video, he uses a chaotic film set as a metaphor for uncontrolled IBD. “You wouldn’t put up with an out-of-control video like this,” he says. “So why put up with uncontrolled IBD?”

The campaign marks a turning point in Williams’ journey with Crohn’s disease, a condition he didn’t fully understand until it nearly cost him his life. Diagnosed in his early 20s, he spent years pushing through symptoms while trying to stay healthy and build muscle. By 24, he was in crisis. “It just crashed. Everything shut down,” he told Men’s Health. Emergency surgery removed six inches of his lower intestine, but the damage was too severe. His intestines perforated, he went septic, and doctors raced him back into surgery.

For months, he relied on a feeding system that delivered nutrients directly into his veins and used an ostomy bag. At one point, Williams weighed just 105 pounds and was too weak to stand.

That experience reshaped how he thinks about health. In the Beyond a Gut Feeling campaign video, he reflected, ” I looked at it a lot as, well, my abdomen hurts right now. I need that to stop hurting so I can do my job,” he says. “Where the actual answer is, something’s wrong here. I need to figure out what that is.”

For Williams, recovery was physical and emotional. Williams had to reevaluate his relationship with wellness and happiness. He gave up alcohol, red meat, and coffee to reduce flare-ups. “Symptom management is important for feeling better, but it does not change the course of the disease,” he explains. “That’s why I’m focusing on long-term goals like visible improvement of the lining of the intestinal tract.”

Now in remission, Williams is sharing what he’s learned. He used to brush off his own symptoms and push through the pain just to get through the day. That approach nearly cost him everything. Now he pays attention, and he wants people to know that being well comes first.

Brotherly Wellness

Crohn’s doesn’t just affect one person; it reshapes routines and relationships. In the same interview with Men’s Health, Tyler revealed that his younger brother Tyrel also has Crohn’s disease. Tyrel’s first flare-up happened in early 2020. Since then, the brothers have focused on their health together, trading support and staying honest about what their bodies need.

“I had to learn how to stop making dramatic changes quickly and develop a better relationship with my body,” said Tyler. This journey has strengthened their bond, allowing Tyler to inspire others and offer support and empathy to those facing similar circumstances.

Awareness

It’s important to note that while Crohn’s disease is more common in non-Hispanic White populations, the rates of hospitalization and death are disproportionately higher within the Black community. According to the CDC, the prevalence of Crohn’s disease among non-Hispanic Black individuals is about 0.5%. Still, the rates of hospitalization and death are much higher compared to other racial groups. This highlights the specific hardships our community faces due to systemic disparities. Raising awareness is a valuable step we can all take toward improving our individual and collective health.

Here are some common symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation:

• Persistent diarrhea.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Urgent need to move bowels.
• Abdominal cramps and pain.
• Sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation
• General symptoms like fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite.
• Constipation, which can lead to bowel obstruction.

Tyler James Williams’ battle with Crohn’s disease highlights the importance of looking after our health and well-being. Health issues can sometimes throw us off track, and often, we might not even know they’re there. Remember, self-care includes speaking up about your feelings and seeking help when needed. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, reaching out can make a real difference. So, if you think you might be experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s, it’s important to talk to your doctor and get the support you deserve.

Resources:

Crohn’s disease – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Beyond A Gut Feeling

Tyler James Williams’s Big Secret for Becoming Stronger Than Ever

IBD Facts and Stats | IBD | CDC

Crohn’s Disease Symptoms: What to Watch For | Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

The post Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams On Living With Crohn’s appeared first on Black Health Matters.

For many, though, autumn still feels busy. The calendar fills, and expectations pile up. But this season can be something else, a reset, a return to yourself, a chance to feel more grounded.

We spoke with clinical pharmacist Dr. Christina Madison and therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, a New York Times bestselling author, to explore how to navigate this season with greater ease and clarity.

Calm Mornings

Picture a morning that doesn’t start with a screen. The blinds are cracked just enough to let in the light. There’s a warm drink in your hands, and nowhere you need to be just yet.

“Honoring rest without guilt means recognizing that productivity isn’t just measured by constant action,” said Nedra Tawwab. “It’s also about our ability to recharge and reflect.”

That kind of intentional rest can be a cue to check in with your health. According to Aflac’s Wellness Matters Survey, 9 out of 10 Americans have delayed routine checkups and screenings that could help catch issues early. Slowing down is actually a form of self-care.

She encourages people to listen to their natural inclination to slow down, especially when they feel run down or overworked. “Giving ourselves permission to pause, savor quiet moments, and trust that rest is an essential part of growth” is key, she said.

Dr. Christina Madison agrees that fall is a good time to check in. “Shorter days and quieter weekends can be a great opportunity to check in on both your mental and physical health,” she said. “Consider pursuing mindful activities that can help manage stress and pass the time when you’re not able to get outdoors or see friends and family as much, such as reading, cooking, yoga, or journaling.”

Feel-Good Movement

Movement in fall doesn’t have to be intense. It can be restorative. You can make your movement meet you. Stretch in the living room. Dance while dinner simmers. Stroll through a park with leaves crunching underfoot.

“As the colder months approach, one of the first healthy habits people often falter on is their workout routines,” said Dr. Madison. “It’s easy to feel lazy about our physical fitness as the temperatures start to drop and the days are shorter, but the key is to stay on top of it and make movement enjoyable.”

She recommends indoor movement options, such as yoga or walking, to keep your body active without facing the cold. “Moving your body is not only good for your physical health but also your mental health,” she said.

Tawwab adds that rest is not a sign of weakness. “We should reach out for support from trusted friends, family, a therapist, or even a primary care physician to talk about how we are feeling,” she said. “Above all, we should remember that it is ok to move at our own pace.”

If you’re feeling unusually tired or burned out, it may be worthwhile to consult a healthcare provider. Remember, your physical, mental, and emotional health are all connected.

Eat What Supports You

Yes, nutrients matter. But what matters just as much is how they show up in meals that support you.

Dr. Madison recommends leaning into seasonal vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens. “They’re packed with nutrients that naturally support your overall health,” she said.

If you’re considering new supplements or experiencing changes in your energy levels, it’s a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider. Fall can be a time when underlying issues surface, and early conversations can help you feel more informed and prepared.

It’s not only what’s in the dish, but how it supports you. That could mean adding grains like brown rice, oats, or quinoa to your meals. Try cooked vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, or squash. Leafy greens, such as those with lemon or vinegar, can support digestion. Garlic, turmeric, and olive oil also offer benefits, especially when paired with something warm and filling. These ingredients can work together to support energy, mood, and immunity.

Hydration is essential in the fall, but it can manifest differently than in summer. Alongside water, try warm drinks that support digestion and circulation. Herbal teas, such as ginger, cinnamon, or nettle, can be soothing. Broths made from vegetables, bones, or mushrooms offer minerals and warmth. Sipping them slowly can help calm the nervous system and support gut health.

This is all about eating in a way that feels good for you this season.

Elevate Your Space

This is the season to soften your space. Think warm lighting, cozy textures, and scents that evoke a sense of calm.

“To stay grounded in the fall, I recommend creating a space in your home or office that feels calm and comfortable,” said Dr. Madison. “Your home should be your sanctuary.”

She suggests cozy lighting, relaxing scents from candles or oil diffusers, and even creating a reading nook. “Many studies have shown that when your space is more cluttered, it can directly impact your mood and productivity,” she said.

Try layering blankets, switching to warmer bulbs, or placing a favorite book within reach. Even small changes can shift the energy of a room.

Protect Your Peace

Life doesn’t slow down just because the season changes. That’s when boundaries matter most.

“During the fall, animals hibernate to recover and restore their energy,” said Tawwab. “Perhaps we can take a cue from nature and practice wisdom regarding how we use our energy during the fall months.”

She recommends setting limits on work hours, saying no to extra commitments, and prioritizing physical health. “Boundaries around technology and social obligations are important for us when it comes to ensuring we have time to recharge after a busy day or week,” she said.

For those navigating grief or emotional fatigue, Tawwab suggests simple grounding practices. “Try to get outside to breathe in some fresh air, go for a walk, or even just open the blinds to consume as much natural light as possible.”

Let It Go, Let It In

Fall can be a season of release. Nedra Tawwab encourages us to let go of the pressure to perform and embrace who we are. “Let go of the expectations you have about how you ‘should’ show up,” she encourages. “Instead, embrace who you are during this season.”

Connection may look different right now, but it still matters. “We are the stewards of our mental, physical, and emotional health, and we are more empowered than we think.”

With intention and grace, this season can feel softer, more honest, and more yours.

Resources:

The Public Health Pharmacist

Nedra Tawwab

Wellness Matters | Aflac

The post Your Guide to a Fall Reset appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among U.S. adolescents. For teens living with bipolar disorder, the risk is even higher. But recent studies are revealing how brain development, emotional pain, and social pressure collide. Early, responsive care could change everything.

The Risks We Can’t Ignore

Suicide attempts among teens are disturbingly common. The CDC reports that nearly 1 in 10 high school students tried to take their own lives in the past year. For youth with bipolar disorder, the risk climbs even higher.

A 2023 review in FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry found that suicide death rates in this group are up to 20 times higher than in the general population.

Between 5 and 8 percent will die by suicide. The numbers speak for themselves and for the kids behind them. Early support can make all the difference.

Their Brains Tell The Story

There is a scientific reason behind the increased risks among this population. MRI scans have revealed distinct brain differences in bipolar teens who’ve attempted suicide. These youth often show reduced volume and weaker connections in the frontal-limbic system. In other words, the areas regulating impulse control and emotions.

If they are acting out or overly emotional, they may not be able to control their behavior.

The changes are especially pronounced in the frontal cortex, a region still under construction during adolescence. A study led by Yale researchers found these structural shifts may help explain why some teens are more vulnerable to impulsive, high-risk behaviors, even when they’re receiving care.

Where Teens with Bipolar Disorder Live Impacts Their Access to Support (and So Much More)

While brain scans show how bipolar disorder can affect emotion and impulse control, the environment around a teen plays a significant role, too. A recent study from Weill Cornell and Columbia University used machine learning to map suicide risk across thousands of U.S. counties. Instead of focusing on individual traits, the researchers examined social conditions, including poverty, housing quality, pollution, and access to healthcare.

They found three distinct community profiles, each with its own pattern of suicide rates. Rural areas struggled with isolation and aging infrastructure. Stressed communities faced family strain and environmental hardship.

In diverse urban regions, income gaps and cultural barriers to care were more common.

For teens living with bipolar disorder, these findings matter. The places they grow up in can shape how easy it is to get help, how safe they feel, and how much support is available when things get hard.

Symptoms May Look Different in Our Teens

Black youth are often underrepresented in mental health research and underserved in clinical care. Misdiagnosis, stigma, and systemic bias delay treatment and hide early warning signs.

As reported by the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Black adolescents are less likely to receive timely psychiatric care and more likely to be misclassified or criminalized for symptoms of mania or depression.

According to the Child Mind Institute, providers often miss signs of depression in Black teens because their symptoms don’t match the narrow clinical scripts built around white youth. Instead of sadness or withdrawal, some teens may show irritability, fatigue, or behavioral changes. Without cultural context or training, these signs are misread as defiance or aggression.

The same report notes that Black teens are more likely to be diagnosed with conduct disorders or schizophrenia, while white teens with similar symptoms are more often diagnosed with depression. This gap in recognition leads to missed opportunities for early intervention and appropriate care.

What Real Prevention Looks Like

Science is evolving, and so is the strategy. By identifying vulnerable brain circuits, tracking behavior, and removing barriers to care, researchers and clinicians are developing more effective interventions.

For families, this means pushing for care that sees the whole child. It means demanding research that reflects real life. And it means listening to teens who are already showing us what they need.

Prevention is possible. But it starts with paying attention to what bipolar teens are teaching us, about pain, about strength, and about the kind of care that meets them where they are.

Resources:

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2023

Suicide Assessment and Prevention in Bipolar Disorder: How Current Evidence Can Inform Clinical Practice

Gray and white matter differences in adolescents and young adults with prior suicide attempts across bipolar and major depressive disorders – ScienceDirect

Machine Learning Uncovers Social Risk Clusters Linked to Suicide Across U.S. | Newsroom | Weill Cornell Medicine

43.4 BLACK AND BLUE: UNDERSTANDING STIGMA AND DIAGNOSTIC BARRIERS TO INCREASE TREATMENT RECEIPT FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DISORDERS – Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Misdiagnosis of Mood Disorders in Black Teenagers – Child Mind Institute

The post Understanding Suicide Risk in Bipolar Teens appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BLK, the dating and social app built for the Black community, surveyed thousands of users across the country to find out where that kind of connection is actually happening. Respondents rated their cities on dating satisfaction, partner availability, cultural alignment, and overall community vibe. The result is a list of cities where connection isn’t a guessing game. It’s showing up, feeling right, and making sense.

1. Houston, TX

Sitting at the top of the list, Houston leads with its mix of Southern hospitality and unapologetic ambition. Its strong Black community, active social scene, and deep cultural roots make it a place where connection feels natural, whether over brunch, at a community event, or just moving through everyday life.

2. Chicago, IL

Chicago has layers. From historic neighborhoods to buzzing community spaces, it’s a city where Black singles can find both comfort and curiosity. The vibe changes with the weather, but the chances to meet someone who feels like home stay consistent.

3. New York, NY

New York moves fast, but the connections here can be intentional. With so many Black creatives, professionals, and community spaces across the boroughs, it’s a place where dating doesn’t have to feel transactional. It can feel like finding someone who gets your pace.

4. Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is growing, and so is its dating scene. Young Black professionals are planting roots here, drawn by career opportunities and a social landscape that’s starting to reflect their values. It’s a city where building something, romantic or otherwise, feels possible.

5. Washington, DC

DC has range. From policy circles to poetry nights, it’s a place where Black singles connect through shared purpose and cultural pride. The dating scene often comes with intention, and the community makes space for it.

6. Baltimore, MD

Baltimore keeps it real. The city’s creative spirit and tight-knit neighborhoods offer space for connection that isn’t performative. Whether it’s through art, activism, or everyday life, Black singles here are finding relationships that feel grounded.

7. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta’s reputation as a cultural hub still holds. The city’s mix of legacy and innovation creates a dating scene that’s vibrant and layered. For Black singles, it’s a place where excellence is expected and connection often follows.

8. Detroit, MI

Detroit is rebuilding, and so are the ways people connect. The city’s creative resurgence and strong sense of identity make it a space where Black singles meet others who value authenticity and shared experience.

9. Philadelphia, PA

Philly doesn’t try to impress. It just shows up. The city’s Black art scene, community events, and everyday realness make it a place where connection can grow without pretense. For singles looking for something solid, it delivers.

10. Dallas, TX

Dallas is stretching beyond its stereotypes. With a growing Black creative class and more spaces for cultural expression, the city is becoming a place where Black singles find both comfort and possibility.

Cities That Didn’t Make the Cut

Some cities ranked lower in dating satisfaction and connection among Black singles. According to BLK’s survey, these include:

• Cincinnati, OH
• Wichita, KS
• Columbus, OH
• San Diego, CA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Indianapolis, IN

Each scored low on partner availability, cultural alignment, and overall vibe. For many Black singles, the dating scene in these cities feels disconnected from their lived experience.

Love shows up in all kinds of places. If you’re open to it, BLK is one place to start.

Resources:

BLK

The post 10 Cities Where Black Singles Are Finding Real Connection appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The research is still unfolding, but here’s what we know so far about how CAR-T therapy is being used to treat ovarian cancer.

What Makes Ovarian Cancer So Hard to Treat

According to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program, an estimated 20,890 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2025. About 12,730 are expected to die from the disease. The five-year relative survival rate is 51.6 percent, but that number drops significantly for Black women, who face unique barriers to early detection, timely treatment, and access to clinical trials.

As Dr. Oliver Dorigo, director of gynecologic oncology at Stanford Medicine, explained in a Stanford Cancer Institute report, “Ovarian cancer remains a very difficult disease to treat, especially when it recurs. Many patients are in dire need of better therapies.”

What Is CAR-T Cell Therapy?

CAR-T stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. It’s a form of immunotherapy that modifies a patient’s own T cells, white blood cells that help fight disease, to better recognize and destroy cancer cells. Researchers collect T cells from the blood, reprogram them in a lab, and return them to the body, where they act as targeted cancer hunters.

This therapy has shown remarkable success in blood cancers like leukemia. Now, researchers are adapting CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including ovarian cancer.

Inside the Promise of CAR-T Therapy

Stanford researchers, including Dr. Oliver Dorigo and Dr. Crystal Mackall, a leading expert in cell therapy, are testing CAR-T cells that target a protein called B7-H3, which is highly expressed in ovarian tumors. Their phase 1 trial, launched in late 2024, is exploring both intravenous and direct abdominal delivery. That abdominal approach could offer more precise targeting, since ovarian cancer often remains confined to the abdomen.

Early Results and What Comes Next

Initial findings from the trial are encouraging. Researchers saw early promise and learned from side effects in the first six patients, helping to refine the therapy.

Researchers are also exploring ways to improve CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. That includes pairing it with other treatments and finding ways to help immune cells reach tumors more effectively.

What This Means for Black Women

While these therapies are still in early stages, they reflect a shift toward more personalized, immune-based treatment. Approaches like CAR-T could eventually offer longer-lasting results with fewer side effects.

But access matters. For Black women, who are often underrepresented in clinical trials and underserved in cancer care, these innovations won’t mean much unless they’re available to everyone. A recently updated PARP inhibitors trial, which tested a targeted therapy for ovarian cancer, included only 1.6 percent Black participants, according to data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Without diverse participation, researchers can’t fully understand how well these treatments work for the people who may need them most.

Breakthroughs Without Representation

Studies show that Black women are 25 percent less likely than white women to receive ovarian cancer treatment that follows national guidelines, according to a meta-analysis published by Oxford University Press.

Even when cancer stage and treatment type are similar, Black women often face worse outcomes. Many Black women experience resistance to chemotherapy and recurrence sooner than other groups.

These gaps in care aren’t explained by biology alone. Many Black women are diagnosed with high-grade serous tumors, the most aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Yet access to genetic testing, personalized treatment plans, and clinical trials remains limited. Some providers delay referrals or underestimate symptoms. Others fail to explain options in ways that feel trustworthy or culturally relevant.

As therapies advance, advocacy must ensure that Black women are included in research. They must be informed about emerging treatments and supported through care that respects their experiences and meets their needs.

And CAR-T cell therapy may be just that, a new beginning in a story that needs change.

Resources:

Ovarian Cancer — Cancer Stat Facts

Using CAR-T cells to treat ovarian cancer | Stanford Cancer Institute

Study Results | NCT02655016 | A Study of Niraparib (GSK3985771) Maintenance Treatment in Participants With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Following Response on Front-Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy | ClinicalTrials.gov

Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Health-Care Access Disparities in Ovarian Cancer Treatment and Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | JNCI Cancer Spectrum | Oxford Academic

The post CAR-T Therapy Is Changing Ovarian Cancer Care appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The answer is not simple, but it is evolving. While no single ingredient can stop cancer, research continues to show that diet may influence how prostate cancer behaves, especially in its early stages. In a healthcare system that often misses the mark for Black men, food offers a way to take back some control.

What the MEAL Study Taught Us

The Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) study was one of the first large-scale trials to explore whether increasing vegetable intake could influence prostate cancer progression. Men with early-stage prostate cancer were randomized to receive counseling aimed at raising their vegetable consumption to at least seven servings per day, with a focus on cruciferous and carotenoid-rich vegetables. The control group received written dietary guidance without structured support.

After two years, researchers found no significant difference in tumor progression. However, the study demonstrated that men can change how they eat and maintain those changes. That foundation has shaped newer studies with stronger outcomes.

What We Know Now About Diet and Prostate Cancer

Recent research from Johns Hopkins has added clarity to how diet may shape prostate cancer outcomes. In a study of 886 men with low-grade prostate cancer on active surveillance, researchers found that those with higher Healthy Eating Index scores were less likely to see their cancer progress. For every 12.5-point increase in HEI score, the risk of moving to a more aggressive stage dropped—15 percent for grade group 2, and 30 percent for grade group 3.

The Healthy Eating Index is a way to measure how well someone’s diet aligns with national nutrition guidelines. It doesn’t require strict meal plans or expensive ingredients. Instead, it favors everyday foods that support the body and reduce inflammation. That can include familiar staples like collards, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, okra, brown rice, and leafy greens. It’s not about cutting everything out. It’s about building meals that work with your body, not against it.

Foods That Support Prostate Health

Certain foods may help the body respond better to prostate cancer. They won’t cure it, but they can support your health in ways that matter.

Tomatoes, especially when cooked, release a compound called lycopene. It’s an antioxidant that may help slow cancer growth. Think tomato sauce, stews, or roasted tomatoes. Heat makes it easier for your body to absorb and use.

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain natural chemicals that help clear out toxins. These are easy to steam, sauté, or toss into a stir-fry.

Fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in healthy fats that calm inflammation. Two servings a week is a good place to start.

Green tea and pomegranate juice are packed with antioxidants that may help protect prostate cells. Some studies suggest they can help lower PSA levels, which is one way doctors track prostate cancer. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate. When levels rise, it can be a sign that cancer is growing or becoming more aggressive.

Pumpkin seeds offer zinc, which supports prostate function. They’re easy to sprinkle on oatmeal, salads, or roasted vegetables.

Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are full of nutrients that fight stress in the body. Fresh or frozen, they’re simple to add to breakfast or snacks.

Leafy greens like spinach and kale help reduce inflammation and support overall health. You can blend them into smoothies, cook them down with garlic, or serve them with grains.

For a more detailed breakdown of foods to eat and avoid, explore the University of California, San Francisco’s Diet Recommendations Pamphlet.

Why This Matters for Black Men

Black men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men. According to the American Cancer Society’s 2025 report, they face a 16 percent higher mortality rate despite only a 4 percent higher incidence. This gap reflects systemic failures in early detection, access to guideline-based care, and inclusion in clinical trials.

Between 1991 and 2022, cancer mortality among Black men aged 40 to 59 declined by up to 67 percent. That progress is real, but it is not universal. It stems from reduced smoking rates and treatment advances, not from structural change. Black men continue to be diagnosed later, treated less aggressively, and excluded from the research that shapes care.

Lifestyle shifts offer a form of agency in a system that rarely prioritizes Black health. Food is not a replacement for treatment, but it can be a powerful ally.

Steps You Can Take Today

If you or someone you love is navigating prostate cancer, here are shifts worth considering:

• Add fatty fish like salmon or sardines twice a week.
• Use olive or avocado oil instead of seed oils.
• Incorporate beans, lentils, and whole grains regularly.
• Cut back on fried and ultra-processed foods.
• Include cooked tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, and berries in weekly meals.
• Sprinkle in flaxseed or chia for plant-based omega-3s.

Always consult your care team before starting supplements or making major dietary changes.

Changing your diet will not erase a diagnosis. But it can support your body, your treatment, and your future. For Black men facing higher risks and fewer resources, food is care. It’s a way to stay present, stay grounded, and stay involved in your own healing.

Resources:

A Randomized Trial of Diet in Men with Early Stage Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: Rationale and Design of the Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) Study (CALGB 70807 [Alliance]) – PMC

Slowing Cancer Through Better Eating | Johns Hopkins Medicine

P8-II-Diet_Guide_web [2].pdf

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025

The post Can Your Plate Protect Your Prostate? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Here’s what you might not hear enough: what you do after a diagnosis matters. And movement, the kind you do every day, can help you live longer.

What the Science Says

According to a 2025 report from the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer among men in the U.S. More than 313,000 cases are expected this year. And while early-stage cases often have high survival rates, advanced-stage diagnoses are rising, especially among Black men.

Research shows that movement can make a real difference. A 2021 study published in JAMA Oncology found that men with prostate cancer who engaged in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) during active surveillance saw improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and in markers linked to slower disease progression.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering, researchers studied whether exercise could affect prostate cancer directly. This study examined how men perceived their condition and how their tumors behaved.

Men scheduled for surgery walked on treadmills at home for about four weeks. Those who exercised at least 225 minutes a week showed changes in two key biomarkers:

•  Ki-67, which tracks how fast cancer cells are dividing.
•  PSA, which signals prostate cancer activity and risk.

Lower levels of both suggest slower tumor growth. Most participants were inactive before the trial, and more than a third identified as nonwhite. The exercise was safe, consistent, and done entirely at home.

While the trial didn’t measure survival, it showed that movement can influence the biology of the disease.

What Black Men Are Up Against

Prostate cancer affects Black men more severely because of delayed diagnoses, limited access, and medical systems that don’t always respond with urgency or equity.

In our community, people aren’t always told what to watch for. Screenings come late. Treatment isn’t always aggressive, and research often leaves us out. Movement won’t fix everything, but it helps. It supports sleep, stress, strength, and survival. It’s something we can do while the rest catch up.

Move With Purpose

You don’t need to run miles or lift heavy. The CDC recommends:

• 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, like walking, dancing, or yard work.
• 75 minutes of vigorous activity like jogging or cycling.
• Two days of strength training for major muscle groups.

For people with prostate cancer, these guidelines still apply. They should be adjusted based on energy levels, treatment stage, and safety. Movement doesn’t have to be intense. It can be light, structured, or flexible. Even seated stretches, short walks, or using household items for resistance count.

If treatment side effects are slowing you down, start where you are. Stretch in the morning. Walk at lunch. Dance with your kids. What matters is consistency and paying attention to what your body can handle.

Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist about what’s safe for you. Ask about programs that understand your needs. Some hospitals offer exercise oncology support, and many community centers now host classes designed for survivors.

Your Strongest Resource

The journey won’t look the same for everyone. Some find peace in morning jogs. Others prefer walking, stretching, or lifting light weights. Exercise helps, but it’s not just about routines. It’s about intention. About finding what motivates you, what feels good, and what fits into your life.

If you’re wondering what to carry with you, bring purpose, trust in your body, and the instinct to keep moving when things feel uncertain.

That’s where the progress can begin.

Resources:

Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Facts | American Cancer Society

Effects of Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Biochemical Progression in Men With Localized Prostate Cancer Under Active Surveillance: The ERASE Randomized Clinical Trial | Cardiology | JAMA Oncology | JAMA Network

Can Exercise Impact Prostate Cancer? A First of its Kind Clinical Trial | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Adult Activity: An Overview | Physical Activity Basics | CDC

The post Regular Exercise May Boost Prostate Cancer Survival appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Obesity adds another layer of risk, intensifying the likelihood of aggressive tumors and late-stage diagnoses.

How Obesity Alters Cancer Behavior

Obesity affects how the body functions, including how it responds to cancer. Fat tissue can stir up inflammation and shift hormone levels, which may help prostate cancer grow or spread. These changes can make the disease harder to treat, especially when it’s caught late.

A recent study published in BMC Cancer found that men who gained weight after a prostate cancer diagnosis had a 64 percent higher risk of dying from the disease. Researchers believe this may reflect underlying illness, treatment side effects, or disease progression.

Another study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that men with obesity were more likely to die from prostate cancer, even when they received regular screenings. Researchers did not identify a single cause, but they pointed to challenges in detection.

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein measured in the blood to help spot prostate cancer early. In people with obesity, PSA levels can be diluted by a larger blood volume, which may make results appear lower than they actually are. That can delay follow-up testing.

Additionally, rectal exams may be harder to perform accurately in men with obesity, which can affect how well the prostate is assessed during screening. These screening limitations can allow the cancer to grow before it is caught, making treatment more difficult and survival less likely.

Diagnoses Are Rising, Especially in Late Stages

Data from ACS shows that prostate cancer rates, which had been declining for years, began increasing around 2014. Between then and 2021, new cases rose by about 3 percent annually. The most concerning trend is in advanced-stage diagnoses, which are growing fastest in men over 55. These late-stage cases are harder to treat and carry a much lower chance of survival.

The same report estimates that men diagnosed early have a five-year survival rate close to 100 percent. For those whose cancer has already spread, that number drops to just 38 percent. Researchers point to reduced screening and delayed detection as key factors behind the shift, especially in communities with limited access to care.

Screening Isn’t Reaching Those Who Need It Most

In 2012, federal guidelines advised against routine PSA testing, which led to fewer screenings and more late-stage diagnoses, especially among Black men. Providers became less likely to offer the test, and insurance coverage grew more limited. Even after the guidelines were updates in 2018, screening rates haven’t fully recovered. The effects of that rollback are still felt today, especially within our community.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation now urges Black men to begin screening discussions between ages 40 and 45. The American Cancer Society recommends starting at 45 for those at higher risk, including men with a family history. Despite these guidelines, many Black men still face barriers to screening, including cost and limited provider access.

The Policy Pivot

In 2023, lawmakers introduced the PSA Screening for HIM Act. The bill aimed to require insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men without out-of-pocket costs. It named Black men and those with a family history as priority groups and called for screening to begin at age 40. Although it didn’t pass, it marked a shift. For the first time, federal policy acknowledged the survival gap and the need to screen earlier.

In 2025, the bill returned as H.R.1300 in the 119th Congress. Sponsored by Rep. Neal Dunn and co-sponsored by Rep. Yvette Clarke and others, it calls for mandatory coverage of PSA screenings starting at age 40 for men at high risk. That includes Black men, men with a family history, and those whose providers identify elevated risk due to obesity.

The bill removes cost-sharing, which means no co-pays or deductibles for eligible screenings. It also highlights the contrast in outcomes. Nearly 100 percent survive when caught early; just 37 percent when caught late.

The bill is still in committee, but its message matters. It shows that these concerns are being heard and could be acted on in the future. Policy is beginning to reflect what Black men, and their families have long known. Early screening saves lives, and equity starts with access.

Resources:

Press Releases

Weight gain or loss after diagnosis and survival outcomes in prostate cancer: a meta-analysis | BMC Cancer | Full Text

Growing implications of obesity for prostate cancer risk and mortality: where do we go from here? | JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute | Oxford Academic

Archived: Prostate Cancer: Screening | United States Preventive Services Taskforce

Prostate Cancer Foundation Highlights Evidence-Based Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines for Black Men | Prostate Cancer Foundation

American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection | American Cancer Society

Text – H.R.1826 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): PSA Screening for HIM Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Text – H.R.1300 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): PSA Screening for HIM Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

The post Obesity Can Increase Prostate Cancer Risk in Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Cost of Caregiving

The caregivers in our communities are managing medications, coordinating appointments, cooking, cleaning, and offering emotional support. They’re doing all this while working jobs, raising children, and navigating a healthcare system that often fails them. And they’re doing it with little rest, little recognition, and almost no room to breathe.

In 2025, more than 63 million Americans are family caregivers, according to a report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. But Black caregivers are carrying more than their share of the weight. As stated by The Senior Alliance, Black caregivers spend about 1.3 more years in caregiving roles than the national average and devote over nine extra hours per week to caregiving tasks. The percentage of Black women in caregiving roles is 6% higher than the national average.

And while Black caregivers are just as likely as others to be caring for a relative, those relatives are 25% less likely to be their parents. That matters. It shows how caregiving in our communities isn’t only about caring for mom or dad, it’s about stepping in for siblings, cousins, aunties, or elders who aren’t blood but are still family. Being there for others, not just those who raised you. It’s who needs you.

The Toll on Body and Mind

Caregiving is often framed as noble, but rarely as depleting. That needs to change.
According to Forbes, caregivers experience significantly higher rates of health problems than non-caregivers. These include elevated blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disorders, and chronic stress-related illnesses. Depression and anxiety rates among caregivers are two to three times higher than in the general population.

And the longer the caregiving continues, the deeper the toll. As reported by AARP, one in five caregivers now rates their own health as “fair” or “poor.” A quarter are taking on debt, and one in five cannot afford basic needs like food.

This is not sustainable. And for Black caregivers, the stakes are even higher.

Black Women Are Holding It Down, At a Cost

Black women are overrepresented in care work, both paid and unpaid. While Black men also show up as caregivers, the burden falls most heavily on the women in our communities.

According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, if their unpaid caregiving hours were compensated, their labor would be worth $80 billion annually.

Unfortunately, that labor is undervalued. Black women are more likely to be the sole caregiver in their household, more likely to care for multiple people, and more likely to do it without paid leave or outside support. They’re also more likely to delay their own care, push through exhaustion, and internalize the idea that rest is something you earn, not something you need.

The result? Higher rates of stress-related illness. More missed doctor’s appointments. More caregivers are getting sick themselves and have fewer opportunities to recover, reset, or even be seen. Caregiving isn’t the enemy. But ignoring its toll is. By identifying its stressors, we make space for caregivers in our communities to be cared for, not just relied on.

What Self-Care Really Means And Why It’s So Hard

Let’s be clear, self-care isn’t only bubble baths and scented candles. It’s not a marketing slogan. It’s the act of preserving your health, your sanity, and your identity in the face of relentless demands.

For Black caregivers, self-care often feels impossible. There can be guilt and pressure involved.

You might find yourself saying:

• “We take care of our own in this family.”
• “If I don’t do it, who will?”
• “I promised I’d always be there.”

These beliefs are rooted in love, but they can lead to burnout, resentment, and serious health consequences. It’s time to challenge them.

Reclaiming Self-Care

Self-care starts with honesty, not just about what you need, but about what’s getting in the way.

Are you skipping meals? Ignoring your own doctor’s appointments? Feeling resentful but afraid to say it out loud? You’re not alone, and you’re not failing. You’re human.

Recognize That You Matter

You’re not just a caregiver. You’re a whole person. Your health, your joy, your rest. They matter. Don’t postpone them for “someday.” Prioritize them now.

Name What You Need

Just like those you care for, your needs shift. Day to day. Moment to moment. Whether it’s sleep, support, a good meal, time, or silence, you’re allowed to name it, claim it, and act on it.

Ask for Help Without Apology

Be specific. Ask a friend to run errands, ask a sibling to take a shift, or ask your community to show up. People often want to help; they need direction. You’re incredible for stepping into the caregiving role, but no one should expect you to be a superhero. Put down the cape and lean on your community.

Protect Your Health

Schedule your appointments. Take your medications. Eat nourishing food. Drink water. Sleep. Your body isn’t a machine built to serve others. It needs care too. And you already know how to care deeply. That wisdom applies to you as well.

Find Joy in Small Moments

You may not be able to hop on a plane and escape your worries, but joy lives in the everyday. Five minutes of quiet. A walk with your thoughts. A playlist that makes you sing every word. Joy isn’t always prescribed, but it is medicine. And you deserve to feel it.

Join a Support Network

Seek out caregiver groups that reflect your experience. As recommended by The Senior Alliance, culturally affirming support networks offer connection, validation, and practical help.

Challenge the Guilt

Guilt in caregiving is rooted in lies. It tells you rest is wrong. That asking for help means you’re failing and that your worth is tied to how much you overextend. Here’s the truth. You are worthy. Even when you’re resting, or when you’re not “doing,” and especially when you’re simply being.

A Message to Black Caregivers

You are the backbone of so many families. The ones who show up when it’s hard, when it’s thankless, and when no one else does. But you are also human. You’re allowed to be tired. You’re allowed to need care. And you’re absolutely allowed to put yourself first. Because when you do, everyone benefits.

Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity that looks different for every individual, and it’s time we treated it that way. You deserve to take up space, not just in caregiving, but in your own life. So today, take one intentional step toward yourself. Trust your voice and honor your needs.

Resources

Caregiving in the US 2025: Key Trends, Strains, and Policy Needs

The Senior Alliance

The Toll Of Caregiver Stress When Caring For Aging Parents

Caregiving in the US 2025 – Research Report

Black Women and the Care Agenda | National Partnership for Women & Families

The post Caregivers, Be Good to Yourself appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This guide covers what’s normal, what’s not, and what to do when things feel off, physically or emotionally.

Why Does Breastfeeding Feel So Hard at First?

Because it is, you’re learning a new skill while recovering from birth, navigating sleep deprivation, and adjusting to a new identity. Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand system, and in those early weeks, your baby’s frequent nursing helps build your milk supply. But it’s also a dance, one that takes time, patience, and support to learn.

Why Does My Baby Nurse So Often?

Newborns have tiny stomachs, about the size of a cherry on day one, growing to a walnut by week one. Breast milk digests quickly, so babies get hungry fast. Frequent nursing is normal and necessary. Watch for early hunger cues like lip smacking, rooting, or hand-sucking. Crying is a late sign. If you can catch hunger earlier, feedings tend to go more smoothly.

What Should Breastfeeding Feel Like?

A good latch shouldn’t hurt. It might feel unfamiliar at first, like a gentle pull or stretch, but it shouldn’t make you wince. If you’re feeling sharp pain, pinching, or burning, something’s off. And you don’t have to push through it. Painful nursing is uncomfortable, but it can also lead to cracked skin, low milk transfer, and frustration for both you and your baby. Most latch issues are fixable with minor tweaks, and getting help early can make a huge difference.

Talk to a lactation consultant, nurse, or peer counselor. You deserve to feel supported, not punished, for trying to feed your baby.

What Is Engorgement and Why Does It Hurt?

Around day three to five postpartum, your milk “comes in,” and your breasts may feel full, firm, or even rock-hard. That’s engorgement, your body’s way of prepping for demand. But if you wait too long between feedings, inflammation builds, making it harder for your baby to latch. It can feel swollen, tight, or tender, and for some women, even painful.

Frequent nursing helps prevent it, and cold compresses can offer relief. Even if you’re not sure your breasts are full, it’s okay to nurse. Your baby’s cues matter more than the clock.

What to Do When Nursing Feels Hard

If your baby is struggling to latch or your breasts feel too firm, there are ways to make feeding more comfortable. Between sessions, a cool washcloth or gel pack can help reduce swelling. If the area around your nipple feels tight, try gently pressing with your fingertips for about a minute. This softens the tissue and makes it easier for your baby to latch.

You can also ask your provider if ibuprofen is safe for you; it’s often recommended to reduce inflammation. And if you notice fever, chills, or one breast that feels hot, red, or painful, call your doctor. These could be signs of mastitis, a breast infection that needs medical care.

What About Cracked, Sore, or Bleeding Nipples?

It’s common in the first few days, especially if the latch isn’t deep enough. If your nipples are damaged, take your baby off the breast and try again. Use expressed breast milk or purified lanolin to soothe the skin. Keep breastfeeding. Healing happens faster with continued nursing and latch correction.

What If I Have Large, Flat, or Inverted Nipples?

These variations are normal and don’t mean you can’t breastfeed. A lactation consultant can help with positioning and latch techniques. Nipple shields may help temporarily, but they’re not a long-term fix. With support, most women find a rhythm that works.

Will My Breasts Leak?

Maybe. Maybe not. Some leak during pregnancy, others only when feeding or thinking about their baby. Nursing pads can help; change them often to avoid irritation.

Do I Need to Prep My Nipples Before Birth?

No. Your body already has oil glands that keep the skin soft and guide your baby by scent. Skip the soaps, lotions, and perfumes. Plain water is enough.

The Emotional Side of Breastfeeding Pain

Pain isn’t just physical. It’s emotional too. And now, we finally have language for some of the more complex feelings that can show up during breastfeeding.

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)

D-MER is a sudden wave of sadness, anxiety, or even rage that happens just before or during milk letdown. It’s hormonal, not psychological, and usually lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

According to a study published in Archives of Women’s Mental Health, about 15.5% of breastfeeding women report symptoms of Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). Many describe it as a sudden drop in mood that feels intense but brief, often mistaken for postpartum depression, though it’s a distinct experience.

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR)

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR) shows up as a wave of discomfort, irritation, or even a strong urge to unlatch while nursing. It’s not about disliking your baby or failing at breastfeeding; it’s a physiological reaction that can feel overwhelming and hard to name.

BAR is more common during tandem feeding, nursing through pregnancy, or breastfeeding older babies. A study published in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health found that more than half of women experiencing BAR ended feedings early, and nearly half received no support from their provider. Emotional discomfort during nursing isn’t a mood disorder, but it still deserves recognition, care, and compassion, especially for Black mothers who are often dismissed in clinical spaces.

Mental Health Matters

Breastfeeding can be healing, but it can also be emotionally heavy. A systematic review in the Journal of Women’s Health found that while nursing may reduce anxiety for some, it can increase stress and depressive symptoms for others, especially when pain, pressure, or isolation are involved.

When Black mothers speak about breastfeeding pain, they’re often met with disbelief or blame. The emotional toll includes shame, isolation, and the unraveling of self. It’s rarely named, let alone addressed. But it’s real. And it deserves care that centers the mother’s wellbeing, not just the mechanics of feeding.

Here’s the truth. Feeding your baby isn’t a test. You’re not a bad mom if breastfeeding is hard. You’re not failing if you need help or take a different path. You’re doing what works. That’s love and care.

What If I Choose Not to Breastfeed?

Even if you don’t breastfeed, your body will still produce milk. You may experience fullness or engorgement. Pain management, cold compresses, and gradual weaning techniques can help. Talk to your provider about safe ways to suppress lactation if needed.

When Is Pain Not Normal?

If pain lasts more than a few days, gets worse, or comes with fever, chills, or red streaks on the breast, call your provider. You may have mastitis or a blocked duct. If nursing feels emotionally unbearable, reach out. There’s no shame in asking for help.

A Quick Recap

We get it. You’re busy, tired, maybe overwhelmed. Whether you’re the one nursing or the one helping, here’s a quick recap of what actually helps, so you don’t have to dig for answers when you need relief now.

If It Hurts, Pause and Reassess

Pain during breastfeeding is common, but it’s not something you have to push through. According to the CDC’s Breastfeeding Report Card, latch pain is one of the top reasons women stop breastfeeding early. If it feels sharp, pinching, or burning, unlatch and try again. A good latch should feel like a tug, not a sting.

Don’t Wait for Your Breasts to Feel Full

Engorgement can happen fast, especially in the first week. Your breasts may feel swollen, tight, or hot. That pressure can make it harder for your baby to latch. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee recommends feeding on demand and using cold compresses between sessions to reduce inflammation. You don’t need to wait for fullness, follow your baby’s cues.

Cracked Nipples Aren’t a Badge of Honor

If your nipples are cracked or bleeding, it’s usually a sign of a shallow latch, not something you need to “tough out.” Expressed breast milk has natural healing properties, and purified lanolin can help soothe the skin. Skip soaps and scented lotions; your body already produces oils that protect and guide your baby.

Your Emotions Matter Just as Much as Your Milk

If you feel dread, sadness, or irritability during letdown, it could be Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). If nursing feels emotionally unbearable, pause and get support. You’re not failing, you’re responding to your body. And that’s something to honor.

Support That Meets You Where You Are

Call the National Breastfeeding Hotline at 800-994-9662 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET to speak with trained peer counselors through the Office on Women’s Health. You’ll reach people who understand latch pain, emotional overwhelm, and everything in between. Support is free and judgment-free as well.

Also, check out the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s resource hub for toolkits, webinars, and updates on breastfeeding protections.

Asking questions about breastfeeding pain doesn’t make you weak; it makes you aware. And that awareness? It’s part of your story, just like it’s part of so many others. From here, you get to decide what comes next. Whether you nurse, pump, wean, or opt for formula, your effort to understand your body and your options is enough. More than enough

Resources:

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex: prevalence and associations with self-reported mental health history | Archives of Women’s Mental Health

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR): A Descriptive Study

The Effects of Breastfeeding on Maternal Mental Health: A Systematic Review | Journal of Women’s Health

Breastfeeding Report Card | Breastfeeding Data | CDC

National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline

Breastfeeding Resources for Parents

The post Solutions to Your Common Questions About Breastfeeding Pain appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke to Dr. Lonna Gordon, a physician who’s spent her career helping families have the kinds of conversations she knows can shape trust, confidence, and emotional safety.

Why These Conversations Matter for Emotional Wellness

Dr. Gordon is a quadruple-boarded physician with expertise in adolescent medicine, obesity care, pediatrics, and culinary wellness. Her work centers on the emotional and developmental needs of young people, especially Black girls, and she’s known for helping caregivers build trust through honest dialogue.

“Even if you feel nervous about starting the conversation, have it, because it can make a huge difference in a girl’s emotional well-being,” she says.

She explains that when parents talk openly about sexual health, they help daughters build self-esteem, trust their choices, and feel more confident in their relationships.

“Having ‘the talk’ can help young women build self-esteem by showing them they can trust their own choices and set their own boundaries,” she says. “It also helps reduce the negative feelings they may have about their bodies when a parent reassures them that their bodies are beautiful, and that beauty is just one of many qualities they bring to the table.”

Approach the Conversation With an Open Mind

For caregivers who didn’t grow up with these conversations, Dr. Gordon encourages a shift in thinking. It’s not a single talk; it’s a series that builds over time. She encourages parents to approach the topic with curiosity and a willingness to listen.

“Parents should go into these conversations with an open mind, a curiosity for what their child wants to talk about, and be ready to listen,” she says.

“They may not have all the answers. But it’s important to emphasize that they’re always willing to hear what their child wants to talk about,” Dr. Gordon continues. “Even if the subject may be hard to hear or difficult to talk about.”

Choose a neutral and relaxed setting. Such as a car ride, so the conversation doesn’t feel too intense.

There Are Stages When These Talks Will Resonate

Dr. Gordon points to key developmental stages when these conversations matter. Early childhood curiosity sets the tone for trust. During puberty, it’s essential to talk about body changes and emotional shifts. In high school, the focus expands to sexual identity and decision-making.

“If you keep the lines of communication open through all these stages, you can trust that when your child leaves home, for college or career, she is set up to make informed decisions about her body,” she says.

Help Your Daughter Navigate Mixed Messages

As girls receive conflicting messages from school, peers, and media, Dr. Gordon urges parents to be a reliable source of information or to help daughters build relationships with trusted healthcare providers.

“If parents don’t feel like they can provide this information or have a reliable source, they should advocate for private time and a trusting relationship between daughters and their healthcare providers,” she says.

Challenge Harmful Narratives About Black Girls

In her work with Black families, Dr. Gordon emphasizes the importance of rejecting stereotypes that label curiosity as promiscuity. She also calls attention to the adultification of Black girls, which often denies them the space to make mistakes and learn from them.

“Making mistakes in an environment that is safe enough to learn from is the task of adolescence and so important for growing into an emotionally healthy adult,” she says. “Parents are critical in creating that safe space.”

“Embracing that sexual and reproductive health curiosity does not imply a young person is ‘fast’ or promiscuous,” she adds. “It is important for their children to know about their reproductive and sexual health and to seek out accurate and reliable information.”

What the Opill Survey Reveals About Changing Attitudes

A recent survey commissioned by Perrigo, the maker of Opill, shows how attitudes are shifting. Conducted in July 2025, the Opill Back to School Survey polled nearly 1,200 mothers of college-bound daughters across the U.S. Two in three said they plan to send their daughters to college with birth control. Sixty-six percent said it’s extremely important to have a sexual wellness conversation before their daughters leave home for college.

Still, many mothers expressed concern about side effects, proper use, and the risk of pregnancy. The findings show that caregivers want their daughters to have knowledge and protection they can trust, along with access that feels safe and reliable.

Supporting Autonomy and Access

Dr. Gordon sees this shift as an opportunity to expand the conversation beyond contraception.

“It also opens up space for more comprehensive conversations about sex that include contraception, consent, emotional connection, mutual respect, and pleasure,” she says.

She points to Opill, the first FDA-approved daily birth control available over the counter, as one option that can help remove barriers to access.

“If a college-bound girl can’t easily see a healthcare provider, it’s good to know she still has access to a range of birth control options, including Opill,” she says.

Passing Down Knowledge That Protects

Dr. Gordon describes these conversations as a way to equip daughters with tools that shape their futures. When families talk openly about sexual wellness, they’re not only sharing information, they’re creating conditions for safety, choice, and long-term wellbeing.

“Having these conversations is its own kind of generational wealth, passing down not just knowledge, but opportunities to future generations,” she says.

You Already Know More Than You Think

You may have noticed we didn’t offer a step-by-step script for how to talk to your daughter about sexual health. That’s intentional. There’s no single roadmap that fits every family, and no one knows your child better than you do.

What you bring to the table, your instincts, your care, your lived experience, is already powerful. When paired with Dr. Gordon’s guidance on setting, tone, and intention, those maternal gifts can open space for trust, clarity, and connection.

Whether the conversation starts in a car ride, a quiet moment at home, or a question that catches you off guard, what matters most is that it starts and that your daughter knows she can keep coming back to you.

Resources:

Havas Red and Atomik Research, “Opill Back to School Survey Findings,” commissioned by Perrigo, July 2025.

Opill®: The First FDA-Approved OTC Daily Birth Control Pill | Opill®

The post How Black Mothers Can Lead Sexual Health Conversations with Confidence appeared first on Black Health Matters.

To explore the cultural and structural forces behind this crisis, we spoke with Dr. LaToya Lewis, a nationally recognized nursing professor and healthcare equity strategist.

Why Black Women Carry the Heaviest Caregiving Load

While broader analysis on Black Caregiving includes many experiences, Black women often carry the heaviest load.

Dr. Lewis describes how the stigma surrounds even basic expressions of need. “There is a taboo surrounding the need for support in raising a family and managing multiple responsibilities,” she explained.

“Black women are expected to do everything and be everything to everyone, yet no one accounts for how they are to be cared for in return or allowed to need rest.”

If Being Tired is Unacceptable, Burnout is Inevitable

In these environments, being tired or needing help becomes unacceptable. This contributes to silence around mental health challenges, reduces help-seeking behaviors, and erodes safe spaces for caregivers to advocate for their wellness.

Aside from personal impact, caregiver burnout is also a systemic health equity issue. “Primary prevention activities, such as wellness checkups, follow-up care, or managing underlying illnesses, are often neglected because most of their efforts go toward caring for loved ones,” Dr. Lewis said.

Caregivers Sacrifice Their Health

According to the AARP Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, nearly 1 in 4 caregivers struggle to care for their health due to caregiving responsibilities. Black caregivers are also more likely to give up paid employment to care for loved ones, citing a lack of affordable and quality care options.

Among caregivers under age 50, 36% of Black caregivers are part of the “sandwich generation,” simultaneously caring for children and aging adults.

Fragmented healthcare, limited access to culturally competent mental health providers, and a lack of training for family caregivers further deepen this divide. “Black and brown communities are at higher risk due to economic divides and systemic barriers in healthcare and mental health support,” she added.

Counting the Emotional and Psychological Costs of Caregiving

Dr. Lewis confirms what data also shows: Black women disproportionately take on intense caregiving roles with fewer supports. “This aligns with my experience interacting with caregivers involved with end-of-life care and palliative care,” she noted.

“These individuals manage the tasks of caregiving, working, and the expectation to perform at a high level,” Dr. Lewis shared. “This can lead to a wearing ‘mask’ at work as they put on a high-performing act, continue to meet objectives, and neglect their needs.”

Behind professional success, many are managing high-functioning anxiety and depression with little rest or reprieve.

The 2025 report found that 64% of caregivers report high emotional stress, and 45% report heavy physical strain, with Black women caregivers disproportionately affected.

Organizations Need Leaders With Emotional Insight

Supporting caregivers requires organizational leadership that prioritizes care, not just output. “Leadership that honors emotional well-being, cultural wisdom, and care-driven values requires emotional intelligence, cultural responsiveness, and cultural sensitivity,” Dr. Lewis explained.

She advocates for leaders who initiate check-ins, anticipate needs, and recognize when cultural norms may discourage vulnerability. “Being proactive, not just reactive, lets staff know you care about their holistic well-being,” she said. “Employees who feel supported by leaders focused on overall well-being will take better care of themselves and understand they are valued beyond being a number.”

Organization Need to Create Safe Spaces to Discuss These Issues

Dr. Lewis’s leadership reflects this philosophy across settings. Whether in the ICU or the classroom, she centers mentorship, emotional safety, and community uplift. “What redefined my understanding of leadership was realizing that my role extended far beyond managing operations and patient care deliverables,” she shared.

Now, she supports future nurses and doctoral students not just with academic guidance, but personal care. “Students who aren’t in my class often reach out to me for career advice or guidance,” she said.

“I strive to create a non-judgmental, empowering environment that focuses on what is most important to them, helping support them in their journey.”

Provide Caregivers With Tangible Support

As caregiving demands intensify, advocates are calling for targeted policy solutions. These include federal caregiver tax credits, expanded paid leave, and respite services that reflect the actual time and emotional toll of care. According to the 2025 report, 69% of caregivers support tax credits, and 55% support paid leave programs.

Dr. Lewis believes recognition is the first step. “We have to stop treating care as a personal problem to solve and start seeing it as a public responsibility.”

Resources

FINAL Caregiving in the Black Community

Caregiving Crisis in America Keeps Growing

The post Who’s Caring for Black Caregivers? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in June. But for Black women, the trend reads differently: 5.1 percent in March, 6.1 percent in April, 6.2 percent in May, and then 5.8 percent in June. These rates consistently hover near double those of white women, revealing long-standing disparities in access and vulnerability across the labor market.

The Cuts in Healthcare,  Education, and Federal Government Jobs

Black women shape every sector of the economy and contribute across every industry, but our presence is especially felt in fields such as healthcare, education, and federal service, where entire communities often rely on our labor. Recent workforce reductions are reshaping these sectors and cutting deep into places where Black women have historically led.

Between February and March 2025, seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show employment among Black women fell from 10.566 million to 10.300 million. The 266,000-job drop marks the sharpest one-month decline since the early days of the pandemic.

Public sector cuts were especially severe:

• The Department of Education reduced its workforce by 46 percent.
•  The Department of Health and Human Services saw a 24 percent decrease.

Many of the affected roles were tied to equity programs and health outreach, spaces where Black women have shaped systems, built trust, and driven change.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Black women comprise 11.7 percent of the federal workforce, nearly twice their share of the civilian labor force. This statistic highlights the central role Black women play in the federal workforce and the consequences of their disappearance.

With New Job Market Growth, We Aren’t Getting Hired

In June, healthcare added 39,000 new jobs. Residential care gained 2,800 positions, while nursing added 14,400. However, many Black women continue to struggle to reenter industries where they bring valuable experience and dedication.

Being qualified isn’t always enough. Access to networks, clear hiring pathways, and employer outreach all shape who gets hired and who’s left waiting. Without these supports, short-term industry growth doesn’t deliver lasting stability.

Recessions Cost Us Even If We Are Educated

Black women have faced disproportionate job losses in nearly every major recession. During the Great Recession, their unemployment rate peaked at 13.7 percent, with deep losses across retail, education, and public service, as reported in a UC Berkeley Labor Center analysis.

Even higher education doesn’t guarantee protection. A 2020 Urban Institute analysis found that Black households led by college graduates had less wealth than white households headed by adults who had not finished high school. Systemic barriers persist and disparity cycles repeat, regardless of how far one climbs educationally.

Lost Jobs = Lost Opportunities to Build Generational Wealth

Black women often provide for multigenerational households. A lost paycheck is about more than covering rent; it can stall savings, slow investments, and shrink the possibility of financial mobility.

A Brookings analysis revealed that between 2019 and 2022, median household wealth stood at:

•  Black households: $44,890.
• Latino households: $62,000
• White households: $285,000.

That means that white families held more than six times the wealth of Black families. While some progress may be happening, things are still unfolding within a system where equity is far from guaranteed.

Kristen Broady, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, told WTTW News:

“Changing or improving just one of those things is not going to change the racial wealth gap. But policymakers can look at any and all of those facts and statistics to decide how they can collaborate across different groups, philanthropy, higher education, state and local government, etc., to work on those policies.”

 Unemployment Carries An Emotional Toll

If this experience feels familiar, you’re far from alone. The emotional toll of job loss, especially in uncertain times, can shape how we move through the day, and how we see ourselves.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports found that unemployment can significantly affect emotional health, triggering symptoms like anxiety, depression, and difficulty with emotion regulation. The research points to how job loss disrupts cognitive control and heightens distress, especially for individuals navigating systemic pressures.

Periods of unemployment, especially extended ones, can carry real emotional weight. Experts call it situational depression, and it may feel like:

•  A drop in motivation or energy.
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Changes in appetite or weight.
•  Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or frustration.
• Struggling to focus, make decisions, or stay present.

Naming these shifts doesn’t mean weakness; it’s simply acknowledging the truth, bringing you closer to creating space for healing, support, and recovery.

Charting the Way Forward

We need to take a serious look at how this economy treats us, especially during times of economic hardship. Closing the gap means tracking where jobs vanish, which roles get prioritized, and whether reentry is possible. Productivity numbers don’t tell the whole story. If reentry isn’t possible, how can those skills be used differently?

Historically, no one has ever handed us anything on a silver platter. We know now will be no different. But there are things we know and do better than anyone else. Maybe another industry can benefit from that expertise. The point is to pivot and move forward with purpose.

Resources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Employment Situation – February 2025

African American Women in the Federal Sector

Current Employment Statistics Highlights June 2025

the-great-recession.pdf

Why Do Black College Graduates Have a Lower Homeownership Rate Than White People Who Dropped Out of High School? | Urban Institute

4 Ways to Get Your Neurodivergent Teen Ready for College – Black Health Matters

Black wealth is increasing, but so is the racial wealth gap | Brookings

Unemployment for Black Women is on the Rise. Here’s What Economists Have to Say | Chicago News | WTTW

The post Why Are More Jobs Vanishing for Black Women? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When Hypertension Goes Untreated

She explains how stress, discrimination, limited access to preventive care, and diets high in sodium contribute to early-onset hypertension. Left untreated, it increases the risk of stroke and contributes to brain damage. “Regular checks of blood pressure are critical, and anyone with high blood pressure should get treatment to help protect their brain.”

Defining Lack of Access to Care

When people talk about limited access to care, it can sound vague, but Dr. Brangman breaks it down in concrete terms. “Limited access to care can occur in a variety of ways, whether that’s a lack of health insurance, long wait times for an appointment, issues with transportation, or the inability to take time off from work to go to the doctor.” For someone navigating mental health concerns, these barriers aren’t minor. They can be the reason help isn’t reached in time.

The Struggle For Us is Real

The disparities Dr. Brangman describes reflect broader national trends. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 37.9% of Black adults with any mental illness received mental health treatment in 2022, compared to 56.1% of white adults.

In cognitive health, delays in diagnosis remain common. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s or other dementias. However, a study from the National Institute on Aging noted that Black participants were 35% less likely to be diagnosed compared to their white counterparts, often entering care later when fewer options remain.

For many Black families, navigating dementia care means facing a system shaped by inequity. Whether it’s delayed diagnoses, limited access to specialists, or feeling dismissed in clinical settings, the barriers can be challenging to overcome.

What Change Looks Like on the Ground

Changing habits takes time and support, but Dr. Brangman has seen progress happen. “It can sometimes be a challenge to adjust long-term habits we may have, such as eating fast food or getting very little sleep,” she notes. “However, with the right information and support, many adults can make the changes that are needed to improve their brain health.”

She recommends starting with just one or two goals, such as switching from sweetened beverages to water or seltzer, and establishing a bedtime routine that helps people wind down gradually without the use of screens. These efforts are manageable and have made a difference in the patients and communities she’s worked with.

Meeting People Where They Are

Dr. Brangman pushes back on the notion that communities aren’t interested in brain health. She has found that engagement is high when the message fits the audience. Community is a vital force in shaping mental and brain health. “In general, people in the Black community are very interested in learning about health issues,” she says. “It is important to develop a trusting relationship and adjust the discussion to meet the needs of the person.”

Whether through one-on-one conversations or community workshops, she sees the most impact when the information reflects real challenges and respects lived experiences.

Building Representation into Brain Health Research

Progress in research hasn’t kept pace with the needs of diverse populations. Dr. Brangman sees this clearly in geriatric and brain health studies. “There is still much work to do to improve the participation of women, older adults, and non-white individuals in brain health and aging research,” she says.

Her team at Upstate Medical University created a Community Research Liaison role to address that gap—someone who steps into neighborhoods, builds trust, and invites people into research opportunities designed with them in mind. Because at the end of the day, good healthcare is shaped by compassion, not bias.

Brain Health Habits That Fit Different Lives

For those in under-resourced areas, practical steps matter most. Dr. Brangman encourages regular walking, starting with 15 minutes and gradually increasing to 30 minutes. “If you live in a neighborhood without sidewalks or a safe place to walk, you can try walking at a mall or maybe on the track at a local high school,” she says.

She also suggests pairing physical activity with social interaction, like walking with a friend. Other recommendations include quitting smoking with support, reducing alcohol consumption, and finding ways to learn something new, such as a hobby, music, or reading.

Making Prevention a Priority

The interest in brain health is growing, and Dr. Brangman finds it encouraging. “One of the most surprising things I’ve learned recently is how eager people are to learn about ways to improve their health,” she says.

She stresses that people shouldn’t wait until signs of decline appear. Discussing healthcare options with providers early can lay the groundwork for better outcomes in the future. For those ready to begin, she recommends the Brain Works campaign, a free resource hub created by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, which offers clear steps and trusted information about cognitive aging.

Closing the Loop

Your mental health, physical wellness, and cognitive function aren’t separate tracks; they are interconnected. Protecting brain health means paying attention to all aspects of health, not just during times of crisis, but in day-to-day life. Let this be a quiet reminder to pause, reflect, and take care with intention.

Resources

Mental Health by the Numbers | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Still Ringing the Alarm: AN ENDURING CALL TO ACTION FOR BLACK YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION

– MBRF

Highlights by Race/Ethnicity for the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Race, Ethnicity, and Alzheimer’s

Data shows racial disparities in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis between Black and white research study participants | National Institute on Aging

BrainWorks – MBRF

The post What Aging Reveals About Mental Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A Mother Who Spoke Up

One of the earliest voices for change was the late Bebe Moore Campbell. She was a bestselling author and someone who used her storytelling to ensure that mental health in our communities couldn’t be ignored. Her passion came from a personal place.

Her daughter, actress Maia Campbell, gained fame in the 1990s for her role on In the House. But away from the cameras, she was navigating life with bipolar disorder. At times, personal moments were shared without her consent or consideration. The headlines rarely told the full story. Through it all, Bebe never stopped advocating, not just for Maia, but for everyone lacking access to proper mental health support.

72 Hour Hold and Maia’s Return

In 2005, Bebe published “72 Hour Hold,” a novel about a mother’s fight to get her daughter the help she needs. The system in the book mirrors real life, with families struggling, institutions overwhelmed, and love often running up against numerous barriers. While fictional, the story reflects truths that still ring loud today. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, suicide was the third leading cause of death for Black youth ages 10 to 24 in 2022. That statistic alone tells us there’s so much more to be done, especially when it comes to mental health care that reflects our lived experiences.

Now, Maia is rejoining the conversation. After several years out of the public eye, she’s returned to social media with renewed energy. In a recent video, she shared her hope to see “72 Hour Hold” adapted for the screen, ideally with Tyler Perry helping to bring it to life. “It was a monumental book for me,” she said. “And July is Mental Health Awareness Month, so I’m still on that campaign. Keep me in prayer.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maia Campbell (@maia_campbell)

Healing and Creativity

Maia Campbell’s return shows growth and purpose. Her message was simple but powerful. She looked healthy. She sounded centered. More than anything, she seemed ready to explore mental health in a public way, this time pairing it with creativity by bringing her mother’s bestselling prose to life. It also reminds us that progress can look like many things, including just showing up and sharing your truth.

If 72 Hour Hold does become a film, it won’t just be a tribute to Bebe Moore Campbell’s impact. It will be a continuation of a shared legacy. Through advocacy, art, and storytelling, both women have pushed the conversation forward. In a world that often misunderstands or overlooks our pain, visibility like this can plant the seeds for something better. Sometimes, real change starts with one voice, brave enough to speak up, and generous enough to make space for others to do the same.

Resources

72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Mental and Behavioral Health – Black/African Americans | Office of Minority Health

The post The Return of Maia Campbell appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What Is Familial Hypercholesterolemia?

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most common inherited conditions in the United States, affecting roughly 1 in 250 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike traditional high cholesterol, FH begins at birth and causes dangerously elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels that clog arteries early and aggressively.

What Is LDL and Why Is It Called “Bad”?

LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein, which is a type of particle that carries cholesterol through your bloodstream. Cholesterol itself isn’t all bad; it helps build cells and produce hormones. But when LDL carries more cholesterol than your body needs, and if there’s too much, it starts to stick to the walls of your arteries.

Over time, this buildup forms plaque, which narrows the arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow. That’s how LDL contributes to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems. It’s not “bad” because of what it is, it’s “bad” because of what it does when it’s out of balance.

The American College of Cardiology recommends that individuals without heart disease aim for LDL levels of 100 mg/dL or lower. For those at high risk, including people with FH, they suggest even lower targets:

• Under 70 mg/dL for individuals with prior cardiovascular events.
• Under 55 mg/dL for those at very high risk.

Our Community is Living the Consequences

Research continues to show that FH outcomes differ sharply across racial groups. Black Americans, in particular, are underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to a higher risk of severe outcomes like heart attacks and stroke.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that only 61% of Black patients with FH are prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, compared to 73% of white patients. That disparity matters, and unfortunately, cholesterol doesn’t wait for equity.

The same study highlighted additional challenges:

• 82% of Black adults with FH also have high blood pressure (vs. 50% of white patients).
• 39% live with diabetes (compared to 15%).
• 16% are current smokers, nearly double that of their white counterparts.

A Larger Pattern of Risk

High cholesterol is one thread in a much larger fabric of cardiovascular risk in our community. The American Heart Association’s 2025 Statistical Update reveals that:

• Almost 60% of Black adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Over half of all heart failure hospitalizations in adults under 50 involve Black patients.
• Stroke rates are highest among Black men and women, with 5.4% of Black women and 4.8% of Black men affected.

It’s not that these numbers are inevitable; it’s that FH isn’t being caught early, and many providers still rely solely on lifestyle assumptions instead of screening for genetics.

Kids Are Being Missed Too

FH doesn’t just show up in adulthood; it’s there from the start. The CDC recommends screening children between the ages of nine and 11 if there’s a family history of early heart disease or cholesterol issues. But only 30% of kids born with FH are diagnosed early, and for Black children, the delays are even longer.

When a parent has FH, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. That means genetic testing and early cholesterol panels should be routine, but they’re not.

Getting the Right Treatment Isn’t Always Easy

For most people with high cholesterol, doctors prescribe statins, medications that help lower those numbers and reduce the risk of heart problems. But when cholesterol stays high because of a genetic condition like FH, statins often aren’t enough.

That’s where newer treatments come in. Medications like Praluent and Repatha are part of a group called PCSK9 inhibitors. They’re designed to help the body remove stubborn LDL cholesterol, the kind that clogs arteries even when people eat healthy and exercise. These drugs can make a real difference for people with FH, but without a confirmed case of FH, especially through genetic testing, doctors often won’t prescribe them. And that’s where the gap widens.

A 2025 study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics found that only 27.7% of Black patients received a documented genetic diagnosis, compared to 63.1% of white patients, suggesting that our community is routinely overlooked for the very testing that opens the door to these advanced medications.

Breaking the Cycle

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is often overlooked, especially in Black communities, where delays in diagnosis are common and access to advanced treatment is inconsistent. Knowing your numbers and being proactive can make a real difference. Here’s where to begin:

• Getting a full lipid panel, including LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and, if available, apolipoprotein B.
• Asking about FH directly, not all providers bring it up.
• Encourage your family to get screened, especially younger relatives.
• Pushing for genetic testing if cholesterol levels are high, even with a healthy lifestyle.

The silence surrounding FH isn’t solely a medical issue; it’s systemic. And it’s time to name it, track it, and treat it with the urgency it deserves. Your numbers matter. Your family history matters. And your voice in the exam room can change everything.

Resources

About Familial Hypercholesterolemia | Heart Disease, Family Health History, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia | CDC

2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on the Role of Nonstatin Therapies for LDL-Cholesterol Lowering in the Management of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee | JACC

Racial Disparities in Modifiable Risk Factors and Statin Usage in Black Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Cardiovascular health risks continue to grow within Black communities, action needed | American Heart Association

Testing for Cholesterol | Cholesterol | CDC

Exclusion-based exome sequencing in critically ill adults 18–40 years old has a 24% diagnostic rate and finds racial disparities in access to genetic testing: The American Journal of Human Genetics

The post There Are Racial Differences in Inherited High Cholesterol appeared first on Black Health Matters.

That kind of gap didn’t happen overnight, and closing it takes more than awareness. It means making tools that meet people where they are. That’s why we put together this guide, to break down what foods to avoid, what to focus on, and why it all matters when you’re living with this disease.

Foods to Avoid (and Why)

Certain foods can worsen your condition. Here are a few things to be aware of.

High-Risk Animal Products

Raw or Undercooked Seafood

Sushi and oysters might be trendy, but they’re risky for anyone with liver disease. Raw shellfish can carry bacteria like Vibrio vulnificus, which the CDC warns can cause life-threatening infections in people with liver conditions.

Organ Meats (Especially Liver)

It sounds ironic, but eating liver when you have liver disease is a bad idea. Organ meats are rich in heme iron, which can accumulate in the liver and exacerbate oxidative stress. According to the National Library of Medicine, excess iron is linked to faster progression of liver fibrosis in people with hepatitis C.

Processed Foods and Inflammatory Beverages

High-Sodium Foods

Not only does salt raise blood pressure, but it also contributes to fluid retention and swelling, especially in advanced liver disease. Most experts recommend limiting sodium to no more than 2,300 mg per day and ideally closer to 1,500 mg, especially for people with liver disease, where fluid retention can become a serious complication. That’s in line with guidance from the American Heart Association, and it’s echoed by liver specialists when managing conditions like cirrhosis or hepatitis C.

Alcohol

There is no sugarcoating for this one; alcohol is directly toxic to liver cells. Even small amounts can accelerate liver damage. Researchers believe alcohol may weaken the immune system and make it easier for the virus to take hold.

But the bigger issue is what happens after the infection. Alcohol accelerates liver scarring, also known as fibrosis, increases the risk of cirrhosis, and can interfere with hepatitis C treatment. One study from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that people with hepatitis C who drink heavily have 16 times the risk of developing cirrhosis compared to those who don’t drink at all.

Sugary and Ultra-Processed Foods

Refined sugars and trans fats promote insulin resistance and fatty liver disease, both of which make hepatitis C harder to manage. Think of pastries, soda, fast food, and packaged snacks. These foods also contribute to obesity, which raises the risk of fat buildup in the liver. This condition is known as hepatic steatosis.

Iron-Dense Supplements and Vitamins

Multivitamins with iron or high-dose vitamin A can be harmful. The liver stores excess amounts, and in people with hepatitis C, this can lead to toxicity. Always consult your healthcare provider before taking supplements.

What You Should Consider Eating

There’s no official “hepatitis C diet,” but research supports the following:

Vegetables: Especially leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, and berries. Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and arugula, are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and chlorophyll, all of which support the liver’s function more effectively. Chlorophyll may help flush out toxins and heavy metals, while fiber supports digestion and reduces the buildup of waste that can stress the liver.

Fruits: Blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries contain anthocyanins that protect liver cells from oxidative stress and may even help slow the progression of fibrosis.

High-Fiber Foods: Whole grains, legumes, and nuts promote regular digestion and improve insulin sensitivity. Those are two vital factors in preventing fat buildup in the liver.

Healthy fats, such as avocados, fatty fish (like salmon), and olive oil, provide omega-3s and monounsaturated fats that help reduce liver inflammation and support cell repair.

Your Liver May Love Coffee

Believe it or not, your morning cup of coffee might do more than wake you up; it could also help protect your liver.

A 2022 study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that drinking more than three cups of coffee per day was associated with lower liver stiffness, a marker of liver fibrosis. The effect held true even for people with chronic liver conditions like hepatitis C, and it applied to both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Researchers have pointed to compounds such as chlorogenic acids and polyphenols, which may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in liver tissue.

For people managing hepatitis C, coffee isn’t a cure, but it may be a helpful addition to a liver-supportive lifestyle. As always, moderation matters, and it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider about what’s right for you.

Why Diet Matters in Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C causes chronic inflammation in the liver, which can lead to scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, or even liver cancer. A poor diet, especially one high in alcohol, sugar, or saturated fats, can accelerate this process. However, a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet can help slow down the progression, support immune function, and enhance treatment outcomes. Making better lifestyle choices is key to managing hepatitis C.

Think of your diet as a daily investment in your liver’s future. You and your liver deserve the very best.

Resources

Hepatitis C in Black Individuals in the US: A Review | Health Disparities | JAMA | JAMA Network

About Vibrio Infection | Vibrio Infection | CDC

Iron and liver fibrosis: Mechanistic and clinical aspects – PMC

How much sodium should I eat per day? | American Heart Association

Alcohol and cirrhosis – Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease

Coffee Consumption Is Associated With Lower Liver Stiffness: A Nationally Representative Study

The post What Not to Eat If You Have Hepatitis C appeared first on Black Health Matters.

To unpack what’s behind that gap, we spoke with Tomás León, President and Executive Director of the Equality Health Foundation, which developed the Zip Code Exam to help communities identify and address the everyday conditions that shape health outcomes.

Beneath the Stats

BHM: Why do racial gaps in life expectancy persist, even after years of awareness?

Tomás León: The ZIP code you’re born into still has more influence on your life expectancy than your genetic code. It’s all rooted in systemic inequalities that have gone unaddressed for too long. The pandemic exacerbated these issues and still has a lingering effect.
These disparities persist because the social determinants of health—education, healthcare, housing, food, air, and opportunity—are still distributed unequally. Structural racism, disinvestment in communities of color, and policy decisions that ignore lived realities all contribute.

BHM: What made this the right moment to launch the Zip Code Exam?

Tomás León: We said, “We need a tool like the Zip Code Exam now.” It’s not enough to raise awareness—we need something to spark actionable, community-driven solutions. It helps uncover the invisible, non-medical forces shaping health and empowers grassroots action. With safety nets unraveling, we need to reignite awareness and point people to solutions. It’s a tool for empowerment, advocacy, and change.

BHM: How do you make the data reflect the real experiences of Black communities?

Tomás León: Data often speaks in averages, and averages erase the lived experiences of people outside the norm. We built a listening and communication tool.

The platform reflects community specificity through hyperlocal data and user-defined priorities. It’s not just about what the data says, it’s about what the community says. We consider cultural context, language access, trusted partners, and relevant resources to meet people where they are. The Zip Code Exam restores agency by saying: your story matters, your neighborhood matters, and your health is not an average, it’s personal.

What Your ZIP Code Says

In 2025, your address can still shape your access to health and even how long you live. In many of our neighborhoods, that impact is baked into the environment.

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, grocery stores are harder to reach in areas with high Black populations. The USDA Economic Research Service reports that 22% of Black households are food insecure, more than twice the rate for white households.

The EPA has shown that Black Americans face higher exposure to air pollution, even when income and region are the same. And the CDC’s USALEEP project maps out ZIP codes in states like Mississippi and Louisiana where the life expectancy difference between neighborhoods just 10 miles apart can be as high as 15 years.

These statistics aren’t solely built on personal choices and coincidence; they’re the results of decades of policy. To go even further, we decided to ask León about how mental health connects to the broader discussion.

Collaborative Health

BHM: You’ve worked in public health, mental health, and policy. How does the Zip Code Exam connect to them?

Tomás León: Bridging mental health, public health, and policy is a moral imperative. Health is not siloed. You can’t achieve physical health without mental health, or improve mental health without addressing the social and environmental conditions people live in.

That’s why the Zip Code Exam doesn’t just visualize disparities, it helps dismantle them. It reflects the full spectrum of health, including care, housing, trauma, stress, and resilience. It connects people to local resources and gives leaders data to push for systemic change. We’re mapping possibilities.

Change in Real Time

BHM: Over 200,000 people have already engaged with the site. Can you share a moment that shows what’s at stake when health becomes a matter of geography?

Tomás León: When over 200,000 people engage with a platform like the Zip Code Exam, it’s a chorus of voices telling us where the system is failing and where hope still lives. One ZIP code that really hit home for me was 85004 in South Phoenix, Arizona. This is where the seed for the Zip Code Exam idea was planted. Arizona became the blueprint. And now, we’re scaling it to help more communities take their health into their own hands.

In that community, life expectancy is fourteen years lower than in more affluent neighborhoods like North Scottsdale, just a few miles away. The exam aids residents, they can bring the data to neighborhood meetings, share it with their elected officials, partner with local community-based organizations, churches, and businesses, and begin advocating for better access to healthcare, affordable housing, healthy food, safer streets, employment opportunities, and walkable space. That’s what’s at stake when health becomes a matter of geography. It’s about the opportunity to reclaim power and rewrite the narrative for the next generation.

Redefining Structural Barriers

BHM: In 2022, only 55% of people were projected to live to age 80. The probability of survival from age 20 to 85 was even lower for Black men. Does the platform offer a kind of digital reckoning with structural risk?

Tomás León: Yes, the Zip Code Exam is absolutely a digital reckoning with that reality. It’s designed to expose the invisible architecture of inequality—how where you live, work, and grow up can shape how long and how well you live. But it’s also a tool for action. It helps individuals understand the risks in their environment, connects them to local resources, and empowers communities to advocate for change.

I want policymakers to see this data and realize these outcomes are not inevitable; they’re the result of choices. And we can make different ones.

Earning Trust

BHM: Some folks may see this as just another dashboard. What do you say to Black families who feel like they’ve seen the numbers, the charts, the promises, but not enough change?

Tomás León: That skepticism is real, and it’s earned. The Black community has heard speeches about equity while living through generations of inequity. So, when someone says, “Here’s another tool,” I understand why the first reaction might be, “So what?” I learned from our well-being work in South Phoenix, Arizona that collective impact and transformation happen at the speed of trust.

What makes the Zip Code Exam different is that it wasn’t built for institutions, it was built for community members and leaders. It shows the numbers and helps you act on them. And we know it’s not perfect. That’s why we welcome feedback from families, organizers, and anyone using the platform. We’re committed to improving it so it truly works with and for communities. Because the only way this tool succeeds is if it reflects the voices and needs of the people it’s meant to serve.

I want community members to use this tool to organize, demand investment, and build healthier futures—ZIP code by ZIP code. We know that behind every data point, there is a life. And behind every life, there is a story worth fighting for.

Resources

ZIP CODE EXAM: Calculate your life expectancy based on your ZIP Code

National Vital Statistics Reports Volume 74, Number 2 April 8, 2025 United States Life Tables, 2022

Equality Health Foundation – Equality Health Foundation

USDA Food Access Research Atlas

Food Security in the U.S. – Key Statistics & Graphics | Economic Research Service

CDC’s USALEEP project

The post Does Your ZIP Code Determine Your Life Expectancy? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Dr. Pratik A. Shukla to explore why this option remains overlooked and what it will take to achieve true reproductive justice.

Why Don’t More Women Know About UFE?

BHM: You perform UFE at Rutgers, yet many women still don’t know it exists. Why is that?

Dr. Pratik A. Shukla: UFE is a minimally invasive procedure that cuts off the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink and ultimately disappear. It’s done through a small incision in the wrist or groin, and most patients go home the same day without stitches. Recovery is fast, and it’s been shown to be as effective as surgery. Still, it’s underutilized, partly because patients typically see a gynecologist first. Unless that gynecologist refers them to interventional radiology, they may never hear about UFE.

The reality matches that concern. A 2024 survey conducted by the Society of Interventional Radiology found that only 17 percent of women diagnosed with fibroids recalled being offered UFE as a treatment, while hysterectomy remained the dominant recommendation. The data highlights a larger disconnect in the way treatment pathways are presented, one that continues to limit how fully informed patients can be.

The Disproportionate Burden on Black Women

BHM: Fibroids disproportionately impact Black women. What’s driving that disparity?

Dr. Shukla: It’s largely genetic. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to develop fibroids and have more severe symptoms. There’s also a cultural aspect; some women delay care because their symptoms seem “normal” within their community, which can lead to later diagnoses and more advanced cases.

National estimates cited by Michigan Medicine report that nearly a quarter of Black women between the ages of 18 and 30 have fibroids, compared to about 6 percent of white women. By age 35, that number rises to 60 percent for Black women. The women in our community are also significantly more likely to experience recurring fibroids and undergo hysterectomies, often during their peak reproductive years.

Reaching the Communities That Need It Most

BHM: In a world of misinformation, what does real education and outreach look like? What approaches have proven most effective in reaching women who might otherwise never hear about UFE?

Dr. Shukla: I work predominantly in an underserved community with low health literacy, where fibroids are endemic to the population, and I’ve been trying to find ways to increase awareness and do patient outreach. I’ve tried it all—education for gynecologists through grand round lectures, patient education tools, traditional marketing like social media, personally going out with a team of educators into the community for health fairs, and even partnering with UFE support groups like The White Dress Project.

What I’ve found is that the only truly effective method, especially in underserved minority communities, is a boots-on-the-ground approach. However, that requires a significant amount of person power and time. Currently, I’m leading the Uterine Fibroid Embolization Awareness Workgroup within the Radiology Health Equity Coalition.

The goal is to build teams of motivated medical students at academic centers in urban areas with similar demographics, allowing us to increase these efforts in a coordinated manner. Medical students and residents have an incentive to engage in productive volunteering, such as patient education and awareness, with the support of attending physician mentors like me.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, 72% of women surveyed were unaware that they were at risk for fibroids. Meanwhile, research compiled by the USA Fibroid Centers shows that over 85 percent of UFE patients report improved quality of life after treatment, often in outpatient settings.

As the data continues to accumulate, access to options like UFE remains fragmented. Awareness gaps and referral breakdowns still limit informed choice, especially for Black women. Reproductive justice requires consistent access to the full spectrum of care.

Shifting the Standard

BHM: If you had unlimited resources to reshape fibroid care for Black women, what would be your first move? What’s the one thing standing between the current reality and a future where treatment disparities no longer exist?

Dr. Shukla: The one thing standing between the current reality and the future is access to these patients. The one thing I would focus on is educating patients directly, those who have the most incentive to treat their conditions safely and effectively, in this case, with a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. I believe the referral pattern remains a hurdle for patients to access an interventional radiologist for these discussions.

If I had unlimited resources, I would launch a nationwide campaign with the help of influential individuals, including legislators, celebrities, and influencers, to increase awareness of this procedure to the point where patients would demand referrals. If we generate enough data suggesting disparities, we can hopefully engage in discussions with major media outlets to help increase awareness.

Resources

Are Black Women More Likely To Get Fibroids?

SIR Patient Resource on Uterine Fibroids Includes National Survey Results on Patient Awareness – Endovascular Today

Understanding Racial Disparities for Women with Uterine Fibroids

The White Dress Project

Uterine Fibroid Resources | Radiology Health Equity Coalition

Survey finds most women with uterine fibroids are offered hysterectomies over minimally invasive treatments | Society of Interventional Radiology

Quality of Life Assessment After Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with Fibroids Treated in an Ambulatory Setting

The post The Fibroid Treatment They Don’t Tell Us About appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“Official diagnosis. They used the word ‘severely,’” she continued. “My life and its challenges finally make sense. So, so much sense.” At 42, she finally has a name for what has silently shaped her world—autism spectrum disorder.

 

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A Diagnosis That Redefines Everything

Autism spectrum disorder is often diagnosed early in life, but not always accurately, and not for everyone. Black girls and women, in particular, are often overlooked by diagnostic frameworks designed around young, white boys. Symptoms can manifest differently. Behaviors are often explained away as moodiness, anxiety, or “attitude.”

The numbers speak volumes, according to the CDC’s 2025 report, 1 in 31 children in the U.S. are identified with autism, with Black children diagnosed at higher rates than white children, a trend first observed in 2020 and continuing today. This reflects broader progress in identifying autism in historically underserved communities. Still, diagnosis among Black girls and women remains delayed. Many, like Michele, spend years adapting, masking, and quietly questioning why their experiences feel out of sync with those around them. Her diagnosis doesn’t change who she is. It just changes how we understand the path she’s walked.

Career Under Scrutiny

Michele’s journey through the music industry has never been simple. While she earned early acclaim for her voice and songwriting, her 2017 performance at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration changed everything. The backlash was intense, her label dropped her, radio support disappeared, and even some friends and family distanced themselves.
In the years since, she’s spoken openly about the fallout. At the time, she didn’t anticipate the response. Now, with a clearer understanding of her autism, that disconnect makes more sense.

Individuals on the autism spectrum often face challenges with social reasoning, risk assessment, or navigating the complexities of perception and response. Her diagnosis doesn’t redefine those moments, but it offers new context, an added layer to how she processed, navigated, and ultimately stood by a choice that became one of the most scrutinized of her career.

During the same period, Michele experienced a miscarriage and a period of deep depression, trials she spoke about candidly on social media, including the physical and emotional toll of that grief. She didn’t vanish; she simply stepped back to heal.

Showing up Without the Mask

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, processes information, and experiences the world. It exists on a spectrum, meaning it appears differently in every individual. Some may struggle with sensory sensitivity, social cues, or repetitive behaviors, while others may simply relate to the world in less conventional ways.

Since sharing her diagnosis, Michele has returned to the stage. But not in the same way. “Stripping the mask,” she called it, one show at a time. According to Psychology Today, for many neurodivergent people, “masking” is the exhausting act of hiding traits and behaviors to avoid being judged or misunderstood. It’s often developed unconsciously, especially by women. It works until it burns you out.

Now, she’s choosing differently. That doesn’t mean shouting her diagnosis at every performance. It means showing up in ways that are more sustainable, more honest, and more in line with her style. Best of all, audiences are meeting her there. The response has been overwhelmingly supportive, not just from fans, but also from others who have been late-diagnosed or have long suspected something about themselves that never quite fit the typical mold. Her story is making space for even more stories.

What Her Story Teaches Us

Chrisette Michele isn’t turning her diagnosis into a new brand. She’s not suddenly the face of neurodivergence. She’s simply saying: this is what was always true. And now that she knows it, she can move through the world with more clarity. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder of how many people carry the weight of uncertainty and how powerful it can be when they finally find clarity.

The post Grammy Winner Chrisette Michele Reveals Autism Diagnosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In this conversation, Moore shares her personal experiences, emphasizing why awareness, access, and advocacy are important for Black women navigating their health.

BHM: You’ve spoken about stress impacting Black women’s health in ways people don’t always see. How did your own experience reflect this?

Marilyn Moore: I’ve had a stroke while I was [seemingly] healthy. I think the most challenging part was the first few months of my healing because I was still in denial that it happened. I wanted to see the proof. I could not believe that happened to my body when I was putting in that much effort for myself to be well. But the levels of emotional stress, the pressures of being a contractor, and the challenges of owning a small Black woman-owned business, all of that adds up.

Those of us who are well and are showing up vulnerable and transparent, yes, we are susceptible to harm. For our communities, there is so much that goes into trying to be well. I have to take the train downtown to go to Trader Joe’s or take a cab home because I cannot afford to eat healthily in my neighborhood. So, when people say, ‘How could you have a stroke?’—maybe because I was on a train with four kids just to go food shopping, all because I don’t have that access in my neighborhood. Stress shows up in places we don’t look for it.

When you are a Black woman, stress dares to impact your organs, the places where people can’t actually see it. The fibroids, the reproductive attacks, infertility, PCOS, all the things that are blamed on us, but not on stress.

Prior to my stroke, I had a seven-centimeter cyst growing on one of my ovaries, to the point where I lost one of my ovaries. So, yes, I had a stroke in December 2021. I was jogging on the morning of the stroke with my baby. When my hand went numb, I was making a smoothie.

But in the prior months, so much happened, including the time that a landlord changed their mind after I invested so much money into a space. On top of that, I’m a single mom who homeschools my children, educates other people’s children, and works weekends as a private chef. My nervous system and endocrine systems would not accept it.

BHM: What challenges have you faced while advocating for food justice, and how did those pressures affect your health?

Marilyn Moore: I looked at it as a person with hands-on experience with food, especially on a merchant level, and understood why certain restaurants will not have fresh fish because of the process. What it takes to become part of an active restaurant. Overall, it’s just the process of how to feed our communities better. As a local mom-and-pop in Staten Island or Queens, I took that to these political offices and said, “Hey, along with being a constituent, I am a merchant, I am a parent, and I am a human of this community.”

There’s inequity on all sides. It was intense, and that gave me more passion when it came to school and education because I wanted kids to be able to understand what’s going on in their community and why they don’t have access to food. But these efforts came with extreme stress. The frustration of fighting against these systems while caring for my own health all built up.

BHM: What do you wish more people understood about stroke risks in Black women?

Marilyn Moore: There is so much misinformation about why Black women experience health crises like strokes. People assume it’s just about diet and exercise, but that’s not the full picture. It’s stress—systemic pressures, years of carrying too much without relief, emotional exhaustion that starts small but accumulates until your body simply cannot take it anymore.

We are expected to show up, work harder, be excellent, and hold everything together, whether it’s motherhood, career, activism, or just surviving. And that constant pressure is dangerous.

No one talks enough about how stress impacts the endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems. It’s not just about being physically healthy; it’s about the things that are invisible until they force your body to shut down. We need better education, more resources, and deeper conversations about how to prevent strokes, not just react to them once they happen.

BHM: You talk about vulnerability being an important part of healing. How did that help in your recovery?

Marilyn Moore: All of that is why I wrote the book The Vulne-Rebel, A Guide to Honoring Your Gut. I wrote it because I felt some of the signs of my illness, and I was so focused on pushing it down because I had a responsibility for the community, for my children, but I had a responsibility to myself first. Sometimes in motherhood, ownership, activism, and in Black empowerment, you lose it. And you need the people in your life to remind you, you need to remind yourself, and you need to surround yourself with outside sources that are going to check in because your health matters. And I have done that in the moment I healed.

BHM: What advice would you give to Black women who feel overwhelmed by stress but don’t recognize the health risks?

Marilyn Moore: There is so much stress in places that we are not looking for it. Prioritizing your health isn’t selfish; it’s survival. If you don’t listen to your body, the consequences can be irreversible. Sometimes, the healthiest choice is saying no to things that drain you, finding spaces where you can be vulnerable, and allowing yourself to rest without guilt. If I had listened sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have had a stroke.

Resources

JAMA Network Journals

What’s Behind Black Women’s High Risk For Strokes

The post Marilyn Moore on Overcoming a Stroke and Stress appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In a tight race where she received 52% of the vote, the mayor-elect said in a statement, “I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love.”

The special election followed the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao, a decision driven by frustrations over governance and rising crime, compounded by an FBI investigation that led to her indictment. The recall itself reflected a growing demand for change in Oakland’s leadership. Mayor-elect Lee’s opponent, Loren Taylor, ran a strong campaign, pitching himself as a fresh voice who could tackle crime and revitalize the city’s economy. While Taylor resonated with some voters, Mayor Lee’s deep ties to the community and decades of experience ultimately gave her the edge.

For over twenty years, Mayor-elect Lee represented Oakland in Congress, becoming known nationwide for her commitment to her principles and her dedication to equity. Her congressional career included pivotal moments, such as her lone vote against military action after 9/11.

Now, as Mayor-elect, she’s shifting her focus to local issues and is determined to make an immediate impact.

Oakland, a city with a population of about 430,000, is known for its vibrant diversity and progressive history. It’s the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and has long been a hub for social movements. But the city faces many challenges. Homeless encampments, public drug use, and crime have all become pressing concerns. Economic struggles have added to the strain, with a growing budget deficit leaving the city strapped for resources. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped in, deploying Highway Patrol officers to support crime prevention efforts.

Mayor-elect Barbara Lee is hitting the ground running with her “Plan for the First 100 Days,” tackling Oakland’s challenges with a mix of bold ideas and practical solutions. Public safety is front and center. She’s bringing together police leadership and business representatives to create coordinated strategies while deploying crews to clear fire hazards in high-risk areas. On homelessness, she’s focused on securing funding from Alameda County to expand housing and support services for unhoused residents.

Economic growth is another priority, with plans to streamline city processes for small businesses and collaborate with Oakland’s largest employers on initiatives that benefit the entire community. She’s also committed to modernizing city governance, appointing a task force to strengthen accountability and reform Oakland’s Charter.

And let’s not forget the basics: Mayor-elect Lee is staffing crews to tackle illegal dumping and blight, auditing city contracts to ensure funds are spent wisely, and pushing for a budget stabilizing Oakland’s finances while prioritizing public safety.

In the words of Mayor-elect Lee: “We must not be a city divided, but a community united. I’ll bring people together, such as Labor and Business, and work to solve Oakland’s toughest challenges. As Mayor, I’ll lead a government that serves the people, not special interests. Let’s work to stabilize our city’s budget and deliver the services you rely on.”

While her win is the beginning of a political shift for the city, it’s also a big step forward for representation. Oakland has deep roots in Black history, and Mayor-elect Lee’s leadership marks an important step forward for equity and representation. As her tenure begins, residents are watching closely, hopeful that her leadership style and track record will be what Oakland needs to turn the page and move toward a brighter future.

On Easter, she mentioned that her top ten priorities were tackling the city’s $130 million budget deficit. Today, the mayor-elect held her first press conference, and she said,

“Public safety, meeting with our police chief and department heads, looking at all the issues, unsheltered population, moving forward with economic development and creation of jobs.”

Votes need to be certified before Mayor-elect Lee can get down to business. She won’t be sworn in until mid-to-late May, and since this was a special election, there will be another election next year.

Resources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/us/barbara-lee-oakland-mayor.html

https://abc7news.com/post/barbara-lee-holds-first-press-conference-oakland-mayor-elect-winning-tight-race/16216920/

Priorities — Barbara Lee for Oakland Mayor | Official Campaign Website

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Dr. Damali Campbell-Oparaji, an associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), highlights the systemic factors contributing to these disparities. “Maternal health is one measure of a nation’s overall well-being. “When left unaddressed, poor maternal health can create a ripple effect on families and reduce women’s productivity at home and work,” she says.

Dr. Campbell-Oparaji adds, “Even college education and increased socioeconomic status do not protect Black women from less favorable outcomes.”

Roadblocks to Motherhood

Black mothers face very specific challenges during and after pregnancy. One of the most pressing issues is recognizing critical warning signs early enough to prevent complications. “It’s important that pregnant women, their families, and healthcare providers recognize post-birth warning signs, since symptoms might be early warnings of postpartum complications,” Dr. Campbell-Oparaji explains. The issue of “institutionalized racism in healthcare” also creates barriers, leaving many Black mothers feeling unheard or dismissed during appointments. Dr. Campbell-Oparaji emphasizes the need to change how providers approach care: “Some colleagues say, ‘I treat everyone the same,’ but that mindset is part of the problem. We need to meet patients where they are.”

Another challenge Black mothers face is limited access to paid parental leave, which can impact their health and recovery after giving birth. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families,

Black employees are less likely than their white counterparts to have paid leave.

This is especially true for those in low-wage or part-time jobs, where access to paid family leave is nearly nonexistent. Only 9% of workers in the lowest income bracket had access to leave in 2020. As you can see, the challenges Black mothers face extend far beyond the walls of hospitals and doctors’ offices; they touch every part of a mother’s life. At the very least, we must ensure that equitable care becomes the standard in our maternal health.

Making Maternal Care Equitable

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is working to close these gaps with several initiatives. Dr. Campbell-Oparaji describes some programs designed to support Black mothers, including “a doula program providing prenatal, labor, and postpartum support, a pregnancy clinic addressing gaps in prenatal care, and the Healthy Moms Clinic, which offers ongoing care for mothers with medical conditions.”

In addition to patient care, NJMS is committed to addressing the maternal health crisis through research, patient care, and community service. It intends to educate the next generation of doctors to be passionate about health equity.

Making Your Voice Heard

For Black mothers-to-be navigating the healthcare system, Dr. Campbell-Oparaji has some advice: “Write down your questions before your visit to ensure you don’t forget them. Ask for an explanation if your provider recommends something you don’t understand. Also, if possible, bring a family member or friend to appointments as an extra set of ears.”

Advocating for yourself can be challenging, but being prepared can make all the difference. Your questions matter, and you deserve clear answers from your care team.

Why This Week Matters

Black Maternal Health Week, created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, serves as a wake-up call for patients, providers, and policymakers. As Dr. Campbell-Oparaji notes, the week “is significant because it allows us to examine our practices and see how we can change to meet the needs of all patients, including Black women who are experiencing increased morbidity and mortality.”

Supporting Black maternal health means addressing disparities head-on, through advocacy, culturally competent care, and policy changes.

Dr. Campbell-Oparaji emphasizes the importance of using evidence-based protocols and social services to facilitate care, ensuring “that policies and procedures don’t unintentionally disenfranchise certain patients.” Everyone has a role in this fight, whether you’re an expectant mother, a healthcare provider, or a community advocate. Together, we can create a future where Black mothers don’t just survive, they thrive.

Resources

Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021

Closing the Gap: Addressing Black Maternal Health Disparities | Rutgers University

Paid Leave Is Essential for Healthy Moms and Babies | National Partnership for Women & Families

New bill would require New Jersey hospitals, birthing centers to allow doulas • New Jersey Monitor

New Jersey Medical School Opens Clinic for Early Pregnancy Care | Rutgers University

Healthy Moms Clinic: Challenges and Opportunities of Integrating Postpartum Care into Primary Care and Residency Education | AJPH | Vol. 114 Issue S4

Black Mamas Matter Alliance – Advancing Black Maternal Health, Rights & Justice

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What the Report Tells Us

According to the report, one in five hospitals reports racial disparities in C-section rates, particularly between Black and white patients. This points to deeper systemic issues. Some hospitals also lack clear policies to prevent early elective deliveries, which can lead to postpartum complications for moms and health risks for babies.

Access to certified midwives and doulas remains uneven across the country, with significant gaps in certain regions. Where you give birth matters. Outcomes often rely on the hospital’s culture and policies, making it critical for families to research, ask questions, and advocate for themselves.

To explore these issues further, we turned to two leaders driving progress in maternity care, Katie Stewart, Director of Health Care Ratings at The Leapfrog Group, and LaToshia Rouse, Certified Doula and founder of Birth Sisters Doula Services.

Katie Stewart on Maternal Care Improvements

Katie Stewart leads efforts to bring transparency to healthcare systems. With a deep commitment to improving safety and quality, she has advocated for using public reporting to drive change in maternity care.

BHM: Katie, what sets Leapfrog apart regarding maternity care?

Katie Stewart: It’s all about showing the numbers. When Leapfrog started publicly reporting hospital data, it was a big deal. There wasn’t much transparency back then. Today, hospitals use our information to set benchmarks and drive real change.

Look at episiotomies. Since we started tracking them in 2012, rates have dropped by 73%. Those are thousands of women whose experiences were made safer and healthier because hospitals stepped up.

BHM: Progress on cutting unnecessary C-sections has stalled since 2020. What’s holding things back?

Katie Stewart: Research shows that the most significant factor in whether or not a patient will have a C-section is the hospital where they give birth. The culture of the hospital, as well as its architectural design, plays a significant role in shaping C-section rates. Leading up to 2020, we were seeing progress in reducing C-section rates for low-risk, first-time mothers. Transparency has been a powerful driver of that change, and we’ve seen it work before. We’re hopeful it will work again to bring down unnecessary C-section rates.

BHM: One in five hospitals has racial disparities in C-section rates. What’s the solution?

Katie Stewart: Leapfrog started collecting this data last year, and we plan to report it publicly, by hospital, in the future. Transparency is the foundation of progress, and you cannot change what you don’t measure.

In addition, Leapfrog has included a health equity measure in another part of the Hospital Survey to ensure all patients receive safe, high-quality care. Hospitals must analyze their own data to uncover any disparities in outcomes or processes based on race, ethnicity, or language. The measure looks at whether hospitals are doing the following: collecting patient data on race, ethnicity, and language preferences; training staff to gather this information directly; stratifying at least one quality measure to identify disparities; and, if disparities are found, taking action to fix them.

Hospitals are also encouraged to share their progress publicly and report their equity efforts to their boards. By highlighting these differences, Leapfrog aims to galvanize meaningful change in healthcare delivery.

For example, last year, The New York Times did a story called “Doctors Give Black Women Unneeded C-Sections Study Suggests,” which features authors of a study who examined medical records of Black women and white women who were healthy and had low risk factors in New Jersey. Of the nearly one million births they reviewed, the researchers found that Black women were 20% more likely to have their baby via C-section, particularly if an operating room was empty.

A Voice from the Front Lines

LaToshia Rouse is a Certified Doula and the founder of Birth Sisters Doula Services. She directly supports Black families through her work, empowering them during pregnancy and childbirth. She also advocates for equitable maternity care and helps bridge the gap between hospitals and the communities they serve.

BHM: The report highlights disparities in maternal care outcomes for Black mothers. As a doula, what do you observe in your work?

LaToshia Rouse: As a doula, I see firsthand how Black patients are often not believed, not listened to, or have their concerns minimized. They’re more likely to face dismissive attitudes, have their pain downplayed, or experience delays in treatment. There’s also a pattern of being excluded from important conversations about their care.

Hospitals can start to change this by embedding respectful care training into every aspect of practice, adopting shared decision-making models, and investing in community feedback to help shape their policies.

Representation is critical, but so is accountability. Equity is not just a checklist, and it isn’t free; it requires a cultural shift that centers the patient’s voice, ensures transparency, and partners with doulas to offer the support patients need.

BHM: Nearly 90% of hospitals allow doulas, but few employ them directly. What are the benefits of expanding direct access to doulas within hospitals, and how do you see this change impacting outcomes for Black mothers in particular?

LaToshia Rouse: I think doulas need to be a partner to a hospital, but not employed by hospitals. They could be independent contractors who provide the support they were trained to provide to their community while maintaining their autonomy. This is because the system has a culture. Culture will eat away at anything it is introduced to and cause it to conform.

Hospitals can include doulas as a part of their care package and pay the doula directly as long as the doula maintains their autonomy.

Direct access to doulas through hospitals removes barriers like cost, confusion around policy, and can be a bridge to awareness of doula support. It helps ensure that every person giving birth, especially those at higher risk of poor outcomes, can benefit from continuous, culturally aligned support.

Doulas are proven to reduce cesarean section frequency, low birth weight, and premature labor. Additionally, we improve other outcomes such as breastfeeding and mental health.

BHM: How can Black families better advocate for themselves within a hospital system, and what role can doulas play in making the process feel less intimidating and more empowering?

LaToshia Rouse: Black families can start by knowing their rights, asking questions, saying no to interventions, and insisting on being fully informed. I teach families to use their B.R.A.I.N. They need to know the Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives. What does your Intuition say? What happens if we don’t do this now or not at all? This gives families the information they need to make informed decisions.

We help them develop a written birth plan that the medical team can discuss in advance. We also hold space emotionally so families can focus on their experience, not just navigating the system.

That confidence and preparation can transform fear into power, and doulas are often the catalyst for that shift.

BHM: What are some misconceptions about doulas’ roles in maternity care, and how do you break down those barriers to establish trust with medical teams?

LaToshia Rouse: One common misconception is that doulas are anti-medical or there to challenge clinicians and nurses. In reality, most of us are collaborators, and we want to work with them to make this a healthy, memorable experience for the family. We’re there to support the person giving birth and to help the team work more smoothly.

Another myth is that we give medical advice. We educate, comfort, and advocate with information commonly shared in childbirth education. To break down barriers, I introduce myself to staff early, clarify my role, and stay solution-oriented.

I also help the nurses by updating them on what happened when they left out, and I maintain calm when they cannot. We get the mom up and moving around to aid in faster labor. When care teams see that I respect their expertise and am there to enhance support and not disrupt their care, trust starts to build. The best outcomes happen when everyone sees each other as part of the same team.

Black Maternal Health Week reminds us to reflect on the strength of Black mothers and the families they nurture. It’s a chance to recognize the disparities they face and recommit to the work it takes to eliminate them. Every mother should feel supported, respected, and safe during childbirth. By continuing to center our communities in this conversation, we can strive for maternity care that consistently and compassionately serves everyone.

The post Cutting Inequity in Black Maternal Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you share your journey with excessive facial and body hair and how it inspired your brand?

Jasmine Nelson: When I was around 14 or 15, I noticed hair growing on my neck. I didn’t know what to do, so I shaved it, thinking it would be no different than shaving my legs—big mistake. Over time, the hair spread to my chin and jawline, and I wasn’t just dealing with hair anymore. I was battling ingrown hairs, scarring, and a serious hit to my confidence.

I was too ashamed to be around people. When I finally went to a doctor, they diagnosed me with PCOS and offered solutions like birth control or spironolactone, but I declined because they didn’t feel right for me long-term.

I tried everything from electrolysis to dietary changes, spending more time and money than I want to admit, but nothing seemed to work consistently.

During this time, I met my high school friend, who later became my husband. He truly accepted me for me, beyond just my physical appearance. Having someone love me unconditionally was healing, but self-acceptance didn’t come overnight. Loving yourself is a journey; no one can do that work for you.

Pregnancy temporarily reduced my facial hair, but postpartum brought it back with a vengeance. Determined to find a solution, I started experimenting with ingredients and formulas. After months of trial and error, I finally created something that worked. I never intended to start a business, but I knew I had to share it once I saw how many women were going through the same struggles. That’s how Umber by J. Lenay was born.

BHM: Why does PCOS cause excessive facial and body hair, and how can women manage it effectively?

Jasmine Nelson: PCOS causes elevated levels of androgens—male hormones like testosterone—which promote hair growth in areas like the face, chest, and back. It’s also responsible for thinning hair on the scalp, creating a frustrating double-edged sword. Balancing hormones naturally can help, whether through a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet, spearmint tea, or supplements like DIM or saw palmetto.

For hair removal itself, hair inhibitors like my Hair-Reducing Fade Oil can slow regrowth while soothing the skin. Whatever hair removal method you choose—threading, waxing, or shaving—always follow up with proper aftercare to reduce irritation and prevent ingrown hairs. And remember, PCOS-related hair growth is not your fault.

BHM: Pregnancy often changes hair growth in unexpected ways. What can women expect, and how can they manage it?

Jasmine Nelson: Pregnancy hormones like estrogen and progesterone can lead to thicker, darker hair growth in new areas, while for some women, it might temporarily reduce excessive hair growth. Pregnancy lessened my facial hair for a while, but postpartum brought it back stronger than ever.

To manage these changes, use gentle hair removal methods if needed, exfoliate regularly, and hydrate to prevent irritation. Supporting your overall health with a nutrient-rich diet and scalp massages can help during postpartum recovery. Give yourself grace—hormonal shifts during pregnancy are natural and often resolve with time.

BHM: Menopause presents another stage of hormonal changes. What advice would you give to women experiencing these transitions?

Jasmine Nelson: I haven’t experienced it yet, but I’ve learned and researched it by speaking with different individuals. Menopause brings hormonal changes as women age. As estrogen levels decline, androgens become more dominant, leading to changes like excessive hair growth—something many women don’t talk about.

BHM: How does dealing with hormonal imbalances and physical changes impact mental well-being?

Jasmine Nelson: It can be emotionally exhausting. Hormonal imbalances and the physical changes they bring, like hair growth or skin shifts, affect how you feel about yourself. I know firsthand, and many women I’ve spoken to feel the same way—frustration, isolation, even anxiety when dealing with excessive hair growth, skin changes, or weight fluctuations. It’s not just about how we look. It’s about feeling like we’ve lost control over our bodies.

Here’s my advice: give yourself grace and focus on what you can control. Create a self-care routine that makes you feel good, whether using hair-reducing treatments, skincare rituals, or simply taking time for yourself.

Surround yourself with a community that truly understands your journey. Incorporating daily affirmations and shifting your mindset is powerful, too. Remember, your beauty isn’t defined by hormones or hair but by how you love and care for yourself. You are worthy just as you are. So don’t give up!

BHM: What misconceptions about facial and body hair need to be challenged?

Jasmine Nelson: One of the biggest misconceptions is that women shouldn’t have facial or body hair at all, like it’s unnatural or something to be ashamed of. But the truth is, hair growth is completely normal; it’s influenced by genetics, hormones, and health conditions like PCOS or menopause.

Society has this weird way of equating being hairless with being feminine, which makes many women feel self-conscious or like they’re somehow “less feminine” if they deal with excessive hair growth.

It’s a struggle, but it’s time we challenge that narrative and embrace what’s natural for us.

BHM: How has your brand, Umber by J. Lenay, become a catalyst for advocacy in women’s health?

Jasmine Nelson: Umber by J Lenay was born from my struggles and the genuine desire to offer real solutions for women dealing with excessive hair growth, dark spots, and ingrown hairs. But it’s more than just about creating products—it’s about using this brand to advocate women’s health and wellness. By shining a light on the impact of hormonal imbalances, whether from PCOS, menopause, or other conditions, I’ve been able to spark meaningful conversations around body image, self-care, and access to affordable alternatives to laser treatments and electrolysis.

BHM: What’s one key message you’d like to leave for women navigating excessive facial and body hair in today’s society?

Jasmine Nelson: My biggest piece of advice? You are not alone, and you are not defined by your hair. Dealing with excessive hair growth can feel overwhelming, especially in a society that doesn’t often talk about it openly, but remember—your beauty and worth go far beyond society’s standards.

Check Out These Top Picks from Umber by J. Lenay

Through her journey of trial, error, and resilience, Jasmine created a range of organic products to help women with excessive hair growth. Here are three:

 Hair Reducing Fade Oil Roll-On: A gentle formula that allows slow hair regrowth while soothing irritation and improving the appearance of dark spots. Price: $60.00.

2 oz Facial Moisturizer for Ingrown Hairs and Acne: Ideal for post-hair removal care, this serum hydrates and calms sensitive skin, reducing redness and discomfort. Price: $34.00

4 oz Facial Sugar Scrub: Exfoliating and preventing ingrown hairs, this scrub refreshes skin and promotes an even texture, perfect for your self-care routine. Price: $18.00

The post A Natural Solution For Excessive Hair Facial & Body Hair Growth appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: What motivated you to start Chronic Fitness and focus on helping individuals with chronic conditions?

Yolanda Sarrabo:  I am also part of the community I serve. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma many moons ago. During treatment and everything that came with it, I wanted to continue exercising.

After interviewing a few personal trainers, I realized it just wasn’t a good fit. Even though there are trainers who target specific communities, I felt my needs weren’t being met. So, I thought about it, prayed on it, and realized there was a niche for special populations. From there, I decided to start my own initiative, Chronic Fitness was born to fill the gap for people like me.

BHM: How does fitness help individuals living with chronic conditions improve their physical and mental health?

Yolanda Sarrabo: Fitness, along with proper nutrition, is essential for making lifestyle changes. Treatment, including medications, can alter one’s daily life, and people often forget about the nutritional and physical aspects.

Nowadays, you might hear doctors recommending exercise alongside treatment. For something like hypertension, a good doctor will include exercise in the plan, not just medication. Years ago, it was all about the meds, but now it’s more holistic, with physical, mental, and nutritional health all working together.

BHM: What are the biggest challenges people face when starting or maintaining a wellness routine?

Yolanda Sarrabo: One major barrier is financial concern. People often ask, “Can I afford this?” You might think, “I can’t afford a trainer, so I won’t exercise,” but you don’t need a trainer to stay active. You can walk, follow exercise videos on YouTube, or try activities like Zumba or cardio. There are countless ways to move your body that don’t require spending a lot of money.

BHM: You’ve spoken about advocating for one’s health. Can you elaborate on what patients should do to take control, particularly in the Black community?

Yolanda Sarrabo: I really push this concept of participatory medicine. It’s about having transparent conversations with your doctor. If you’re diagnosed with something, whether it’s cancer, hypertension, or diabetes, don’t stop at the diagnosis.

At your next visit, ask questions such as, “What does this mean? How does it change my daily life? Should I adjust my diet or exercise routine?”

This is a partnership; you’re not just a passive patient. You’re an active participant. If your doctor isn’t answering your questions, that’s your sign to seek a second opinion.
In the Black community, trust in the healthcare system can be tricky, especially for older generations who’ve faced bad experiences. But you need to have open conversations with your healthcare provider and collaborate on your survivorship.

BHM: How can people set realistic fitness goals and maintain discipline when they’re feeling overwhelmed or impatient with results?

Yolanda Sarrabo: Write it down; seeing your goals on paper makes a huge difference. Keep a food diary and track your body measurements. This helps you understand where changes need to be made and whether your habits align with your goals. Start small, like losing 2 to 5 pounds instead of aiming for 30 in two months. Gradual progress builds consistency, and as you grow stronger, you’ll naturally push for more challenges.

BHM: If you had one piece of advice for someone feeling overwhelmed by their health challenges, what would it be?

Yolanda Sarrabo: Embrace your new normalcy. Things are different now, whether good or bad, and you need to embrace where you are while staying open to change. Many people feel they’re not healthy because of their condition, and that mindset can block progress. But there’s room to make changes.

Life doesn’t stop with a diagnosis; there’s always room for improvement. Even I had hypertension. I did what I needed to do, took the meds, and all of that. Then, my numbers went down. I was able to get off the meds.

I think a lot of people just get stuck on how life stops. Based on what they are being told, they start to think there’s no wiggle room to make improvements, but there is. Embrace it all. This is your new normalcy, and within your new normalcy, there’s room to change.

Kickstart Your 30-Day Fitness Routine.

Yolanda recommends a simple, effective fitness plan to help you build consistency. These low-impact routines are great for all fitness levels:

Low-Impact Cardio (Monday, Wednesday, Friday):

Option 1: Modified jumping jacks, windmills, bicep jabs (10 reps, two sets)
Option 2: Sumo squats, side-to-side twists, forward bends (10 reps, two sets)
Option 3: Squats, squat with overhead reach, wall push-ups (10 reps, two sets)

Upper Body Routine (Tuesday, Thursday):

Option 1: Wall push-ups, crossbody punches, wood chops (10 reps, two sets)
Option 2: Seated shoulder press, arm circles, bicep curls (10 reps, two sets; with or without weights)

Through her work with Chronic Fitness, Yolanda Sarrabo has identified a need for more motivation around exercise. Take inspiration from her example; you can take charge of your journey with small steps, consistency, and the right mindset. And don’t let chronic conditions get in the way.

Be sure to check with your HCP before beginning any exercise program. 

The post Motivated to Move: Exercising With a Chronic Condition appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The post The Truth About Extrapelvic Endometriosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Growing Threat

Colon cancer is no longer just a concern for older adults. Over the past two decades, cases among people under 50 have risen steadily, climbing by around 1 to 2 percent annually. According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, colorectal cancer is expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for those under 50 by 2030.

What’s even more troubling is how often younger patients are blindsided. Many don’t have a family history of the disease or other traditional risk factors, which leaves symptoms like abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or changes in bowel habits dismissed or overlooked until it’s too late.

For younger adults, this delay often means the cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced stage, complicating treatment options and outcomes.

What’s Behind the Numbers?

While the exact reasons for the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer aren’t fully understood, researchers point to several likely contributors:

Dietary Shifts

The modern Western diet, rich in processed foods and low in fiber, has been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer. Fiber is key to a healthy gut, yet most Americans fall far short of the recommended 25 to 34 grams daily.

Studies suggest that fiber can lower colon cancer risk by up to 15 percent, but diets heavy in fast food and processed snacks do the opposite.

Inactivity and Obesity

The connection between obesity and colorectal cancer risk is well-established, with obesity increasing the likelihood by approximately 30 percent, according to the CDC. Lack of exercise only makes matters worse. Regular physical activity helps reduce inflammation, improves gut health, and directly lowers cancer risk, but sedentary lifestyles are far too common.

Gut Microbiome Disruption

According to the National Library of Medicine, poor diets and long-term antibiotic use can throw gut bacteria balance off track, potentially accelerating cancer development. The gut microbiome is vital for digestion and immunity, but these disruptions may pave the way for disease.

Genetics and Environmental Factors

While inherited conditions like Lynch syndrome play a role for some, the majority of younger colon cancer patients don’t have a family history, suggesting environmental exposures or unidentified triggers may contribute.

Why Colon Cancer Hits Our Community Harder

For Black Americans, the picture is even more alarming. We are 20 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from it than other racial groups, according to the American Cancer Society. These disparities stem from more than just biology; they’re shaped by systemic inequities that create barriers to care and prevention. Some obstacles that challenge our community include:

• Living in Food Deserts: Living in areas without access to fresh, affordable food makes it much harder to maintain a fiber-rich, cancer-fighting diet. Processed and high-fat foods dominate in these environments, increasing risk factors like obesity.
• Issues Access Healthcare and Screenings: Our community faces limited access to healthcare and insurance, leading to delayed colorectal cancer screenings. Only 65 percent of Black Americans participate in recommended screenings, compared to higher rates in other populations.
• Receiving Diagnosis at Later Stages: Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease. Nearly 26 percent of early-onset cases in Black Americans are metastatic at diagnosis, compared to 22 percent among White Americans, according to the Colon Cancer Foundation.

What You Can Do

While colon cancer may feel intimidating, there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself and those you love. Start by paying attention to your body. If you notice changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool, or persistent fatigue, don’t brush it off. Push for answers, and if your concerns aren’t taken seriously, get a second opinion. Early detection saves lives.

Screenings are your best defense. The American Cancer Society now recommends starting screenings at age 45 for those at average risk.

But if you have a family history or other factors, consider starting earlier. Screenings can detect early-stage cancers and even remove precancerous polyps before they develop into something more dangerous.

Small lifestyle changes can also make a big difference. Here are some things to consider:

•  Include fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains in your diet.
•  Aim for 150 minutes of moderate weekly exercise to lower inflammation and improve overall health.
• Cut down on processed and red meats while maintaining a healthy weight.
• Most importantly, normalize conversations about health within your family. Sharing medical histories and discussing symptoms can empower everyone to seek care sooner.

Rewriting the Narrative

Colon cancer doesn’t fit its old stereotypes anymore. It’s showing up earlier, hitting harder, and disproportionately affecting our community. But awareness and action can change the story. With stronger advocacy for screening, lifestyle shifts, and open conversations, we can face this challenge together. Let’s protect ourselves, our families, and our future by putting health at the forefront, because this is one fight we can take on and win.

The post Colon Cancer Is A Growing Risk For Older Millennials appeared first on Black Health Matters.

His Musical Legacy

Tony! Toni! Toné! hit the scene in 1986, bringing a fresh mix of soul, jazz, and funk to the R&B world. As a guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and producer, Wiggins helped redefine the genre. Alongside his brother Raphael Saadiq and his cousin Timothy Christian Riley, Wiggins crafted timeless hits. Their debut album, Who?, dropped in 1988, but it was their second album, The Revival (1990), that made them stars. Packed with hits like “Feels Good,” “Whatever You Want,” and “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” the album went platinum and cemented the group’s place in R&B history.

In 1995, D’Wayne Wiggins started Grass Roots Entertainment, running it from his West Oakland studio, the “House of Music.” The space wasn’t just a recording studio, it became a home for artists to grow and create. Wiggins worked closely with Destiny’s Child early on, signing them to his label and helping shape their first three albums, all of which went platinum. He also contributed to Alicia Keys’s The Diary of Alicia Keys in 2003, an album that won three Grammys and sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. These are just two examples of how Wiggins helped shape the sound of R&B.

Wiggins grew up in East Oakland, attending Castlemont High School, and his hometown was always a big part of his story. He made sure Oakland’s energy and soul were reflected in his work and gave back by mentoring local artists and supporting the music scene. Whether through his own songs or the careers he helped build, Wiggins’s impact on music runs deep and will be felt for years to come.

“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California. He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor, and founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many,” the Wiggins family shared in a statement.

D’Wayne Wiggins wasn’t just a talented musician, he was someone who truly cared about his craft, his community, and the people around him. His story reminds us that great music doesn’t just come from talent; it comes from the heart.

Shining a Light on Bladder Cancer

While celebrating Wiggins’s contributions to music, his passing also highlights the importance of bladder cancer awareness. This disease doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but its impact is significant.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 84,870 new cases of bladder cancer are anticipated in the U.S. this year, with men accounting for the majority. Black men, while less likely to be diagnosed compared to their white counterparts, face higher mortality rates; this reflects the systemic inequities in healthcare that our community faces. Awareness is the first step in fighting bladder cancer, and early detection can significantly increase survival rates. Look at a few common symptoms of bladder cancer, provided by Mayo Clinic:

* Blood in the urine (hematuria) may appear pink, red, or dark brown.
* Frequent or painful urination.
* A persistent urge to urinate, even when the bladder is not full.
* Back pain.

These symptoms can be subtle, but paying attention to them and seeking medical advice could make all the difference. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, consider making an appointment with your doctor.

We send our heartfelt condolences to D’Wayne Wiggins’s family, friends, and everyone who loved him. His music touched so many lives, and his legacy will continue to inspire for generations.

The post R&B Legend D’Wayne Wiggins Has Died appeared first on Black Health Matters.

MyReceptiva

Endometriosis and Black Women

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, triggering inflammation, scarring, and some serious health issues. For many women, it explains the chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and other symptoms that doctors often chalk up to something else. Yet, getting a diagnosis can take 7 to 10 years on average.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Black women are 50% less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than white women, despite dealing with it at similar rates.

These disparities are deeply rooted in biases in healthcare and how this condition has been studied or overlooked over the years.

Meet MyReceptiva

Now, MyReceptiva is stepping in as a less invasive way to detect endometriosis, offering women the chance to get answers sooner. At $585, the test looks for the BCL6 protein, which signals inflammation associated with endometriosis. The test is simple, using a routine endometrial biopsy, with results available within a week. During the biopsy, a thin catheter—comparable in size to a spaghetti noodle—is gently inserted through the vaginal canal, passed through the cervix, and placed against the uterine lining. A suction-like technique is then used to collect cells from the lining and put them into a tube. While patients may feel temporary discomfort or light cramping for 5 to 10 minutes, most can resume daily activities within 15 to 20 minutes after a brief rest. The sample is then preserved and shipped overnight to the lab for analysis.

This procedure eliminates the need for the costly and invasive surgical procedure that has been the gold standard until now.

Endometriosis Advocacy Matters

For Black women especially, MyReceptiva could be transformative. Endometriosis is among the leading causes of infertility in Black women, according to the Resilient Sisterhood Project. It’s also tied to higher rates of chronic pelvic pain, conditions that have all too often gone overlooked or misdiagnosed.

By making it easier to pinpoint the problem, MyReceptiva could help women get referred to specialists faster and start exploring treatment options much sooner.

Dr. Mona Orady, a specialist in endometriosis care, highlights the value of this test, emphasizing how it can streamline the diagnosis process by bringing a meaningful diagnostic option into a regular doctor’s visit. That is life-changing for women who’ve spent years being told there’s nothing wrong, all while their symptoms disrupt their lives, relationships, and careers. In short, MyReceptiva is a game changer.

And yet, there’s still progress to be made in terms of recognizing the full impact of endometriosis.

According to WGBH News, the National Institutes of Health allocated $29 million to endometriosis research in 2023, which falls short compared to the $92 million allocated for Crohn’s disease, a condition affecting fewer people.

This gap in funding highlights the importance of tools like MyReceptiva. Providing a reliable and accessible option, they help bridge existing challenges, empowering women to seek answers, advocate for their health, and move closer to solutions.

The truth is, endometriosis isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s a public health issue that ripples through families, communities, and workplaces. For Black women especially, who’ve faced unique barriers to care, tools like MyReceptiva offer a much-needed step forward. This isn’t the end for endometriosis advocacy; it’s just the beginning. This reflects the possible progress when innovation, research, and advocacy come together to prioritize women’s health.

The post Endometriosis Detection Just Got Easier appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Just as the contestants on “Pop the Balloon” embrace the surprises hidden within each burst, singles over 50 can approach dating with a sense of adventure and openness.

The key is to pop the balloon of preconceived notions and open oneself to new possibilities, experiences, and connections.

BHM: What inspired you to become a matchmaker?

Shaneeka McCray: I became a matchmaker based on my necessity and curiosity in terms of why dating is not working for me. It started more religious; we were Christian-based and then transitioned into a more elite company that caters to African Americans, really all singles, but Black women who are high achieving and high earning and are just looking for suitable companionship.

BHM: How can older adults build confidence when re-entering the dating scene?

Shaneeka McCray: You have to go inward. You can’t address something from the outside; you have to go in first, have those conversations with yourself, and be honest about why you believe you don’t have whatever you’re looking for. That is always the starting point. Instead of just going out and fixing things that don’t necessarily apply to you, learn yourself, and then you work on those specific issues.

BHM: Why is mental health vital for relationships later in life?

Shaneeka McCray: Your mental health is going to be number one with dating later in life. So, later in life, we have experienced a lot. Sometimes, there are small traumatic events or one big traumatic event, and the issues I’ve seen are people just not feeling love and not feeling worthy, which affects the relationship.

Returning to that personal relationship, you must already be full of love by yourself, without a partner.

When you can do that for yourself, love pours out of you. It must pour out of you so much that you can give and receive from another person. So, taking care of your side of the street will contribute to having a healthy relationship with another person.

BHM: How can people practice self-love in preparation for a healthy relationship?

Shaneeka McCray: Community. So, whether it’s a mental health professional, a therapist, or a coach. I think not all are created equal, so again, learning yourself knowing that

“Hey, I need more of a spiritual coach to help me through this process,” or “Maybe I need trauma healing. Identifying the help you need for your particular issue can be challenging, and sometimes, you will have to move around a bit.

Even in moving around, you find that “Hey, maybe I’ve gotten to a certain point with this particular mental health provider, and now I need something for the next chapter of my healing.” It’s going to be an ongoing process but based on what I’ve seen, it does get better, it does get easier.

A lot of what happens is that people don’t want to see themselves, and they don’t want to heal themselves. However, you can manifest a relationship and have the same results you had before getting the assistance.

So, yes, mental health providers are the ones that work best for you and where you are in your life journey. That said, ensure you have a community outside of these therapists.

BHM: How do you help clients embrace new dating experiences after reaching self-love?

Shaneeka McCray: I see some women in their 50s, and they’re very confident. I just had a client, a lobbyist, and we actually did online dating with her, and as soon as we got her on there, she connected with someone, sparked a full-blown relationship, and he’s younger than her, by the way. Flying her out to him and asking for a committed relationship. Many people, once they hit their 50s, are either battered or empowered. So, the battered energy is like, “I’ve been beaten up, and I don’t even think that this love thing can work,” and then you have the other sisters who are like, “I know who I am, but there’s just a little piece of me that’s off, and this is why I’m coming to you so that you can help me put it together.”

When you speak to women like their queens, which we should be doing with our young daughters anyway so that when they hit 50, they know exactly who they are, the biggest thing will be that internal confidence in how you talk to yourself.

For me to show you how powerful, magnetic, and amazing you are, sometimes I’ve got to talk to you a little bit differently. I’ve gotta tell you who you are! So, when you remind women in their 50s of who they are, that unleashes a whole new level of confidence, and we diminish the fear of hitting a certain age and not being able to find what you want. When women are in their 40s and 50s, we are the most confident. We know how to make money at this point; we’ve seen a lot of things, we have wisdom, and certain things are just not going to go over our heads. We are at the safest place to call in a partner if you can let go of whatever aspects of battering you have. If you can let that go, 50 is a prime time to call in your partner.

Debunking Myths

We also asked Shaneeka to debunk some common myths about dating later in life. She mentioned that she doesn’t like the notion that women have no options after 50. This myth perpetuates unnecessary fear and doubt. The reality is that there are plenty of opportunities for meaningful connections and fulfilling relationships at any age. The key is to approach dating with an open heart and mind and be willing to explore new experiences.

Is Tech Worth It? Yes

Shaneeka also supports the idea of singles 50 and older using technology to date. She helps her clients understand digital dating dynamics and believes meeting potential partners is an excellent opportunity. Embracing technology can open doors to a broader pool of connections, making finding someone who matches their interests and values easier.

Finding love after 50 is not about reminiscing about your youth; it’s about being present for the version of yourself that you are today. It’s about celebrating who you are now and opening yourself up to new possibilities.

The post Pop the Balloon: Dating After 50 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Let’s Start With the Basics

BHM: What are clarifying shampoos, and how do their benefits and uses differ from moisturizing shampoos?

Johnny Wright: I swear by clarifying shampoos. I think they’re great, particularly for people who wear their hair natural, because people don’t like the word strips, but it cleanses thoroughly with any build-up that is on the hair.

As a natural, you’re putting a lot of products on your hair. Sometimes, that product can overlap if you wear a wash ‘n go [or a style you are touching between shampoos].

So, to get optimal results with your curls, when you do style, you want to cleanse it thoroughly and strip away all the build-up on your hair. That’s what is so great about clarifying shampoos. It just prepares a great base and foundation for styling and for your curls to be their best.

BHM: What are moisturizing shampoos, and how do their benefits and uses differ from clarifying shampoos?

Johnny Wright: While the clarifying shampoo takes away, the moisturizing shampoo will replenish the hair with a fresh layer of moisture. A lot of times, people don’t like that squeaky-clean feeling, but that is kind of what you want to look for.

The squeaky-clean feeling will be then softened with the moisturizing shampoo. That will be your first layer of moisture when it’s time for your curls to be defined. Anybody knows that when it comes down to curly hair, you have to have moisture because in those bends and turns, in the curls, the sebaceous glands cannot produce oil that goes down the complete length of the strand.

Always start with a clarifying shampoo and follow up with a moisturizing shampoo.
You want to replenish that moisture because your natural oils can’t get down the shaft.

Look For These Key Ingredients

BHM: What key ingredients should we look for in moisturizing and clarifying shampoos to ensure the best results for different hair textures and porosity levels?

Keka Heron: Top clarifying ingredients for all hair types include surfactants, soap-like ingredients that remove dirt and residue, and citrus, which is great for gently removing dirt. For moisturizing shampoos, look for glycerin, oils, and water that nourish and moisturize hair. Shea butter, Argan oil, and Jojoba oil for porous hair are excellent for keeping your hair hydrated and sealed. Ingredients that hydrate and strengthen, such as B5, Aloe, proteins, argan oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter, should also be considered. Choosing a shampoo with the right ingredients gives your hair the nutrients it needs to sustain moisture and maintain a healthy scalp.

Scalp Issues: Natural Hair

BHM: What common scalp issues for those with natural hair, and how can they be addressed?

Johnny Wright: I think one of the common scalp issues you can see is flakiness and psoriasis of the scalp. That pretty much is what causes dandruff. Those are the main things, itchiness and things like that.You combat that with moisture.

When your scalp is really itchy and flaky, you know it is not getting the proper moisture.Often, people forget about the scalp and focus on the strands.

But the scalp is the foundation; it’s where your hair comes from, so you must also keep that healthy.

Relaxed and Color-treated Hair

BHM: What is your top hair care tip for maintaining healthy, relaxed hair?

Johnny Wright: So, in a relaxer is the chemical sodium hydroxide, which shifts the bonds in the hair strands so they can go straight. In that process, you lose a lot of moisture in your hair. What you want to do is replenish that moisture.

I love masks, period, but I love masks for relaxed hair because you need that intense moisture.

Masks are highly concentrated and do the job quickly, leaving hair nice and moisturized.

BHM: What should individuals with color-treated natural hair consider doing on wash days?

Johnny Wright: In removing your natural pigment and replacing it with a new hair color, your hair loses a lot of moisture.

So, you want to make sure you do steam treatments. Steam treatments are great for natural, relaxed, or color-treated hair.

If you want to keep your color vibrant, if you have a nice bright color, steam treatments will do the job all the time because you’re going to get that intensive moisturization with your mask and also with the steam, and it’s going to help you fight against humidity as well.

Assessing and Adjusting Your Routine

BHM: What signs indicate a shampoo is not working well for the hair?

Keka Heron: If the hair feels tacky or greasy, too dry and brittle, or still has an odor after shampooing, or if scalp issues persist without improvement in four weeks, the shampoo isn’t working.

BHM: How should hair care routines be adjusted for different seasons?

Keka Heron: In the winter, hair and scalp are usually drier, so use more hydrating and moisturizing products. Include scalp, hot oil, and steam treatments in your routine. In the summer, hair and scalp remain moist due to humidity, so use moisturizing products that help control frizz, possibly with added silicone, depending on the hair type.

Our Top Picks for Shampoos

Johnny and Keka have shown us why it’s important to cleanse your scalp with care. Let’s dive into their favorite shampoo recommendations to elevate your hair game.

Clarifying Shampoo Picks

OURX Detox Cleanse Complex contains AHA + BHA to remove dead skin from the scalp and hair gently. This cleanser leaves your hair and scalp refreshed and balanced. $29.00

Pattern Beauty Cleansing Shampoo:  Enriched with Aloe Vera and Matcha Green Tea, this cleanser gently removes buildup while maintaining your hair’s natural oils. Price: $21.00

Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub is formulated with Tea Tree Oil to remove product buildup and residue and niacinamide to improve the scalp visibly; this dual-purpose formula provides a deep clean without over-stripping. Price: $38.00

Design Essentials Oat Protein and Henna Deep Cleansing Shampoo infused with Hydrolyzed Oat Protein to condition and Henna to add natural shine while the product removes product buildup and impurities. Price: $12.00

The Doux Breakdown Clarifying Shampoo features Chamomile and Rosemary to deeply cleanse and remove buildup, leaving your hair and scalp refreshed and balanced.  Price: $15.99

African Pride Feel It Formula Strengthening Shampoo is infused with Peppermint, Rosemary, and Sage Oil, this enriching formula fortifies hair while providing a refreshing cleanse (also a great choice for relaxed hair).  Price: $6.99

Top Moisturizing  Picks

OURXNutrient Cleanse Complex is infused with Squalane to moisturize and lock in hydration, and Polyquaternium-7 promotes hydration and slip and will leave your hair feeling refreshed and revitalized. Price $29.00

Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo: Formulated with Honey and Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, it provides intense nourishment and hydration, leaving your hair soft, manageable, and beautifully defined. Price: $21.00

Cécred Hydrating Shampoo is infused with hyaluronic acid for intense moisture and is an African oil blend that promotes hair health. It will leave your hair feeling soft, manageable, and strong. Price: $31.00

 

Design Essentials Almond Avocado Shampoo is enriched with Sweet Almond Oil and Avocado Extract and gently cleanses while providing intense hydration and nourishment.  Price: $12.99

Briogeo Don’t Despair Super Moisture Shampoo: A nourishing formula, enriched with B vitamins and Rosehip + Sweet Almond Oils, delivers intense hydration and fortifies your hair from root to tip. Price $39.00

De’Anasa Haircare Hydralux Hydrating Shampoo is crafted with nourishing ingredients, including Jojoba and Vitamin B, to help maintain moisture balance and leave your hair soft, manageable, and conditioned. Price $18.00

 

Top Treatment Pick

OURX Intensive Conditioning Compound has Hydrolyzed Rice Protein to strengthen and improve hair elasticity, this conditioner leaves your hair feeling soft, smooth, and revitalized. Price $37.00

 

 

 

 

 

The post Clarifying vs Moisturizing Shampoos appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: What are the key findings from the recent survey about the awareness of vascular diseases among Americans, and how do these findings specifically impact the Black community?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: The Society for Vascular Surgery Survey (SVS) conducted a national survey to gain insights and awareness of patients’ perceptions of vascular disease and vascular surgery as a specialty. Unfortunately, what we found from the survey was not surprising – many Americans don’t know about vascular diseases or surgeons. This was especially true in the Black community.

For example, 84% of Black Americans do not have a firm understanding of what vascular surgeons do, and only 23% said they would see a vascular surgeon for symptoms related to their blood vessels despite vascular surgeons being the experts in this area.

Vascular conditions affect more than 40 million Americans (nearly 70% of all adults over the age of 65) but most underestimate their risk, leaving them vulnerable to serious health consequences including heart attack, stroke, amputation, and even death.

BHM: Can you explain the importance of early detection of vascular diseases, particularly for Black Americans who face higher risks of conditions like peripheral artery disease and amputation?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: The vascular system is a network of vessels (veins, arteries, and capillaries) that deliver oxygen and keep blood moving rapidly to every body part. Vascular conditions can slow the circulation of blood throughout the body.

Some common vascular health conditions include peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease (CAD), venous diseases (such as varicose veins or spider veins), blood clots, and aortic aneurysms.

Vascular disease is silent and deadly; signs and symptoms of vascular disease can go unnoticed or unrecognized and cause serious or life-threatening complications if left untreated.

The top risk factors for vascular disease are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, conditions which are highly prevalent in the Black community. This makes it extremely important to get screened to catch vascular disease early. Notably, as the Amputee Coalition reports, prevention and management of vascular diseases can prevent 60% of amputations.

BHM: What are the early warning signs of vascular diseases should Black Americans be aware of, and how can they proactively monitor their vascular health?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Vascular conditions can have warning signs, such as cold or numb toes and leg cramps, that are easy to ignore or minimize as “just a part of getting older.”

Other symptoms to be aware of are pain, swelling, or discoloration in the legs, arms, and feet, difficulty walking, and sudden, severe pain in the stomach or lower back.

Problems with blood circulation are not rare, but they are not always obvious. If in doubt, get checked out and ask your doctor if seeing a vascular surgeon is right for you.

Vascular surgeons are the long-term primary care providers for vascular health and patients with vascular conditions. They manage veins and arteries in every body part except the brain and the heart. A vascular team can help ensure better vascular health and help manage chronic conditions that can impact blood flow, from diabetes to high blood pressure. Including a vascular specialist as part of your healthcare team can help ensure longevity, mobility, and an overall better quality of life.

BHM: Why is there a higher incidence of peripheral artery disease and amputations among Black Americans, and what steps can be taken to address these disparities?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: As stated by the National Library of Medicine, Black people are two times more likely to suffer from PAD and up to four times more likely to undergo an amputation compared to white people. The causes of these disparities are quite complex and include (but are not limited to) social and economic inequities, poor access to healthcare, physician bias, and systematic discrimination.

It is also worth noting that there continues to be a pervasive and warranted mistrust in the medical community based on very clear historical examples of mistreatment of the Black community.

Given the complex nature of the problem, the solution must be approached from several angles, ranging from initiatives like the Highway to Health campaign to policy change at the local, state, and federal levels. I am particularly interested in providing more opportunities for vascular surgeons to learn better ways to deliver equitable, culturally responsive care and increase workforce diversity in our field. A growing body of literature demonstrates that racial concordance between a patient and their physician can lead to better adherence to recommendations made by the doctor, better compliance with medications, and ultimately improved health outcomes.

BHM: At what age do individuals generally become at higher risk for vascular diseases, and how does this impact the Black community specifically?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Individuals generally become at higher risk for vascular diseases starting at age 65. This impacts the Black community specifically because, according to an Administration for Community Living report, the Black population aged 65 and older is expected to increase to 94.7 million by 2060, and the population aged 85 and older is expected to nearly triple to 19 million during the same period.This means we will face an unprecedented need for more specialized medical care, creating a complex demand for our healthcare system.

BHM: Can you elaborate on the Society for Vascular Surgery’s new digital toolkit and how it can help our community understand and manage vascular health?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: To increase awareness of vascular health and disease prevention, SVS launched the Highway to Health campaign, including a patient education toolkit. “>The videos, checklists, and interactive elements can be found at YourVascularHealth.org.

My favorite part of the toolkit is the explainer videos, which explain the vascular system and its importance to our health.

The videos also specifically address the role of vascular surgeons and why they are essential in preventing and managing vascular disease.

BHM: How can family members and caregivers support their loved ones in managing vascular health?

Dr. Chelsea Dorsey: Family members and caregivers are the main sources of support within the Black community for managing our health. Word-of-mouth has a lot of power, especially from the ones closest to us.

I would encourage everyone to support their loved ones in managing their vascular health by ensuring they know the vascular disease risk factors and have a copy of the Strong Vessel Score checklist, which can be found on YourVascularHealth.org.

Make sure that they know not all symptoms are “just a part of getting older.” Tell them not to ignore symptoms or pain; when in doubt, get checked out!Offer to call their healthcare professional and to sit in on their appointment.

The post What Do You Know About Your Vascular Health? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Impact on Black Women and Men

While African Americans generally drink less and start drinking later than other racial groups, we suffer disproportionately from alcohol-related health issues. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), around 43.5% of African American adults reported drinking alcohol, with 7.4% struggling with alcohol addiction. According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, our community faces higher risks of recurring alcohol problems and related health issues.

This highlights the urgent need for more dedicated research into alcohol consumption across different racial groups, understanding what drives these differences, and how they lead to disparities in health outcomes.

To make matters worse, Black women face nearly 40% higher mortality from breast cancer compared to non-Hispanic white women, as highlighted by the American Cancer Society. This disparity is further compounded by the fact that 16.4% of total breast cancer cases are linked to alcohol consumption. If it wasn’t clear before, the Surgeon General’s advisory is a wake-up call that we can’t afford to ignore. Yes, alcohol holds hidden dangers, and that seemingly innocent glass often enjoyed during life’s high points might be silently plotting against your health.

The reasons behind these alarming statistics are multifaceted. Our community often grapples with the lingering effects of systemic racism and historical gaps in healthcare, which means we’re not always getting the care we deserve for alcohol-related health issues.

But here’s the good news: recognizing these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them. With greater awareness and a collective effort, we can push for the resources and support needed to address these disparities and improve our health outcomes. Better yet, by making informed choices about our health, we can strive for a better, healthier future together.

It Will Take Our  Collective Effort

The advisory calls for an update on the Surgeon General’s health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to include cancer risk. It also has some important recommendations. It urges a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to consider cancer risk fully.

The advisory also encourages everyone to be mindful of the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk when making drink choices.

Public health professionals and community groups should spotlight alcohol consumption as a major modifiable cancer risk factor and expand education efforts to boost awareness. Healthcare providers also play a vital role; they should inform patients about this critical link and promote alcohol screening and treatment referrals whenever needed.

We often hear about the staggering statistic of over 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities each year in the United States.

But let’s not forget the impact on our health. To truly make a difference, we need to embrace the full spectrum of alcohol-related harm and take proactive steps to prevent these risks. “This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm,” said [then] U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

His advisory was not just a document; it was a guiding light that raised awareness of the nation’s health history regarding alcohol and offered a glimpse into the potential for a healthier future.

So, please consider putting away the wine, beer, and spirits. This year, pick a new drink of enjoyment, such as kombucha, sweet tea, or plain old water. A healthier future is possible with one mindful choice at a time.

The post How Does the Alcohol & Cancer Link Impact the Black Community? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Individuality in Marriage

In today’s fast-paced world, more couples recognize the value of having separate hobbies and interests. Engaging in separate hobbies allows partners to explore their interests, develop new skills, and expand their horizons.

This personal growth can lead to a more fulfilled and confident partner, enriching the relationship as a whole. It’s vital to know that strengthening yourself can still have an underlying intent toward improving your relationship.

When you work on your own passions and hobbies, you inherently welcome new perspectives and add more depth to your relationship. Maintaining individual hobbies also promotes independence and autonomy, preventing feelings of suffocation or dependence on one another. By taking the time to pursue separate interests, couples can strike a healthy balance between togetherness and independence, ensuring that neither partner feels neglected or overwhelmed. This balance fosters a stronger bond and a more resilient relationship.

Balancing Personal Growth and Partnership

The world of marriage is getting a fresh makeover, with a growing focus on personal fulfillment and individuality. Many Black Americans are eager to tie the knot, reflecting a strong love for love itself!

Antonius Skipper from Georgia State University, along with Brigham Young University’s (BYU) Loren Marks and David Dollahite, published “Black Marriages Matter: Wisdom and Advice from Happily Married Black Couples.” The study celebrates the strength and joy found in healthy Black marriages.

Marks reflects, “We hope our efforts and the remarkable families we interviewed will influence research and broader culture by providing something beautiful to consider: long-term, loving marriages. What a refreshing contrast to take a deep look at unity, harmony, and love in lasting marriages.”

The gap between the 80% of Black Americans who want to marry and the roughly 30% who do, as reported by the U.S. Census, highlights the need for strength-focused research. In-depth interviews with 35 couples revealed powerful insights, showcasing the joy and fulfillment found in Black marriages.

Healthy marriages are built on mutual support and commitment, highlighting the deep connection and growth between partners. Long-distance lovebirds prove that love can conquer all distances. In healthy relationships, partners shine on their own, following their passions and interests, which contributes to them becoming more attentive and compassionate to their partners.

By nurturing themselves, they bring fulfillment and confidence into their relationships, making the bond even stronger. This approach to marriage demonstrates that nurturing personal passions and supporting each other’s growth can enhance love, making it stronger and more exciting.

Self-Differentiation in Marriage

In the complex dance of marriage, defining oneself can often feel like trying to hold onto your identity in a rapidly flowing river. Achieving a higher level of self-differentiation, distinguishing one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from others within the family system, can significantly reduce anxiety and promote emotional stability. According to Psychology Today, a well-differentiated individual understands their interdependence with others but maintains clarity, especially in conflict situations. This emotional equilibrium allows for thoughtful decision-making and a healthier balance within relationships.

Creating a Well-Differentiated Self in Marriage

Becoming well-differentiated in a marriage means finding a healthy balance between individuality and connection with your partner. As reported by Psychology Today, here are some tips on creating differentiation in a marriage:

Keep a Self-Reflection Journal:

Spend a few minutes each day writing down your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to various situations in your relationship. This habit will help you understand your emotional triggers and manage them without losing your sense of self or relying too much on your partner for validation.

Define Your Values and Beliefs:

Take some time to clearly outline what matters most to you. Knowing your core values and beliefs will guide you in making true decisions about who you are and help you navigate your marriage with integrity.

Practice Assertive Communication:

Develop the skill of expressing your needs, desires, and feelings openly and respectfully. Assertive communication helps maintain your individuality while respecting and helping your partner’s perspective, fostering healthy dialogue and mutual understanding.

Create External Support Systems:

Build and nurture relationships outside of your marriage, whether with friends, family, or communities, based on your interests. These support systems provide additional perspectives and emotional support, enriching your identity within the marriage.

Embrace Change Together:

Recognize that both you and your relationship will evolve. Embrace these changes together, supporting each other’s growth and adapting as needed while staying true to yourselves.

By keeping these things in mind, you can maintain a relationship that values you as an individual as well as who you are with your partner. The goal is not to distance yourself from your partner but to create a relationship where both individuals can thrive independently, making the union even stronger.

Your individuality is what makes you special and unique, and it’s likely what drew your partner or future partner to you in the first place. Embracing your own space and hobbies adds more layers to your identity and can enrich your relationship.

Distance isn’t just about physical miles; it also means social, emotional, and professional space. But don’t worry; taking time to nurture yourself is good. This journey of cultivating your personal essence isn’t about isolation. In fact, communication with your partner remains essential, providing a platform for mutual support. When both partners do this, it creates a stronger and more lasting bond. Think of it as adding flavors to your favorite dish. Each ingredient brings something special to the table, making the whole experience even better.

The post What’s the Secret to a Long Distance Love? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

TikTok’s Comeback and Government Ownership

In an unexpected twist, TikTok has returned after a brief shutdown. President Donald Trump has proposed a solution to the app’s national security concerns: He wants the U.S. government to own 50% of TikTok. This transformation would create a joint venture between the U.S. government and ByteDance, TikTok’s current Chinese owner. The proposal follows the Supreme Court’s decision to require TikTok to divest its U.S. operations due to national security issues.

An executive order delayed the app’s ban, bringing TikTok back and temporarily relieving its 170 million American users, many of whom rely on it for entertainment, news, and business. This potential government ownership could set a precedent for how the U.S. handles foreign-owned tech companies. Now, consumers must decide whether to continue using the app in this new era.

The Psychological Impact of TikTok’s Removal

To explore the potential psychological impact of TikTok’s removal and evolving ownership, we contacted Dr. Corey Emanuel, a media psychologist specializing in the psychological impacts of TV, film, and social media. Dr. Emanuel offers guidance on enhancing mental well-being and cultivating resilience. Today, we’re diving into his expert analysis of what this ban might mean for its dedicated users, who view it as a creative lifeline.

BHM: How do you think users might feel about continuing to use TikTok if the government-owned 50% of the app? How might the political implications and privacy concerns influence their decision?

Dr. Corey: Many social media users distrust government authorities and tech CEOs, including those at Meta and TikTok. Speculation about TikTok being acquired by Meta and Trump’s sudden willingness to work with TikTok’s CEO after previously calling for its ban in 2020 fuels this skepticism. This dynamic places TikTok at the intersection of political and corporate power struggles, leaving users wary of who controls the platform and their data.

However, TikTok’s reputation for fostering a liberal, user-driven experience may give it an edge. Research on democracies highlights that individuals often associate these systems with autonomy and the ability to amplify their voices. Many users may lean into their perceived autonomy, aligning with democratic ideals, and continue to use TikTok as an act of defiance against perceived censorship or control. By engaging with the platform, users might feel they are protesting the growing entanglement of politics and tech while asserting their right to self-expression and free speech.

Ultimately, while privacy and political concerns may influence some to leave the app, TikTok’s user base may harness the platform to challenge authority and maintain a sense of agency in an era where corporate and governmental intentions are under intense scrutiny.

BHM: Given TikTok’s popularity, what psychological and emotional effects do you foresee for users if the platform suddenly shuts down?

Dr. Corey: TikTok isn’t just entertainment—it’s a second home. Users build connections, express creativity, and find like-minded individuals. Its shutdown could lead to loneliness, alienation, and polarization. Loneliness reduces self-esteem, alienation leads to loss of identity, and polarization arises as users migrate to other platforms, reinforcing echo chambers, often amplifying divisive opinions and reducing opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

BHM: Can you explain the role of dopamine in TikTok usage and how it influences user behavior and engagement?

Dr. Corey: Dopamine is the brain’s way of rewarding us for enjoyable moments—like a funny video, a touching story, or something exciting. TikTok effortlessly delivers these moments with its short, engaging content. When users encounter these moments, their brains release dopamine, creating a pleasure response similar to enjoying their favorite dessert or even sex. This sets up a cycle where we’re driven to keep scrolling, chasing more of those feel-good moments.

BHM: Why do you think TikTok users might prefer this platform over others, and what psychological factors contribute to this preference?

Dr. Corey: TikTok creates a judgment-free environment, encouraging authenticity through raw emotional moments, quirky humor, and creative experimentation. Unlike Instagram and LinkedIn, it celebrates imperfection, making it more inclusive and less intimidating.
Psychologically, we’re drawn to spaces where we can express ourselves without pressure. TikTok taps into our desire to safely connect, create, and share art. The “For You Page” amplifies content to appreciative audiences, reinforcing validation and belonging.

BHM: How might users emotionally and psychologically react to the abrupt loss of TikTok in their daily lives? Will there be emotional withdrawal?

Dr. Corey: Losing something that brings you joy and familiarity and is deeply woven into your daily life—like TikTok—may trigger grief. Even though the platform’s shutdown was announced nine months ago, many users have hoped it would continue. For some, that hope was rooted in denial, which already signals the first stage of grief.

When the loss becomes real, especially on January 19, there will be a wave of emotions, including sadness and/or anger. If you are one of the average TikTok users spending 1 to 2 hours daily on the app, the void or decrease in dopamine might be felt. For instance, users might experience withdrawal as they adjust to the abrupt absence of a platform that offers connection, creativity, and validation. This can feel like losing a part of their routine, identity, or community. Over time, some may redirect their energy toward other outlets or platforms. Still, the initial shock will likely be marked by a deep sense of loss and the challenge of finding a replacement for the joy and connection TikTok provided.

BHM: Do you believe users will find similar satisfaction in other social media platforms if TikTok is banned? Why might people hesitate to return to the platforms that existed before TikTok?

Dr. Corey: We’ve been here before. Vine, another wildly popular short-form video platform with over 200 million users, shut down in 2017. For many, TikTok filled that void. If TikTok is banned, users may eventually find satisfaction in other platforms (i.e., Lemon 8, Red Note), but it won’t happen overnight, just like TikTok didn’t happen overnight.

The hesitation to return to pre-TikTok platforms stems from the unique experience TikTok offers—its algorithm, creative tools, and culture of authenticity make it stand out. While popular, platforms like Instagram and YouTube don’t fully replicate TikTok’s ability to make every user feel like their content can be seen, valued, and celebrated. Returning to platforms prioritizing polished, curated content can feel limiting and less inclusive for those used to TikTok’s raw, creative, and community-driven vibe.

BHM: For those who have formed a strong attachment to TikTok, what psychological support or strategies would you recommend to help them manage the transition and any withdrawal symptoms?

Dr. Corey: Many people rely on TikTok for personal and social needs, boosting self-esteem and maximizing social capital, creating a strong attachment. Like any relationship, breaking this bond can lead to sadness and even depression during the later stages of grief.

To manage the transition and withdrawal symptoms, start by acknowledging the grief and processing it without judgment. Venting on newer platforms like Threads can help people feel seen and heard by others experiencing similar discomfort or loss. Replace the void with activities that nourish your well-being, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in creative hobbies, or reconnecting with people in real life. Journaling or self-reflection can also help process the loss. Embracing similar platforms like Lemon8 and RedNote, where many former TikTok users will migrate, can provide comfort.

Seeking psychological support is also key. Talking to a therapist or counselor can help navigate emotional challenges [especially with national or environmental concerns], such as the transition of a new U.S. president and the aftermath of the California wildfires. Building new routines that align with your values and passions outside of social media can provide healthier fulfillment and connection.

I start each day by journaling and reading before diving into social media. This simple routine has helped me feel more centered and ready to take on the day with a clear mind. It’s a small but powerful habit that sets the tone for everything else. Try it yourself—you might be surprised at how much more grounded you feel.

TikTok’s Ripple Effect

We also asked Dr. Corey how the social media ecosystem might change if TikTok is banned.

He believes that if TikTok is banned, platforms like Instagram and YouTube will likely intensify their short-form content efforts to fill the gap. As creators migrate there, Instagram might see increased user engagement, emphasizing Reels and video editing features. YouTube may experience a rise in short-form content due to creators seeking alternatives to sustain their revenue. Newer apps focused on creative expression might emerge, but TikTok’s loss will leave a void that will take time to fill. Ultimately, users will turn to multiple platforms to replace aspects of TikTok, creating a more fragmented social media landscape.

Creativity and Community Beyond TikTok

As we face the potential shutdown of TikTok, it’s essential to recognize its role, especially for Black users. According to research by the Pew Research Center, 16% of TikTok news consumers are Black. The platform has provided a unique space for Black creators to share their stories, promote their businesses, and connect with audiences in ways other platforms have struggled to replicate.

Dr. Corey Emanuel’s insights highlight the consequences of a TikTok ban, from economic disruptions to social connectivity loss. However, remember that your creativity and authenticity are not confined to one platform. This potential ban is a reminder to explore new avenues and adapt, ensuring your voice continues to shine. Whether you’re a creator or someone who loves to watch, your passions and community can thrive in many spaces, both online and beyond. Embrace new opportunities and let your creativity flourish, regardless of the changes ahead.

The post Facing the TikTok Ban and Its Revival appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“Nearly 80% of patients, most of whom were Black women, screened positive for at least one social risk factor,” Dr. Lim said.

This includes financial strain (up to 72%), food insecurity (51%), and housing and utilities issues (35%). These aren’t just numbers; they represent real barriers to accessing care and better health outcomes.

BHM: Can you start by summarizing the key findings of your study, particularly highlighting specific data that applies to the Black community?

Dr. Lim: Nearly 80% of patients, mostly Black women, screened positive for at least one social risk factor. Common challenges included financial strain (up to 72%), food insecurity (up to 51%), and housing and utilities (up to 35%). Importantly, 91% of patients expressed comfort in discussing social risk factors, highlighting the value of integrating SDoH screenings into routine care.

BHM: Can you explain what social determinants of health (SDoH) are and why they are important when considering the health outcomes of the Black community?

Dr. Lim: Social determinants of health refer to the conditions in which individuals are born, grow, live, work, and age. These factors, including income, education, housing, healthcare access, and experiences of discrimination, account for 30-55% of health outcomes. In the Black community, adverse SDoH, like poverty and housing instability, are associated with increased disease activity and poorer health outcomes. Systemic racism and discrimination further worsen these effects by increasing stress and reducing access to resources.

BHM: How does SDoH specifically affect Black patients with SLE, and what did your study reveal about these impacts?

Dr. Lim: Black people with SLE face adverse SDoH, like poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate housing, increasing the severity of SLE and associated comorbidities.

Discrimination is highly correlated with increased lupus disease activity and organ damage in Black women.

Despite these challenges, patients were willing to engage with healthcare providers to address these barriers. This underscores the need for systemic changes to address the impact of SDoH on Black people with SLE.

BHM: How important is trust and cultural competency in conducting these screenings within the Black community?

Dr. Lim: Trust and cultural competency are crucial. Nearly all patients were comfortable answering these questions and valued discussing their social needs. Building trust involves acknowledging historical and ongoing healthcare inequities and engaging in culturally competent care.

When patients perceive their healthcare providers as empathetic and nonjudgmental, they are more likely to share sensitive information, essential for addressing SDoH effectively.

BHM: How do barriers like transportation, financial constraints, and limited healthcare resources affect Black patients with SLE, and what strategies can help address these issues?

Dr. Lim: Barriers like transportation difficulties, financial constraints, and limited healthcare resources often lead to missed appointments, delayed diagnoses, and interruptions in treatment. To address these barriers, community-based initiatives and systemic changes are needed. Mobile clinics, telehealth services, and financial assistance programs can help. Healthcare navigation support and cultural competence among providers are also crucial. Addressing these barriers requires a collaborative approach that combines systemic healthcare reform, community-based solutions, and patient-centered support.

BHM: The study emphasized the importance of institutional leadership in addressing health inequities. Why is it crucial for healthcare institutions to prioritize SDoH, especially for marginalized communities?

Dr. Lim: Healthcare institutions have the unique capacity to identify, address, and mitigate the structural and social barriers that impact patient outcomes. By prioritizing SDoH, institutions can improve individual health outcomes and foster equity within the broader community. Institutional leadership sets the tone for cultural competency and trust-building, helping to rebuild trust and demonstrate a commitment to equitable care. This is vital for managing complex diseases like SLE. Institutional efforts to address SDoH can also influence policy and funding priorities at local, state, and national levels.

BHM: Given that the SDoH screening tool was tested and found to cause minimal disruption to clinical workflow, what steps are needed to make it a standard healthcare practice, and why should it be widely implemented?

Dr. Lim: Embedding the screening tool into electronic health record systems allows seamless integration into clinical workflows. Training healthcare staff on the tool’s use and the significance of SDoH is essential. Institutional leadership and funding mechanisms are also critical for long-term sustainability. Reimbursement models and partnerships with community organizations can support the implementation of SDoH screenings.

BHM: What are the best strategies for healthcare providers to engage patients in discussions about social determinants of health?

Dr. Lim: Healthcare providers must build trust through engaged listening, a nonjudgmental approach, and follow-through in addressing concerns.

Cultural competence is crucial, and providers should respect the cultural, social, and personal contexts shaping a patient’s experiences. Using inclusive language and open-ended questions helps create a welcoming environment.

Providers should also be equipped to connect patients with community resources and social services.

BHM: What long-term impacts do you anticipate from integrating SDoH screenings into routine care, particularly for marginalized communities?

Dr. Lim: Addressing SDoH early can prevent chronic disease exacerbations, reduce hospitalizations, and improve quality of life.

Integrating SDoH screenings can also strengthen trust between patients and providers and make healthcare more proactive and preventive.

Over time, this can reshape healthcare delivery by shifting resources toward upstream solutions that keep patients healthier.

Focusing on social determinants of health in lupus care isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about understanding the real-life challenges patients face. Dr. Lim and his team’s study is a call to action for healthcare providers to dig deeper and foster genuine connections with their patients. By acknowledging these social factors, we can create a more compassionate and equitable healthcare system that truly sees and supports every individual.

The post Social Determinants and Lupus Care in the Black Community appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Now that you’ve got a name for those emotions, it’s time to spot the symptoms. How exactly do the winter blues show up in our daily lives? Today, we’re diving into the four signs of the blues and sharing nine tips to brighten your winter days.

Four Symptoms of the Winter Blues

Sunlight Shortage

Imagine waking up and feeling like the sun never rises. The reduced sunlight during the winter months can throw our internal clocks into a frenzy. This lack of light disrupts our circadian rhythms, making us feel out of sync and lethargic. It’s like living in endless jet lag, where our bodies crave the sunlight in such short supply. Sunshine brings many benefits to our health, including protection against disease, increased energy, and improvements in mental health. It also serves as a primary source of vitamin D, which plays a significant role in mood and sleep regulation, according to Psychology Today. Studies have shown that a vitamin D deficiency can lead to depression and anxiety symptoms, so no, you’re not wrong for thinking your mental health alters in the colder months.

Serotonin Slump, Melatonin Overload

Reduced sunlight can affect serotonin and melatonin levels during the winter months. Serotonin, the brain’s feel-good chemical, takes a hit when sunlight is reduced. Lower levels of this neurotransmitter can lead to mood swings and restlessness. No wonder we may reach for an extra dose of caffeine or indulge in comfort foods to chase away the gloom.

As for melatonin, this hormone can overload during this time of year. With the sun setting earlier, our bodies accelerate melatonin production, the hormone that regulates sleep. While this might sound like a perfect recipe for cozy nights and relaxation, it often results in feeling excessively sleepy and low on energy during the day. It can feel as if our bodies are in hibernation mode, urging us to retreat under the covers and cancel all plans and productivity.

 Reclusiveness

Winter’s chill can turn even the most social butterflies into homebodies. The cold weather and shorter days make it less appealing to venture out, leading to feelings of isolation. The winter months tend to bring on more isolation and time inside. According to Psychology Today, isolation can lead to several consequences, such as poor sleep, anxiety, depression, poor cognitive functioning, suicidality, and more.

Spending time with others is an integral part of our well-being, which might naturally be more challenging to engage in during winter. This lack of social interaction can amplify feelings of loneliness and depression, making the winter blues even harder to shake off. Plus, when you consider the changes in serotonin and melatonin, these biological alterations can intensify the desire to stay indoors, away from social activities, creating a tough cycle to break.

 High-Calorie Cravings

During this time of year, it is common to feel hungrier due to the body’s need for more energy to stay warm. Although the extra calories burned are minimal, the cold weather and shorter days can still increase cravings for high-calorie comfort foods, as reported by EatingWell. Of course, hormonal shifts can play a role as well. Decreased serotonin levels can increase cravings for carbohydrates, as they boost serotonin production. Additionally, fluctuations in leptin and ghrelin, hormones that regulate hunger, can impact appetite during the colder months.

Sometimes, these winter cravings can lead to weight gain and sluggishness. When combined with the challenge of staying active in colder weather, this can lead to feeling physically and mentally burdened. So, while it’s perfectly normal to crave comfort foods, it’s important to remember that moderation and balance are key to combatting the winter blues.

9 Nine Tips to Combat the Winter Blues

According to VeryWellMind, there are a few lifestyle changes that should be prioritized during the winter months to combat winter blues, including:

Take a News Break

• To reduce stress from a nonstop news cycle, limit screen time. Schedule one hour for news in one sitting or chunks.

Boost Your Mood with Food

• Consume protein daily to enhance your mood and prevent cravings. Include foods high in vitamin D, like fatty fish, fortified milk, and cereals. Consider supplements if needed.

Keep Up Your Sleep Routine

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Create a bedtime routine, expose yourself to morning light, and avoid electronics before bed.

Do Some Physical Activity

• Try to get 30-60 minutes of exercise most days. Outdoor activities can improve mood by increasing daylight exposure.

Try the 10x10x10 Plan

• Break your exercise up into smaller chunks. For example, walk for three 10-minute intervals throughout the day.

Call on Your Support System

• Socialize with friends and family to reduce feelings of isolation. Virtual or in-person meetups can boost your mood.

Seek Out the Sun

• To balance serotonin and melatonin levels, prioritize time outdoors. If outdoor time is limited, sit by a sunny window for 1-2 hours daily.

Try Light Therapy

• Consider using a light box for 20-60 minutes in the morning to combat symptoms. Consult a healthcare provider for best practices.

Seek Professional Help:

• If symptoms persist, consider therapy. A professional can help you develop effective coping strategies for the winter blues.

We’ve identified the symptoms of winter blues and shared some tips to help you better prepare. Remember, the biggest challenges in winter may not be shoveling snow but dealing with mental and physical fatigue. Fighting the winter blues is a process, so celebrate every small step toward a more productive and joyful day. And don’t forget to check in on loved ones. Supporting each other can make a big difference in overcoming feelings of isolation.

The post 4 Symptoms of the Winter Blues (Plus Tips to Combat Them) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Sharon A. Brangman, who brings a wealth of experience as a Trustee of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation. Dr. Brangman shares her wisdom on maintaining brain health, recognizing holiday stress and loneliness, and supporting cognitive well-being during this festive season. We all deserve a joyful and mentally healthy holiday season. So, let’s dive into this discussion and ensure we all take steps to support our well-being during this special time of year.

BHM: What were the key findings of the recent study on brain aging in Black communities, and how do these findings impact our understanding of cognitive health?

Dr. Brangman: While our consumer survey was nationally representative, we can break the data down by demographics and learned that more than 75% of the Black American respondents believe they have control over their physical health as they age compared to only 25% who believe they have control over their brain health.

We also found a lack of awareness around the normal changes that happen as the brain ages. For instance, when respondents were asked how they would react if an older person in their life started forgetting things like names or the day of the week temporarily and remembered them later, the majority (62%), said they d be concerned about dementia or Alzheimer s as opposed to realizing they were normal changes that can happen with aging. Additionally, over half of Black American respondents said they haven t felt the need to discuss brain health or cognitive aging with their primary care provider.

Our findings were comparable across all demographic groups who responded to the survey, underscoring the need for education and telling us in the field that we have a lot of work to do when it comes to raising awareness around how the brain changes with age and the importance of protecting your brain health.

BHM: What are some common signs of stress and loneliness during the holiday season that people should be aware of, particularly in the Black community?

Dr. Brangman: While we usually think of the holidays as a happy time, it sometimes can be overwhelming, leading to stress. Some common signs of stress we see around this time may include exhaustion, headaches, digestive problems, and anxiety.

People feeling lonely around the holidays may avoid socializing, withdraw from family and friends or even lapse into unhealthy habits.

Since the holiday season aligns with the darkening winter months, individuals may feel their stress and loneliness coincide with signs of seasonal depression like a persistent low mood, feelings of guilt or despair, lethargy and fatigue, and trouble concentrating.

BHM: How does stress and loneliness impact cognition, especially within the Black community?

Dr. Brangman: We know that Black communities are already disproportionately affected by stress through continued social bias and generational trauma which is why these factors are particularly important to address. Through my work, I’ve found that people with strong social ties are less likely to experience cognitive decline than people who spend most of their time alone.

Other work, like a study conducted by the University of Georgia, found that Black Americans with mental health struggles such as loneliness and depression may have larger variations between their true brain age and their chronological age, signaling a potential for cognitive decline or dementia.

BHM: What are some effective strategies for addressing stress and loneliness to support healthy cognitive aging during the holidays?

Dr. Brangman: Cultivating connections is important for combating stress and loneliness during the holiday season. While this time may look different for everyone, there are many ways to foster social connection, including volunteering at a food bank, attending community events, or practicing self-care with comforting activities like exercise, cooking, meditation, or exploring nature.

These practices have been found to lower the risk of other health problems and improve cognition, mood, and psychological functioning.

BHM: How can individuals recognize and address their feelings of loneliness during the holiday season?

Dr. Brangman: The darker winter months and holiday season may lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection from loved ones, resulting in isolation and sadness. If you start to feel withdrawn or uninterested in your regular activities, it’s important to take the time and effort to forge strong social connections with others, whether they be family, friends, or local community members. However, if these feelings reach a low point and significantly impact your daily life and well-being, please speak with a medical professional.

BHM: What signs should families look for in their loved ones that might indicate cognitive decline, and how can they support them?

Dr. Brangman: At the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, we found there is a gap in understanding what changes are normal as you age versus the signs of a more serious memory problem and this lack of understanding often leads to fear. We launched the Brain Works initiative to reassure people that brain aging is a natural process that starts at birth and continues throughout one’s lifespan.

We want people to know that certain slip-ups like losing track of time or misplacing items around the house might initially be alarming but most likely are signs of normal brain aging.

More serious memory problems typically manifest with more intense symptoms, including asking the same question repeatedly, getting lost in familiar places, developing an inability to follow instructions or directions, or forgetting common words when speaking. Other worrisome symptoms might include becoming confused about time, people, and places and having changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason. These may be signs of an underlying problem.

If you notice changes in a loved one and are concerned about their memory or cognitive health, use it as an opportunity to start a conversation with your loved one and then with a healthcare professional.

Talking with a healthcare professional is the first step to understanding what’s causing their memory loss and how to address it.

For additional information, I suggest checking out the McKnight Brain Works webpage, which we have curated to provide resources on better understanding the brain with age and how to talk with loved ones about concerns with their memory.

BHM: Which lifestyle changes are most effective in supporting brain health and mitigating the effects of stress and loneliness?

Dr. Brangman: Adopting a combination of healthy behaviors, which have been shown to reduce cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, will also help you protect your brain health and mitigate the effects of stress and loneliness.

* Connecting with people through social activities and community programs can keep your brain active and engaged with the world around you. Social activities may also lower the risk of health problems and improve well-being. Volunteer at your church or community center or share the activities you enjoy with friends and family.
* Managing stress and seeking medical attention for any symptoms of depression, anxiety, or any other mental health concerns
* Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night as recommended
* Managing your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels to reduce and manage your risk of cardiovascular disease
* Talk with your doctor about your health conditions and the medications and supplements you take, as that may impact your cognitive health.

By following Dr. Brangman’s advice, we can create a truly joyful and cheerful season. Stay connected, look out for one another, and prioritize mental well-being. Here’s to a holiday season filled with happiness and good health.

The post The Connection Between Brain Health & Holiday Loneliness appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Monica and Dana shared that their journey began 16 years ago, and they officially founded RedDrop in 2019. Let’s hear from two-thirds of the dynamic trio about their incredible journey and the wisdom fueling RedDrop’s success.

BHM: Could you give us an overview of RedDrop and its mission? We’d love to hear about what your company does and how your passion for this venture began.

Monica: RedDrop exists to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That means the best products and education.

We really believe in providing access to all those forms for young girls. Education is important because, in America, only half of U.S. states require health education, and that’s a valuable resource for families.

Dana: I am a lifelong educator, and about 16 years ago, in my fifth-grade girls’ class, girls were starting their periods with me. I started correlating, like, “Oh my gosh, I don’t want my daughter to be unprepared.” Outside of that, I realized I was a teacher and felt it was my ethical and moral responsibility to care for them. My godsister Monica had a business, and I said, “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

Fast forward, RedDrop is here, and everything we do in our business is intentional about providing tweens and teenagers, elementary, middle, and high schoolers, with the best possible period experience, from their first to their next period.

BHM: How has RedDrop been received in the market so far?

Dana: We have over 100,000 orders, and we are impacting girls in schools. We’re pretty much in most states in the U.S. We impact over half a million girls in schools every single day.

We get feedback all the time through our social media platforms, saying, “I didn’t know how to have this conversation with my daughter; this just makes it easier. ” I feel like we have become validated in a sense.

Monica: Regarding market validation, we are a mid-seven-figure business that’s bootstrapped. It’s not because we forced it by paying for marketing; we do have a product that people want.

BHM: Congratulations on winning the Black Ambition Prize! What was your initial reaction when you found out you won?

Dana: It was surreal! I honestly get this question probably once or twice a week now from friends, family, and media. It’s surreal. It’s still a surreal experience. I thought I was going to pass out. I thought Monica was going to pass out. Winning this prize not only makes us feel seen and validated but also is a vote of confidence with dollars, mentorship, and resources to help us continue impacting girls worldwide.

BHM: What does winning this prize mean to you personally, and how does it align with RedDrop’s mission and strategic goals?

Dana: It makes you feel seen and validated. For RedDrop, it helps us be very proactive in our planning. It’s hard to plan when you don’t necessarily have funding to follow through on those plans. It allows you to plan with intention and gives you this runway to be a little more creative and innovative.

Monica: We have specific milestones and markers that will allow us to be more impactful and allow our business to grow exponentially. The actual cash prize allows us to do those things, but it also really provides an opportunity for us to prove that we can be the next “Always” or just insert any big brand here.

The reality is that 6000 girls a day experience their first period; no brand in this country really services girls in elementary, middle, and high school. As a brand, it’s our responsibility to do that and do it in an excellent way.

I think you show that as a business through profitability and growth, and that’s the goal.

BHM: What support, besides funding, have you received as Black Ambition Prize winners? Any mentorship or networking opportunities?

Monica: We just won 3 weeks ago. I expect many more opportunities to come. Black Ambition provides networking with past winners, offering a preview of what’s coming. Once you’re in the semifinals, you’re put into pods; our pod had five people and a mentor. That network makes the process less lonely. Dana mentioned how lonely and challenging it is, but Black Ambition connects you with others in similar situations.

As a winner, I had a call with Felicia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition. Her network is amazing! I expect the opportunities we can access are exponentially bigger.

I’m a third-time startup founder with some network, Dana is a lifelong educator, and Jarrod, our CFO, has corporate experience.

Our networks are deep in our field, but now we have access to a whole new realm of people. It’s super exciting. Listening to others, I think it’s going to be amazing.

BHM: What plans do you have for RedDrop? Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re excited about?

Monica: I think we have an opportunity to help girls both domestically and internationally, especially through education and the right products. I’m excited about helping in Africa and various places throughout and here, not just in shelters but on college campuses and in homes where people are struggling.

I’m excited about those things, and we want to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That’s a big statement. I think we can be impactful with active girls and plan to do that.

We can also be impactful in providing more innovative care and protection, and I’m excited about that.

As our conversation ended, RedDrop’s founders shared some valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to reach similar success. Dana stressed the importance of addressing meaningful issues, emphasizing, “Look at your business and the problem you’re trying to solve. Does it have a life-changing or positive impact on humanity?” She also highlighted the necessity of trusting someone with financial expertise.

Reflecting on her background, Dana noted how her experience in education adds a unique perspective: “As an educator, wanting to impact the world is one of the pillars of why RedDrop exists.”

Monica praised Dana’s problem-solving abilities, saying, “Dana often sees solutions that the rest of us miss.” Monica brings a lot of analytical depth to the team, while Jarrod’s financial planning is essential. “For us to grow to the level that we’ve grown is impossible without the level of detail to cash that we have through Jarrod,” said Monica.

RedDrop’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision, proving that impactful change is possible with the right team and mindset.

The post RedDrop, a Period Care Brand, Takes the Black Ambition Prize appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you share your journey with psoriasis, including when you were diagnosed? How has it impacted your daily life and mental health?

Takieyah Mathis: My journey with psoriasis began in 2016. Though I likely had the disease earlier, that was the year I was first diagnosed. I feel like psoriasis impacted my daily life and my mental health because, around the time I was diagnosed, it had already affected my modeling career. It lowered my confidence, and I worried about how my hair and skin looked. I also had this pain in my foot from walking in heels. This all negatively contributed to my mental health as well because I wondered if I would ever look the same again.

I thought nobody would want to date, touch, or hang around me because I had this thing going on.

When I was diagnosed with psoriasis, that was the start of a new journey with my confidence and trying to build it back. Overall, my journey with psoriasis was long and drawn out at first, but when I got the proper medical help, I was successful with my treatments. I will say that having the right healthcare providers is critical—especially for finding the best treatments that work for you, whether you have mild psoriasis or severe psoriasis.

BHM: Have you personally experienced stigma or discrimination because of your psoriasis? How did you cope with these experiences?

Takieyah Mathis: Yes, I have experienced discrimination with my psoriasis with my employers and dating. I’ve had employers who wanted me to cover up my face with makeup, and that was disheartening because I didn’t realize what was wrong. I didn’t know my face looked so bad, which was hard to deal with.

I coped with these experiences by finding my community, finding other people who had eczema or psoriasis, and hanging around more with them. I also learned from my friends with alopecia, lupus, and other similar conditions. [Understanding more about]  autoimmune diseases and the stigmas also helped because when I had my first flare-up, I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew that when people saw me, they would almost diagnose me and ask, “Hey, do you have this?” I honestly didn’t know what I had; I just knew my face was broken out.

Eventually, I started to cope with all these experiences by taking my diagnosis and speaking out about it, not wearing makeup, showing people what my scalp looked like, showing them my scars, and just being vulnerable about what I was going through. People who supported me also helped me cope because now I know a community of people just like me, and I wasn’t alone.

BHM: As a patient advocate, what are some of the most common misconceptions about psoriasis you encounter?

Takieyah Mathis: As a patient advocate, I’ll say some misconceptions about psoriasis are that we’re contagious. Also, a lot of people look at some illnesses as a disability, almost as a crutch that they’ll have to deal with for the rest of their lives. I would also say that because people can’t see where you’re flared up all the time, they think that you’re not going through something with your psoriasis.

Another stigma is that many people believe that psoriasis is just one thing, just a skin rash, versus realizing it’s a whole system of things going on and that there are different types of psoriasis.

BHM: Has your experience with psoriasis influenced your work as an artist?

Takieyah Mathis: I feel psoriasis has influenced my work in a way that, at first, I panicked. Then later, I thought, “I’ve watched years of America’s Next Top Model and Winnie Harlow, so why did I panic? I’ve already been doing this for so long. Why did I go into this shell?”

At that point, I should be using this to my advantage, still being the model I am, and finding my way to embrace it as I’ve always embraced my modeling structure.

I’ve gotten back into modeling full time versus before, when I was just behind the scenes, becoming a stage director of many events. However, being a stage director also helped me because I realized there were so many other people like me behind the scenes. After all, they’re afraid of what their skin looks like or how they feel. I’ve met so many people in the last year who are behind the scenes, producing a show, and they have psoriasis, or they have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus or something along those lines. So, I think that’s influenced me enough to learn more about everybody’s story and why they do the things they do.

BHM: What role do support systems, such as family, friends, and patient communities, play in your journey with psoriasis?

Takieyah Mathis: I feel like everyone around me, including family, friends, and patient communities, has played a role in a way that makes me never want to give up. I just wanted to push forward a little bit. I know it’s hard to carry the torch sometimes or be the leader because you get drained and always have to play that role. However, other people can motivate you to keep going because some people don’t know how to be a voice for themselves. When people tell me that they’re proud of me and, “Oh, I know I can’t do it. So, I’m very proud she can do it for us.” That’s what keeps me going. That’s what the other patient communities and similar things do for me.

BHM: What advice would you give to others newly diagnosed with psoriasis, especially those in underserved communities who may face additional barriers to diagnosis and treatment?

Takieyah Mathis: The advice I would give to others who are newly diagnosed would be to find out or study your triggers.

For example, what do you think is making your psoriasis flare up? I would also say to find the best care and healthcare provider so you can find things that are for you and within your budget. This way, you’re not causing a flare-up because you’re stressing about finances, and stress is the number one factor with psoriasis.

As Takieyah shared, “Education would be the main change I would like to see. I want people to learn about what psoriasis is so that we don’t have so many people afraid to date people with psoriasis.”

Her words remind us that understanding and awareness are the keys to breaking down stigmas. By educating ourselves and others, we can create space for respect and acceptance in dating, friendships, and everyday interactions, appreciating the diversity that makes each of us who we are.

The post Psoriasis is More Than Skin Deep appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you provide an overview of the current landscape of suicide within the Black community, including any notable statistics that highlight the severity of the issue?

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It’s concerning that suicide is a health issue in the Black community, and the rates are trending upward. This loss of life is tragic and creates suffering for those who lose loved ones to suicide.

According to the CDC’s most recent data, suicide rates among Black people ages 15-24 have increased by 28.3% (11.0 in 2019 to 14.1 in 2022 per 100,000 people), and 25–34-year-olds have experienced the largest increase from 12.6 in 2019 to 15.9 in 2022 per 100,000 people (a 26.7% increase).

BHM: Can you elaborate on the key findings of the recent national poll regarding perceptions of mental health and suicide prevention, particularly among Black respondents?

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman: The 2024 Public Perception of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Poll found overall that nine out of 10 people in the US believe that suicide can be prevented at least sometimes, showing an incredible shift in public understanding about suicide from decades ago when society viewed suicide as an inevitable outcome. There is a growing willingness to talk about mental health and suicide, signaling that negative attitudes are decreasing. Still, there is more work to do in the face of barriers to help-seeking for all communities.

The poll was intentionally doubled this year to study a larger group of respondents from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities so we can look more closely at diverse groups in the US population. The data revealed some specific insights about the Black community, which in turn can help the suicide prevention community understand the unique challenges this community faces in accessing mental health care, as well as to create culturally relevant strategies. Key findings included:

• Respondents across racial and ethnic groups equally reported suicide can be prevented for at least some time. They would reach out to someone who they thought may be experiencing mental health problems or thinking of suicide, and they would reach out for help if needed.
•  A High Likelihood of Using 988: 79% of Black respondents said they are likely to contact 988.
• Differences emerged regarding perceived barriers to help-seeking: A more common barrier to seeking crisis services for several underrepresented populations is the fear of what family, friends, or others might think, including Black respondents (33%).

BHM: What specific challenges do Black individuals face when seeking mental health support, and how can these challenges be effectively addressed?

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman: Black individuals often face significant challenges when seeking mental health support because of negative attitudes around mental illness and cultural beliefs within the community.

For example, the poll found that fear of what family, friends or others might think is perceived to be a barrier for Black individuals (33%) from seeking mental health support.

Other factors include the mistrust of the healthcare system due to historical racial disparities; culturally competent providers are an essential need for any group of individuals, and the availability of culturally competent care is often limited for Black communities. To effectively address these issues, the suicide prevention community must work with the Black community, and organizations and policymakers must engage in efforts to ensure that culturally relevant mental health resources are equitably available across the nation.

BHM: How does the AFSP plan to develop and promote relevant resources that are effective for the mental health needs of the Black community?

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman: AFSP is committed to working with the Black community, organizations, and policymakers to ensure that culturally relevant mental health resources are equitably available nationwide. This includes:

•  LETS (Listening, Empathy, Trust, Support) Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for the Black Community is a presentation created by and for Black people. It is designed to be culturally sensitive, foster conversations about mental health, and raise awareness of suicide prevention for individuals who identify as Black or African American. The program is grounded in research and delivered by trained presenters with lived experience within Black and African American Communities.
• Soul Shop for Black Churches, a training to help faith leaders, including church staff, pastors, faith-based clinicians, and other lay leaders in Black and African American churches, minister to those in their congregations who may be struggling or who have been impacted by suicide.
• Research studies about and by Black people such as The HAVEN (Helping to Alleviate Valley Experiences Now) Connect program, a depression and suicide prevention program for Black youth ages 13-19 in 12 churches across New York State. The HAVEN-Connect program builds on natural cohesive networks, enhances positive coping skills, promotes help-seeking acceptance through its Youth Connect program, and reinforces these protective factors through sermons, Bible study, and Sunday school activities.
• Another study is the Racial Discrimination, Emotion Reactivity and Dysregulation, and Suicide Risk in a Clinical Sample of Black and Latinx Adolescents. To address the racial and ethnic disparity in youth suicidal behaviors, this study uses behavioral tasks and inflammation-related biomarkers to explore potential pathways through which experiences of racism may increase suicide-related risk among Black and Latinx adolescents from an under-resourced community. Findings will help improve the cultural responsiveness of suicide prevention strategies.
• Promoting Equity in Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention to Reduce Suicide in Black Youth. This study leverages a large implementation trial in Michigan and Colorado to examine if the implementation of an evidence-based safe firearm storage program as a universal suicide prevention strategy in pediatric primary care differs across racial groups, as well as factors that may moderate potential disparities. This study explores Black parents’ experiences with program receipt and firearm storage decision-making processes.

BHM: In what ways can community leaders and organizations within the Black community contribute to reducing the negative attitudes associated with mental health issues and suicide?

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman: Fortunately, we’ve been witnessing people talking more openly about mental health and offering support to one another. This is powerful and can help save lives. Hearing stories of those addressing their mental health needs helps empower us to do the same. Education and awareness also play an essential role in changing attitudes about mental health and suicide. Some resources that are focused on supporting individuals in the Black community include:

• The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s vision is to eradicate the stigma around mental health issues in the African American community.
• Lee Thompson Young Foundation envisions a world in which all recognize mental illness as a treatable, biopsychosocial disorder, and the stigma associated with it no longer exists; a world that supports and encourages wholeness and well-being at every stage of life. They focus on mental health education for African American communities.
• Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective is a collective of advocates, yoga teachers, artists, therapists, lawyers, religious leaders, teachers, psychologists, and activists committed to Black communities’ emotional health, mental health, and healing. They envision a world where there are no barriers to Black healing. Their mission is to remove the barriers Black people experience accessing or staying connected with emotional health care and healing. They do this through education, training, advocacy, and the creative arts.
• AFSP also has local chapters in all 50 states, including DC and Puerto Rico, that invite supporters to help transform their communities into ones that are smart about mental health and where everyone has support when needed.

Remember to check in on our friends and family. A simple “How are you doing?” can make a big difference. If you’re feeling down, try to reach out for support; resources are available to help. Taking care of ourselves and each other is essential.

The post Creating Support to Combat Our Rising Suicide Rates appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A Personal Mission

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, better known as DaBaby, is a well-known music artist who has turned his personal tragedy into a mission to help others. Losing his brother was a wake-up call that pushed him to take action. He teamed up with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas to create a platform that gives young people the mental health support and education they need.

The Importance of Resources

One of DaBaby Cares’ key features is the free Mental Health 101 Guide. Co-written by DaBaby and Mental Health America, this guide covers the basics of mental health and aims to get people talking about it. It’s easy to understand and packed with helpful information.

The program also includes the Glenn Johnson for Mental Health initiative, named after DaBaby’s brother. This initiative focuses on providing real-time support to those struggling with mental health issues. By offering these resources, DaBaby Cares hopes to create a community where people feel safe to seek help.

One of the biggest challenges in mental health care is the stigma that surrounds it. In many communities, especially within our own, mental health issues are often misunderstood or ignored. DaBaby’s platform aims to change this by normalizing conversations about mental health and encouraging people to seek help without fear of judgment.

Making a Real Difference

DaBaby Cares is more than just a program; it’s a push for collective awareness. It urges individuals, communities, and organizations to support mental health initiatives. By providing resources, education, and support, DaBaby Cares is paving the way for a future where mental health is a priority and people feel empowered to seek the help they need.

The Rising Suicide Rates in Our Communities

Recent statistics highlight the urgency of DaBaby’s mission. Suicide rates among Black adolescents and young adults have seen a concerning increase. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the suicide rate among Black individuals aged 10-24 increased by 36.6% from 2018 to 2021.

Additionally, the CDC has released data stating that the suicide rate for Black youth between the ages of 10 and 19 passes that of white youth for the first time. That is why we know initiatives like DaBaby Cares are vital. There are so many layers to getting help, whether it be gathering the strength to ask for help, having access to mental health services, or even finding professionals who truly understand you.

DaBaby’s initiative shows how one person can make a big difference. With DaBaby Cares, he’s honoring his brother and helping to fight mental health stigma. This initiative highlights the importance of discussing mental health openly, checking in on our loved ones, and being kind to strangers. It also encourages those who have the means to develop their initiatives. As we all may deal with mental health challenges at some point in our lives, programs like DaBaby Cares can remind us that we’re not alone and that help is available. Let’s strive to keep supporting ourselves and each other; mental health should be a priority in our lives.

The post DaBaby Launches ‘DaBaby Cares’ to Support Mental Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“This is the first time I’m writing about what I’m actually going through right now; it’s very cathartic,” Muni shared. “Part of my motivation here is being diagnosed with lupus. A lot of Black women, women, but specifically Black women, get diagnosed with autoimmune disorders because we suppress a lot of things.

The ‘strong Black woman’ trope is actually very toxic, and we should talk about our feelings. We should talk about what we’re going through.

“One song that just evokes a lot of emotion is the title track, ‘Revenge,’ because I talk about some domestic violence in the bridge. I don’t think a lot people understand that I’ve been through a lot, and I don’t talk about it,” Muni said.

“Muni disclosed that she was experiencing domestic violence while trying to embrace her success in the R&B world. When asked about the role of faith during these tough times, Muni shared how challenging it was to navigate her struggles while being told to pray.

“A lot of times, organized religion and old-school thinking will have you in bondage to some very misogynistic beliefs and ideals. And so, a man can do wrong a million times, and you should forgive him because that is the blank thing to do, right? It’s the right thing to do. It’s the Christian thing to do, it’s the feminine thing to do, it’s the wife thing to do, right?”

“But what about all this stress and drama and all that whatever, and him knocking me upside my [head]?

“How much of that should I take before a grown-up realizes I’m out of control and need help? There’s only so much you can do for somebody who doesn’t see the error in their ways. I was a little bit embarrassed that it was happening to me.”

“Muni continued, “I present myself as this very strong [person], which I am, but when you got somebody that’s like 200 pounds coming at you, it’s nothing you can do, you know? If you want to leave, they follow you. It’s very nasty. I don’t wish it on anyone. It’s not that I didn’t want to leave, but the way my life was set up, you don’t expect the love of your life to turn into your enemy.”

“Muni elaborated on the challenges she faced in getting proper support and acknowledgment for her domestic violence experiences from people in her personal life. She highlighted how her abuser skillfully crafted and maintained a specific image, all while neglecting the responsibility of genuinely embodying the persona that others believed.”

“As a mother of one, Muni was determined to change her circumstances. She planned to become a successful singer to escape.

She said, “I just knew no one was coming to save you. I walked down the aisle, so I’m gonna have to figure out how to get up out of this.”

“Viewers likely felt a sense of relief when Muni said, “I’m out of it. I’m free.” She bravely escaped her domestic violence situation and pushed forward, using her music as a personal diary. At the same time, she raised awareness and became an inspiration for domestic violence survivors everywhere.”

During her chat with Terrell, Muni shared that she hasn’t experienced any lupus flare-ups since leaving the toxic environment. This should make us consider how much our surroundings affect our health and well-being.

“Muni’s journey is a powerful testament to prioritizing your physical and mental well-being. Her resilience is truly commendable, and we hope her story inspires other survivors of domestic violence to find their paths to safety. Even if you haven’t experienced domestic violence yourself, it’s essential to believe and support those who have. Your understanding and compassion can make a real difference.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800)-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

The post Muni Long Opens Up About Overcoming Domestic Violence appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you explain the current state of COVID-19 in the United States?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: As of September 13, 2024, COVID-19 activity remains elevated nationally, but there are continued signs of decline in many areas. Positive tests for COVID-19, emergency department visits, and rates of COVID–19–associated hospitalizations remain high as well, particularly among adults 65+ and children under two years old.

There are many effective tools to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill. This season’s COVID-19 vaccines are available and provide the best protection against severe disease.

BHM: What are the characteristics of the latest COVID-19 variants? How do these strains differ from previous variants regarding transmissibility and severity?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: KP.3.1.1, of the Omicron family, is now the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating in the United States, having overtaken its parent lineage KP.3 and previous KP.2 variants. KP.3.1.1 is the only major variant increasing in proportion nationally.

Like many of the more recent variants, the current COVID-19 virus variants are very contagious.

Overall, infections with the virus that causes COVID-19 have become less severe as immunity from vaccines and previous infections provide greater protection. However, COVID-19 remains a cause of long COVID, severe illness, and death, especially for people at higher risk.

BHM: What are the most common symptoms associated with the new variants?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: The current COVID-19 variants have symptoms similar to those of previous variants. The most common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, a stuffy or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

BHM: How effective are the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines against the new variants?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: Based on data from past seasons, vaccines effectively lower the risk of getting very sick or hospitalized with COVID-19 illness by about half. The COVID-19 virus changes yearly, which is one reason why vaccines need to be updated to target the latest and most common variant(s).

The protection against severe illness offered by COVID-19 vaccines weakens over time, so the CDC strongly urges everyone 6 months and older to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination.

BHM: How safe are the new vaccines, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: COVID-19 vaccines have undergone the most extensive safety analysis in U.S. history. The updated vaccines for this year have a similar safety profile to past years. Most side effects are mild to moderate and go away on their own in a few days. The most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are soreness or red skin where you got the shot, tiredness, fever, body aches, and headache. Severe side effects are rare.

Of every 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines given, five cases of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, are reported.

People are sometimes asked to wait 15 minutes before leaving their vaccine provider so they can be treated if they have a severe reaction. There is no evidence that vaccines cause or worsen chronic conditions. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. If they get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, they are much less likely to need to see a doctor or go to the hospital. If you have questions or concerns about whether an updated COVID-19 vaccine is right for you or your family, talk to your doctor.

BHM: What are the recommendations for people recently recovering from COVID-19 regarding receiving the latest vaccine?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: If you’ve recently had COVID-19, you can wait up to 3 months to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The risk of getting COVID-19 again is lower after you’ve had it. Immunity from having had COVID-19 weakens over time, as does immunity from COVID-19 vaccines. That is another reason why getting updated COVID-19 vaccines as they become available is essential.

BHM: Given the recent surge in cases, what are the current CDC guidelines for COVID-19 prevention, quarantining, and safety?

Dr. Bumpus & Dr. Shah: The updated COVID-19 vaccine remains our best protection against severe disease. The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after their symptoms improve overall and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.

In addition, the CDC recommends that everyone use core prevention strategies, such as practicing good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness) and taking steps to ensure cleaner air.

You can also choose additional prevention strategies to protect yourself further, such as masks, physical distancing, and tests. Treatment for a respiratory virus may help lower your risk of severe illness.

If someone with COVID-19 is showing any of these signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: trouble breathing, persistent pressure or pain in your chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and (depending on skin tone) lips, nail beds, or skin that appears pale, gray, or blue.

The post Reduce Your COVID-19 Risks This Fall & Winter appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The shift reflects a growing focus on personal development and mental wellness among young Black daters. The survey found that the top reasons for choosing celibacy include personal growth and self-discovery, as well as frustration with the toxic dating culture.

Here are the key survey findings:

• 43% of Black Gen Z daters are practicing celibacy.
• 64% of Black Gen Z women are celibate, with 63% having been celibate for less than six months.
• 61% cited personal growth or self-discovery as their primary reason for celibacy.
•  66% reported improved mental and emotional well-being due to celibacy.
• 87% said celibacy has positively impacted their dating life or made no difference.
• 1 in 3 Black Gen Z daters believe celibacy is becoming more accepted, though 43% still feel there is a stigma within the Black community.

Personal Growth

The trend towards celibacy among Black Gen Z singles is often driven by a desire for personal growth and improved mental health. As the data shows, most young Black daters are choosing celibacy to focus on self-discovery and personal development. In many ways, celibacy can help people build a stronger sense of self and prioritize their mental and emotional well-being. Such clarity is necessary for peaceful dating experiences.

According to a Psychology Today article, voluntary celibacy is becoming more common among adults, with about 1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 men choosing to take a break from sex and dating altogether. The Black Gen Z population is a part of a much broader movement.

Similarly, a WebMD article revealed some insights about celibacy. Many people reported that sex was a distraction or preoccupation, and abstaining from sex has helped their minds remain clear. Others have even reported that sex causes stress and that they are happier without having to worry about it. While celibacy is becoming more accepted among Black Gen Z daters, with 1 in 3 feeling that it’s gaining acceptance, 43% believe that stigma or misunderstanding still exists within the Black community. These individuals are redefining what it means to date and thrive in relationships and simultaneously challenging societal norms.

Johnathan Kirkland, Head of Brand and Marketing at BLK, shared insight on the cultural shift of celibacy, saying, “What we’re seeing with Black Gen Z singles is more than just a dating trend. It’s a movement towards personal empowerment and emotional well-being. This generation values authenticity and reclaims its narratives, prioritizing self-discovery over societal expectations. The rise in celibacy speaks to their desire for healthier relationships, both with themselves and others, and that’s a powerful statement.”

Celibacy is a personal journey that focuses on the individual rather than their dating prospects. It’s about embracing self-worth, nurturing mental health, and prioritizing emotional well-being. By understanding what you truly want from your dating experience, celibacy teaches us that a healthy relationship starts with a healthy self.

The post More Black Gen Z Daters Are Practicing Celibacy appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The CDC’s latest recommendations are a source of optimism for many, urging healthcare providers to take a more empathetic and informed approach. According to a CDC study, about 16.9% of us have reported using IUDs as a method of birth control.

BHM: What are the common causes of pain during and after IUD insertion?

Dr. Robinson: There are several reasons why an IUD insertion can be uncomfortable. When an IUD is inserted, it must pass through your cervix into the uterus. It can be especially painful if your healthcare professional needs to dilate your cervix first to insert the IUD properly. There are also specific instruments that are used to help grasp the cervix and straighten out the pathway to the uterus, which can cause pain for some people. It’s also common to feel cramping immediately after IUD insertion, which can be uncomfortable.

BHM: How can healthcare providers better acknowledge and address the pain associated with IUDs?

Dr. Robinson: Communication is critical in acknowledging the issue of pain associated with IUDs.

The patient should always feel informed and know what pain management and care options are available before, during, and after the procedure.

It’s helpful for healthcare teams to talk their patients through the process. [There has to be] Acknowledgement of the patient’s experience and potential fears, along with clear explanations of what to expect. This can ease anxiety and help prepare them for discomfort during the procedure. A good healthcare team can make all the difference when you have an IUD placed or removed.

BHM: What steps can women take to prepare for IUD insertion to minimize discomfort?

Dr. Robinson: You should also feel empowered to ask about pain management options with your doctor beforehand.

In many cases, they may suggest taking an over-the-counter pain medication, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, about an hour before your appointment.

Another option is to take misoprostol a few hours before your IUD insertion, which can help soften and dilate the cervix a bit to help the IUD pass through more easily. Misoprostol is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to talk with your healthcare team about this option in advance. Sometimes, they can also numb the cervix with local anesthesia, which can help ease some discomfort during the insertion.

It also may be helpful to schedule your IUD insertion when you have your period. During your period, the cervix is already slightly dilated, which helps with insertion.

If possible, you may want to take the day off or schedule the procedure at the end of the day to ensure you have time to relax and recover.

BHM: What types of IUDs are available, and how do they differ in effectiveness and side effects?

Dr. Robinson: There are two primary types of IUDs available: hormonal and non-hormonal. The non-hormonal option, Paragard, uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal options work by releasing hormones that make it difficult to get pregnant. All IUD variations are highly effective at preventing pregnancy.

Hormonal options will vary based on hormone levels, cost, amount of time they last, and side effects. Users of the Paragard IUD (non-hormonal) often experience longer and heavier periods initially, which typically lessen over time.

On the other hand, those using hormonal IUDs may experience irregular periods with spotting, heavy bleeding, or more bleeding days during the first 3-6 months. After about a year, bleeding usually decreases, with 1 in 5 women reporting no periods at all.

BHM: What symptoms should women be aware of post-IUD insertion that may indicate complications?

Dr. Robinson: It’s normal to have light cramping or spotting for a few weeks as your body gets used to the IUD. If your pain or bleeding persists or worsens, or you’re experiencing other symptoms like severe abdominal or pelvic pain, unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, fevers, chills, and continuous heavy vaginal bleeding, you should let a healthcare professional know. They may need to do an ultrasound to ensure the IUD is placed correctly and that there are no complications.

BHM: What are the best pain management options available for women experiencing severe IUD-related pain?

Dr. Robinson: A healthcare professional will first recommend:

• Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen to help minimize the cramping pain associated with IUD insertion.
• You can also try placing a heating pad on your lower abdomen or a warm bath to soothe cramping pain.
• If these measures aren’t working, let your healthcare team know. They may want to prescribe prescription pain management options or bring you in for another visit if your symptoms persist.

BHM: How can women proactively bring up concerns about IUD pain with their healthcare providers?

Dr. Robinson: I recommend scheduling an appointment before your procedure to discuss your pain management options and your pain tolerance. Having a personalized plan that you and the healthcare professional agree on can make a difference in ensuring you feel comfortable during the procedure.

BHM: How do the CDC’s recent recommendations impact how healthcare providers approach IUD insertion and pain management?

Dr. Robinson: I hope these new guidelines will encourage healthcare professionals to set realistic expectations about the pain and discomfort a patient may experience during an IUD insertion. I’m glad we’re highlighting the pain issue and acknowledging that we can take steps to minimize it. It starts with transparent discussions with patients, sharing everything from how to properly prepare for the procedure to what it will entail.

It’s crucial to ensure that every woman is treated with care, respect, and empathy and that her needs and complaints of pain are taken seriously.

As healthcare professionals, we are responsible for leading with sensitivity, acknowledging and addressing the unique healthcare needs of women while actively working to overcome any biases that may influence their care.

The post How to Manage IUD Pain appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Tito Jackson’s journey in music began as a guitarist and background vocalist for the Jackson 5, a group that created hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” Under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, the Jackson 5 became a household name and was admitted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Outside of his role in the Jackson 5, Tito was a dedicated musician who continued to perform and record music throughout his life. He played with his brothers in the reformed group The Jacksons and pursued a solo career as a blues guitarist. His passion for music was evident in every performance, whether on stage with his family or playing the blues.

In a 2021 interview with Blues Blast magazine, Tito Jackson shared why he chose to transition to the blues genre and how it had always been a part of his musical experiences.

He said, “The blues got me interested in the guitar. I wanted to play music, and I wanted to be on stage again. The blues had been the main music in my family. I just wanted to jam.”

Born on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, Tito was the third of nine Jackson children, which included global superstars Michael and Janet Jackson. The Jackson family’s music careers took off in the late 1960s, leading them to relocate to California to pursue their dreams. Tito’s contributions to the family’s success were tremendous, and his legacy will be remembered for generations.

While the cause of Tito Jackson’s death has not been officially determined, it is believed that he suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma on Sunday. However, an autopsy is being performed to confirm the details. We do know heart disease is a severe health threat to our community.

His passing was a significant loss to the music community and everyone who knew and loved him.

In a 2009 interview with the Associated Press, Tito Jackson reflected on the impact of his brother Michael’s death on the family, saying, “I would say definitely it brought us a step closer to each other. To recognize that the love we have for each other when one of us is not here, what a great loss.” It is heartbreaking to think that these words now resonate as we mourn the loss of another beloved Jackson family member.

With Tito Jackson’s passing, we can remember a man who brought joy to countless lives. From his early days in Gary, Indiana, to his global success with the Jackson 5 and his solo career, Tito’s journey was one of talent and purpose. Beyond the stage, he was a father, a brother, and a friend who touched the hearts of many. His legacy will continue to inspire, reminding us of the joy and warmth he brought to the world.

We extend our condolences to the family, especially his sons Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who lost their mother, Delores Martes Jackson, in 1994.

 

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Imagine living where mental health support is readily available, and community well-being is a top priority. Now, picture a neighboring state where mental health struggles are heightened and resources are scarce. This is the reality for Virginia and West Virginia residents, two states with vastly different health outcomes.

Virginia’s Success in Health and Wellness

Have you ever heard of Falls Church? It’s a small, affluent city in Northern Virginia, and U.S. News & World Report has named it the healthiest community in the United States for 2024. With high levels of education, abundant economic opportunities, and excellent healthcare access, Falls Church offers its residents a high quality of life. The city is adored for its quaint small-town atmosphere, walkable neighborhoods, and community-focused businesses, contributing to its cozy and inviting ambiance.

The Health Secrets of Falls Church

If you’re wondering what makes Falls Church so unique, it could be attributed to multiple factors. According to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report, the city ranks well in many areas.

• Education: Falls Church ranks No. 1 in education, which can contribute to better overall health. High educational attainment is linked to better health outcomes, as it is also known to lead to higher income levels, better access to healthcare, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Community: Falls Church has an intense sense of community; residents frequently engage in social activities, and the local businesses are not void of support.

•  Economics: The city ranks No.6 in the economy category, with a median household income close to $148,000 and a poverty rate of just 2.3%. This adds to healthcare affordability and the maintenance of healthy lifestyles.
• Walkability: Falls Church takes pride in being a walkable city. Many amenities are within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit option. This means that grocery stores, farmers markets, restaurants, parks, gyms, and other venues are easily accessible for most. Approximately 70% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a grocery store. As a result, people are more prone to walking places, physical activity is heightened within the city, and access to fresh food is a reality for the residents.
• Population: Falls Church ranks No. 4 in population health. This means the residents have low rates of chronic diseases and high rates of physical activity.

Diversity, Housing, and Equity

While Falls Church seems impressive, it does have areas where it falls short. For instance, it lacks diversity. The city is predominately white with smaller percentages of Black, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Falls Church did not score well in terms of equity and housing. The city has a homeownership rate of about 56%, and many residents attribute that to how expensive housing has gotten. As reported by Arlington Magazine, 27% of households in Falls Church are cost-burdened, meaning that they spend 30% or more of their income on housing compared to the national average of 23%.

Equity remains a challenge for Falls Church. Despite its recognition as one of the healthiest communities in the nation, the city struggles with equity issues. Falls Church has one of the worst scores for racial disparity in educational attainment in the country.

According to Arlington Magazine, it also falls short on metrics such as premature death disparity, low birth weight disparity, and racial disparity in poverty.

While Falls Church may seem like a haven for many, systemic inequities, socioeconomic barriers, accessibility issues, and environmental factors persist. This highlights the need for continued efforts to make the city an equitable and inviting place for everyone to settle and call home.

West Virginia’s Mental Health Crisis

The 2024 Healthiest Communities rankings by U.S. News assessed nearly 3,000 U.S. counties on mental health, using metrics like deaths of despair, depression rates among Medicare beneficiaries, and frequent mental distress. West Virginia counties appeared most frequently on the list.

The state of West Virginia deeply contrasts with its neighbors, as counties like Clay, Logan, and Mingo struggle with high rates of depression, substance abuse, and deaths of despair. These counties are just a few examples of many others facing similar challenges in West Virginia.

Economic challenges and limited access to mental health services greatly contribute to these issues. The lack of resources and support systems leaves many people without the help they need to manage their mental health effectively.

Addressing Disparities

The disparity between the Virginias is not just a matter of numbers and rankings. It reflects the lived experiences of the residents. While Virginia’s communities benefit from a culture of health and wellness, many of West Virginia’s counties lack the infrastructure and resources needed to support residents’ health and well-being.

While Falls Church, Virginia, often ranks high in health metrics, West Virginia’s counties frequently rank low in the same categories. The state’s economic struggles are well-documented, with many communities facing high unemployment rates and limited job opportunities.

This economic instability contributes to poor health outcomes, as residents may lack the financial resources to afford healthcare, nutritious food, and other essentials for a healthy life. The stress and uncertainty associated with economic hardship can also take a toll on mental health, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.

Virginia is more diverse than West Virginia, yet Black people experience higher rates of poverty in West Virginia.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, the poverty rate for Black individuals in West Virginia was significantly higher than the state average. Approximately 30.7% of Black residents in West Virginia were living in poverty compared to the overall state poverty rate of 17.9%.

This information highlights a critical issue: without access to quality healthcare and a supportive environment, our community is at a higher risk of deteriorating health, both physically and mentally. The lack of resources and support can lead to a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes, worsening the struggles faced by Black residents.

Food for Thought

While some places rank highly in health and wellness, others fall short. Our communities may be small in Falls Church, Virginia, and across West Virginia, but we endure most of the disparities. This is something to ponder and a call to action for community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to unite in addressing the root causes of poor health and expanding access to essential services.

In one place, fresh vegetables are just a 10-minute walk away, while in another, residents face food deserts and struggle to obtain proper nutrition. Over time, these disparities take a toll, often manifesting in mental health issues that affect overall health and wellness.
Although Falls Church and West Virginia may not seem intricately linked, they share a common thread in highlighting the need for us to evaluate where our community stands. Whether in flourishing or struggling areas, providing a platform for improvement and equity is important.

The post The Highs and Lows of Health in the Virginias appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We’ve gathered data from Zumper and RentCafe, but before we get into the list, let’s discuss determining the income needed to live comfortably in these cities. The general rule is to spend no more than 30% of your gross income on rent. This helps ensure that housing costs don’t absorb too much of your budget, leaving room for other essentials, savings, and hobbies. But in some of these high-cost cities, the reality is that many people may have to allot more than 30% of their income toward rent.

The 10 Most Expensive Cities to Rent In.

1. New York, NY: First up is New York City! This city is known for never sleeping and living the NYC dream but has a hefty price tag. With an average monthly rent of around $3,802, NYC is pretty expensive. To live comfortably here, you must earn at least $152,076 annually.

2. Boston, MA: With its rich history and prestigious universities, Boston’s charm comes at a cost. The average rent is $3,225, meaning you’d need an income of approximately $129,000 annually to live comfortably.

3. Jersey City, NJ: Just a trip across the Hudson River, Jersey City offers a slightly more affordable option with an average rent of about $3,024. To enjoy the skyline views and vibrant culture, you’d need an annual income of around $120,960.

4. Los Angeles, CA: The entertainment capital of the U.S., Los Angeles, has an average rent of $2,988. An annual income of $119,520 is necessary to live comfortably amongst the lights, cameras, and action.

5. San Francisco, CA: The Golden Gate City has an average rent of approximately $2,848. You’d need to make about $113,920 per year to afford this lifestyle.

6. San Jose, CA: San Jose is part of Silicon Valley and has an average rent of $2,799. An annual income of $111,960 would be needed to enjoy this city’s lifestyle.

7. Arlington, VA: Close to the nation’s capital, Arlington’s average rent is $2,508. An income of $100,320 per year is necessary to afford this. The proximity to Washington, DC, makes it a prime spot for professionals.

8. San Diego, CA: Known for its stunning beaches and relaxing ambiance, San Diego’s average rent is $2,296. A comfortable life requires an income of around $91,840 annually.

9. Washington, DC: The political heart of the U.S., Washington, DC, has an average rent of $2,283. To live here comfortably, you must earn about $91,320 annually.

10. Miami, FL: Last up, we have the sunshine city of Miami. Its average rent is $2,081. To live here without financial strain, you should earn around $83,240 per year.

The Budget-Friendly: Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Rents

1. Louisville, KY: Louisville’s average rent is $850. To live comfortably, you’d need to earn about $34,000 annually.

2. Little Rock, AR: With an average rent of $850, living in Little Rock requires an annual income of approximately $34,000. The city is known for its natural beauty.

11. Memphis, TN: Memphis has an average rent of $850. To live comfortably, you’d need to earn about $34,000 annually.

12. Des Moines, IA: The average rent in Des Moines is $850, requiring an annual income of around $34,000 for comfortable living.

13. El Paso, TX: With an average rent of $825, living in El Paso requires an income of approximately $33,000 yearly.

14. St. Louis, MO: The average rent in St. Louis is $825. To live comfortably, you would need to earn about $33,000 annually.

15. Tulsa, OK: The average rent in Tulsa is $825, requiring an annual income of around $33,000 for comfortable living.

16. Wichita, KS: Nearing the top of the list of affordable cities, Wichita’s average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $693. To live comfortably, an annual income of around $27,720 is sufficient—small-town charm at its best.

17. Toledo, OH: With an average rent of $650, living in Toledo requires an annual income of approximately $26,000.

18. Akron, OH: Akron’s average rent is $650, making it one of the most affordable cities. An annual income of $26,000 is sufficient for comfortable living.

How This Impacts Us

You may be wondering about the Black population in the cities we’ve mentioned; here are the top five with the highest percentages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Memphis, TN, stands out, with about 64.4% of its population being Black. Washington, DC, follows with approximately 44.30%. St. Louis, MO, has a significant Black community, making up 44.8% of its population. Little Rock, AR, also has a large Black population, accounting for 41.48% of its residents. Lastly, Louisville, KY, has around 23.94% Black population.

Living in the largest U.S. cities can be financially challenging, especially in areas with the highest rents. However, affordable options still exist for those looking to explore different locations, and some places are more diverse than you might expect. Understanding the cost of living and planning your finances accordingly are essential steps for a successful move. So, take some time to consider your options. Who knows, you might find yourself wanting to move to an entirely different coast!

The post Rent Realities: The Top Ten Most Expensive & Budget-Friendly Cities appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Where is the Donation Going?

Bloomberg’s gift of $175 million each to Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and another $75 million to Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science can be used to address the glaring disparities in medical education and healthcare outcomes for Black Americans. He also gave seed funding for Xavier’s Ochsner College of Medicine in New Orleans.

But the story doesn’t end there. This donation has the potential to overlap with broader issues, one being the retention and support for minority physicians, particularly women of color, as highlighted in the 2023 Women Physicians of Color Study, A Prescription for Change: Addressing Retention Among Women Physicians of Color in California, conducted by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) in collaboration with University of California Health released this spring.

“Addressing health disparities and underrepresentation in the medical field are critical challenges, and Bloomberg Philanthropies is dedicated to making a difference. By building on our previous support, this gift will empower new generations of Black doctors to create a healthier and more equitable future for our country,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, former New York mayor and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, in a statement.

Increasing the Number of Black Doctors

Bloomberg’s donation is a strategic investment in healthcare transformation. By strengthening the financial stability of these institutions, this contribution can help increase the number of Black doctors in the U.S.

Currently, Black physicians make up approximately 6% of the medical workforce, even though Black Americans represent 13% of the population. This gap has serious consequences for healthcare equity.

Numerous studies show that patients often receive better care from providers who share their racial or ethnic background. And we’re not just talking about hospitality. More Black doctors could mean better health outcomes, lower mortality rates within our community, and a more diverse healthcare workforce. Our community has historically faced challenges within the healthcare system, and many disparities still linger today. Bloomberg’s donation is a step towards addressing these issues, which our country truly needs.

Why Retention is Important

While increasing the number of Black physicians is at the forefront of our minds, we should also consider an equally important factor: retention. The PHC study sheds light on the challenges faced by women physicians of color and reveals some shocking statistics. In 2022, 45.8% of women physicians of color reported experiencing burnout, a significant rise from 37.2% in 2018. This increase is mainly attributed to the additional stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, approximately one in four women physicians of color reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace or having their competence questioned by colleagues monthly. This persistent bias adds extra stress to their already demanding roles.

Within the first six years post-residency, women physicians of color are more likely than their male counterparts to work part-time or leave the profession altogether.

Key stressors contributing to this include increased administrative burdens, overwhelming patient volume, and staff shortages.

The study also highlighted that moral injury, rather than personal characteristics, is a notable driver of physicians’ desire to leave the workforce. Moral injury refers to the psychological distress experienced when one’s moral code is challenged by operating within certain systems or under specific authorities.

Despite these challenges, the study revealed that experiences of community and belonging among women physicians of color serve as a form of protection. Supportive networks and representation in leadership are essential for their well-being. These findings highlight the need for systemic changes to support women physicians of color. Addressing these issues is not just about increasing numbers; it is about creating an environment where these talented professionals can thrive and continue to provide the high-quality care that all communities deserve.

Looking at All Angles

Patients don’t just experience disparities in healthcare; the physicians in our community are also navigating a maze of bias and systemic hurdles. To truly transform our healthcare system, we need to examine it from every angle.

Bloomberg’s donation and the findings of the PHC study present a unique opportunity to address these challenges holistically. While the financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies will help reduce the debt burden for many Black medical students, it is equally important to create supportive environments that address the specific needs of diverse groups. An excellent place to start would be for women physicians of color to implement policies that reduce administrative burdens, promote work-life balance, and prioritize inclusive workplaces free from discrimination and bias. The PHC study also highlights the importance of community for physicians of color. This insight can guide the creation of networks and mentorship programs that provide genuine support, enabling our physicians to thrive in their careers.

So, you see, the donation is more than just new buildings or additional parking spots on campus; it can be the seed for new initiatives that increase the number of Black doctors and support their long-term retention and success. We have much to look forward to regarding the future of these HBCU medical schools.

If you know a medical student, check in on them and see how they are doing. As we know, building a solid and equitable healthcare system takes a village.

The post Bloomberg Gave a $600M Gift to HBCU Medical Schools appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Generational Shift

Imagine this, or rather, you don’t have to imagine it because it’s our reality. Today, a woman in her 30s faces a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer compared to her grandmother at the same age, according to Scientific American. And this isn’t limited to just one type of cancer. We’re talking about colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and many others. This widespread issue spans several types of cancer, making it even more alarming. According to a comprehensive model-based cohort analysis of nationwide, high-quality cancer incidence and mortality data, the incidence rates for 17 cancer types have increased in progressively younger birth cohorts in the USA. In other words, more young people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before.

What’s Behind the Rise?

You may wonder what’s driving this increase. Several factors are involved. The modern diet, rich in processed foods and sugary drinks, is a primary culprit. Sedentary lifestyles and rising obesity rates among younger generations also contribute.

A study from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan found that less than half of people aged 18 to 25 exercised at least once a week in early 2022, and the situation hasn’t improved.

It’s not just about diet and exercise; environmental factors play a crucial role, too. People today are exposed to more pollutants, chemicals, and radiation than previous generations. Additionally, tobacco and alcohol use remain prevalent among younger generations, consistently harming their health.

Early Detection

One of the most effective ways to combat the rise in cancer diagnoses is through early detection. Regular screenings can catch cancer in its early stages. For instance, colorectal cancer screenings can detect precancerous polyps, allowing for early intervention and potentially saving lives.

Research and Education

Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach. We need more research to understand the underlying causes of cancer in young people.

In an interview with PBS News, the CEO of the American Cancer Society mentioned that they have been seeing early indicators of a rise in cancers at an earlier age over the last several years. Early onset colorectal cancer, for example, has shown declining incidence in populations aged 65 and above but rising in those 50 and younger. These are ages for which they previously did not consider someone to be at risk for colorectal cancer.

We must prioritize research into specific risk factors affecting younger populations, including genetics, biological factors, and the impact of the collective modern lifestyle and environmental aspects.

According to the American Cancer Society, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer among Black adults under 50 has been increasing by about 2% per year. Additionally, the overall cancer incidence rate for Black people under 50 is higher compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Our community needs more targeted prevention and early detection efforts.

Taking Action

This is a reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate by age. It’s a call to action for healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers to develop strategies to alleviate this surge. By understanding the contributing factors, we can work towards reversing this trend and ensuring a healthier future for all generations. If you are under 50, know that you are not too young to develop cancer. Consider getting screened, explore your family health history, and stay informed.

The post The New Face of Cancer is Getter Younger and Younger appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Early Years

During her tenure as California’s Attorney General, Harris was a dedicated advocate for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She recognized its potential to significantly expand healthcare access for millions of women and took decisive action to defend the ACA in court. Her efforts ensured that women could access essential health services without financial barriers. This commitment to women’s health laid a solid foundation for her career in the U.S. Senate and beyond.

Her Fight Against Fibroids

Harris’s focus on women’s health intensified as she transitioned to representing California in the U.S. Senate. One of her early legislative efforts was the introduction of the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act in 2020. This bill was geared toward increasing funding for research and raising awareness about uterine fibroids, a condition that disproportionately affects our community.

Her Push for Affordable Healthcare

In 2019, Kamala Harris proposed a plan to prevent the U.S. from paying more for prescription medication than other developed countries. Her plan aimed to cap drug prices at an average of those in different nations.

During her presidential run, Harris also advocated for Medicare for All, a single-payer insurance proposal. She emphasized the deeply personal nature of healthcare for Americans and envisioned a comprehensive healthcare system covering all medically necessary services, from emergency room visits to mental health and reproductive health care. She also proposed empowering the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, aiming to make health care accessible and affordable.

“There is perhaps no more complicated or personal issue for Americans than health care. I know this from my own personal life, caring for my mother as she battled colon cancer. And I also know it from talking to so many Americans in this campaign — seniors and union members, young people and parents, workers and caregivers,” said Harris in the article she wrote for Medium.

She Prioritizes Black Maternal Health

First, the federal Maternal Health Day of Action at the White House called to improve health outcomes for parents and infants in the United States. “Before, during, and after childbirth, women in our nation are dying at a higher rate than any other developed nation in our world,” Harris stated during the Maternal Day of Action Summit. “Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. We should do something about that.” She has highlighted the alarming rates of maternal mortality, especially amongst our community. As a Senator, she co-introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams in 2020. This bill aims to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly amongst our community and other communities that face disparities. As a result, a significant achievement was the passage of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act on November 30, 2021, which focuses on maternal care for veterans. Still, the complete Momnibus package is being advocated for, with the latest version introduced on May 15, 2023.

Her Support for Reproductive Rights

As Senator, Harris co-sponsored legislation aimed at eliminating state-level restrictions, such as mandatory tests for doctors or the requirement for doctors to have hospital admitting privileges to perform abortions. During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris proposed that states with a history of violating Roe v. Wade should undergo pre-clearance for new abortion laws, securing federal approval before they could be enacted. In December 2023, Harris launched the “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, aiming to counteract the effects of abortion bans and advocate for the restoration of Roe v. Wade protections.

As reported by CNN, in March of 2024, Harris made history by becoming the first sitting vice president to visit an abortion clinic. She toured a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, highlighting the ongoing healthcare crisis.

“The reason I’m here is because this is a health care crisis,” Harris said. “Part of this health care crisis is the clinics like this that have had to shut down and what that has meant to leave no options with any reasonable geographic area for so many women who need this essential care.”

Kamala Harris’s advocacy for women’s health is extensive. While we have touched on some of the key highlights, her work spans a much broader spectrum. By looking back at some of her major contributions, we can gain insights into potential future developments. By staying informed, we can collectively strive to create a healthier and more equitable future for ourselves, our mothers, sisters, friends, and women everywhere.

The post Where Does VP Kamala Harris Stand on Healthcare? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

She founded the ZCO/DANCE PROJECT, a space to inspire and showcase the strength of dancers with disabilities, in 2013. We chatted with her about her personal and professional journey, the way she continues to break barriers and redefine life with a disability, and society’s perception of them.

BHM: Can you share with us your journey into the world of dance and the performing arts? What inspired you to choose this path?

Zazel-Chavah O’Garra: I started dancing when my mother realized that I was a hyperactive, mischievous child. She often said, in her West Indian accent, “Zazel walked out of me belly!” She asked my godmother if she knew of any activities she could put me in, and she recommended Ruth Williams Dance Studio, located on 125th and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd in the Theresa Hotel, a landmark building in Harlem. I studied ballet and tap there and fell in love with both.

Ballet captivated me with its structure, technique, and discipline, while tap was exciting as we danced to music by a jazz pianist and drummer. At the end of the year, we performed at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center. Wearing costumes and seeing huge audiences in these theaters made me realize I wanted to be in the performing arts. I later left Ruth Williams and went to Bernice Johnson Dancing School, where I met Ben Vereen and Michael Peters.

The intense professionalism at Bernice Johnson led me to audition for the High School of the Performing Arts. Once accepted, I became a ballet major. Entering that school made me live and breathe dance! It was rigorous, competitive, and challenging. Studying dance there led me to Alvin Ailey and the Dance Theater of Harlem. As a scholarship student and apprentice, I focused on becoming a professional dancer.

The Brain Tumor Diagnosis

BHM: Can you walk us through your experience when you were diagnosed with a brain tumor? How did it affect your life and career, especially about your craft?

CO: I had been experiencing symptoms for years: extreme fatigue where I could fall asleep in a minute, a tingling sensation in my right arm, nausea, and headaches. I went to a slew of doctors, had a battery of tests, and they found nothing. Finally, I went to the gynecologist, and she put me on birth control pills, which is what I did. The birth control pills made my head feel like it was exploding, and I started to have weird sensations in my head. I was having partial seizures, but I didn’t know what it was.

Eventually, I went to the emergency room at St. Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey. They tested me and found nothing. As they were discharging me, I mentioned feeling dizzy, so they gave me an MRI. After the MRI, they gave me Xanax and told me to wait for the doctor. When the doctor saw me, she had a sullen look on her face. She said they found a huge mass on my brain, 4 centimeters large! They immediately rushed me to intensive care, and the neurosurgeon came to speak to me, saying I needed immediate surgery. Because of the tumor’s location, they warned me to expect partial paralysis, visual and cognitive deficits, and speech and memory problems.

At that moment, I knew the life I loved would change. However, I didn’t show the doctor or my family any signs of depression. Instead, I declared, “I am a fighter, a warrior woman. God is on my side! I will dance again!”

The Recovery Process

BHM: What was your rehabilitation process like, and how did it influence your perspective on life and dance?

ZCO: I rehabilitated at Kessler Rehab, a beautiful West Orange, New Jersey facility. In rehab, you face the harsh reality of your new life. When you can’t get out of bed, bathe, go to the bathroom, or walk, you feel helpless and dependent on others to help you with basic tasks. They wake you up every morning, get you out of bed, body wash you, and then you’re put in a wheelchair to wait to be moved to the dining room.

I met with several doctors, including a neurosurgeon who once asked if I was suicidal. I responded, “NO, I’m waiting for Macy’s One Day Sale! I always liked shopping. Why would I stop now?” I knew immediately that being among those suffering from brain injuries required staying positive, optimistic, and prayerful. Although my life as a non-disabled dancer was over,

I knew that sitting in a chair with limited mobility couldn’t stop me from experiencing the joy of dance. Even if it were just my eyes and head moving, the passion, conviction, and love of dance for healing came through my soul.

During my recovery from a brain tumor, I faced several specific challenges. When I announced I was a brain tumor survivor, the reactions from people, including friends, were often difficult to handle. One memorable incident involved someone I knew who crossed the street to avoid talking to me. My Caribbean family, although loving and supportive, struggled with how to deal with someone with a disability. One family friend even said, “I thought you were going to be a star, and look at you now!”

To overcome these challenges, I focused on turning setbacks into comebacks. I sought guidance and support through therapy and found immense inspiration in a loving friend who, after a car accident, became a quadriplegic. He taught me to love the arts and explore myself, no matter what happens. His perspective and strength helped me navigate my journey and find my path forward.

Creating a Way to Dance Again

BHM: What inspired you to start the Zazel-Chavah O’Garra Dance Project (ZCODP)?

ZCO: I founded ZCODP as a testament to my journey of rebirth and resilience, finding profound healing and joy through dance despite challenges. Our mission at ZCODP is to create compelling performances that blend wit, soul, intelligence, and power while telling captivating narratives. We are committed to promoting the integration and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in dance and society.

We aim to present fresh, exhilarating, thought-provoking contemporary dance experiences to a wide audience. ZCO/DANCE PROJECT derives from my birth name, Zazel-Chavah (‘Chavah’ meaning ‘living one’), symbolizing the essence of life and the creative power to share that vitality with others, a name given to me by my father.

BHM: What strengths and perspectives do ZCO/DANCE PROJECT dancers bring to your company?

ZCO: Our dancers contribute their passion, life experiences, and resilience. One dancer, a cancer survivor who uses a wheelchair, powerfully expresses herself through dance. She lifts her leg from the chair, performing pulsating, sensual movements to the rhythm of drums, demonstrating to the audience that nothing can stop her from showcasing the joy and artistry of dance.

At ZCODP, we dance just like any other dance company, incorporating a variety of genres, including modern, jazz, ballet, African dance, and now spoken word. We collaborate with renowned choreographers who treat our dancers as artists, not differently abled individuals.

When we take the stage, we aim for the audience to see us purely as performing artists.

BHM: What does Disability Pride Month mean to you, and how do you celebrate it both as the owner of your dance company and in your personal life?

ZCO: I celebrate Disability Pride Month by raising awareness and celebrating the visibility, value, and respect people with disabilities deserve. Everyone needs to recognize and rejoice in our talents. I embrace my disability with pride and proudly claim it.

The post Dancing Beyond Disability: Zazel-Chavah O’Garra’s Story appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you tell us about the McKnight Brain Research Foundation and its work to bridge the knowledge gap on normal cognitive aging?

Dr. Brangman: The McKnight Brain Research Foundation is the only foundation focusing on normal cognitive aging. We concentrate on what is normal as we get older regarding how our brains function and overall brain health. Right now, the foundation is sponsoring a campaign called BrainWorks to spread the word across the United States about maintaining brain health and recognizing what is normal versus what might be concerning.

In my work, I often see many Black people seeking help when their disease is far advanced. At that point, our options are limited. This is why it is crucial for people to understand what is normal and what might be worrisome.

BHM: Can you explain cognitive aging and how it differs from more severe conditions?

Dr. Brangman: Cognitive aging is the usual process our brains undergo as we age. It includes “senior moments,” like forgetting names or words. Like hard drives, our brains have accumulated a lot of information over a lifetime, leading to “slow retrieval.” This means it takes longer to access information, but we usually get there eventually. You might remember a name or word after a while. Misplacing items like phones, keys, or glasses often happens because we multitask too much. Our brains are designed to do one thing at a time, but our culture bombards us with information.

When multitasking, we don’t lay down memories properly, leading to frustration when searching for misplaced items. With normal cognitive aging, you can usually retrace your steps and find the missing object. However, with severe problems like dementia, you might be unable to retrace your steps, or the object might be in a strange place. Our brains are overloaded due to constant information from news and social media, which consumes brain energy.

BHM: What are some common signs that memory problems might be linked to mental illnesses like depression or anxiety rather than cognitive decline?

Dr. Brangman: Well, there can be some overlap. Some people who are depressed may have trouble remembering information because they just can’t put the energy or focus into keeping information straight. Some may have difficulty concentrating and focusing when they are depressed.

A good healthcare provider can help sort out whether your memory problems are due to depression or something more problematic, such as dementia—the same thing with anxiety.

Anxiety is quite common in our society. I have patients who watch the news and get anxious about what is happening and how it will impact them. We have a lot to worry about and be nervous about. Some people with severe memory problems have that, too. Again, if you go to your healthcare provider, they can help sort out what is related to general anxiety and what may be an indication of something more serious.

BHM: What are some early signs that a family member might be experiencing severe cognitive decline?

Dr. Brangman: It’s essential to educate yourself so you can watch for signs in family members. It can be tricky for someone to realize they have a problem, and other family members often notice it. For example, you may repeat a story within a few short minutes. I have had patients who ask their spouse or partner every 5 minutes for the time of a doctor’s appointment. They get the information, but it doesn’t stay. There is an inability to hold onto new information. You might see people start to have trouble with driving, getting lost going to places they usually drive to without any problems.

For example, I had a patient who went to the same hairdresser every week for 20 years, and then one day, due to road construction and a detour, she couldn’t figure out how to get back on the correct road to her hairdresser. She was hours late. They may start to forget appointments or miss paying bills. Now and then, we all miss a bill, but then we realize it and fix it. But I’m talking about people who may not pay their light bill for months and don’t even realize it. They may run out of medications and not get a refill, have problems keeping their house organized, and the mail may pile up. Maybe you notice their clothes are soiled and wearing the same thing repeatedly. It could be very subtle signs.

If you have a mother, father, grandparent, uncle, or anybody in your family and start to notice these changes, you might want to get together with other family members or think of ways to get them to a doctor and get them checked out.

BHM: Why is early intervention crucial for memory problems, and how can it benefit individuals in the long run?

Dr. Brangman: The impact is significant because not everyone with a memory problem has dementia. Sometimes, it can be related to certain vitamin deficiencies or specific medication side effects. A person may think everybody is making a big fuss over nothing. So, you must have a strategy. Maybe you’re working with your doctor or the person’s doctor to see how to get them evaluated and get help. So, you want to ensure that your finances are organized and that you know all the treatment options right now. Some medications can maybe slow down the process a little bit.

BHM: What lifestyle changes can we make to protect our brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline?

Dr. Brangman: You want to do things to help maintain your brain health throughout your lifespan. Our brains are designed to last for our whole life, but there are things that we do every day that can increase our risk of having severe memory problems as we get older.

Exercise is fantastic for your brain! It boosts chemicals that help nerves grow and stabilize and improves blood circulation around your brain. You don’t need to train for a marathon; move more daily.

A daily walk is perfect, aiming for 30 minutes, but you can break it into shorter sessions if needed. Simple exercises using your body weight or even a few cans of corn can do wonders.

Diet plays a huge role, especially in our community. Historically, our diets have been high in fat, which might stem from when we had to do heavy physical labor and needed a lot of energy. Now, we need to shift towards healthier eating. Stick to whole foods, not highly processed ones. Reduce fried foods and high-fat meats like red meat. Opt for chicken, fish, lots of vegetables, and fresh fruits. Be mindful of how you cook your veggies and avoid too much fat and salt.

Alcohol is another area to watch. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no safe amount of alcohol for your body. It’s toxic to nerve cells, especially in your brain. Try to limit alcohol to special occasions and avoid daily drinking. Social connections are healthy. This doesn’t mean scrolling through social media. It means face-to-face interactions.

Our brains thrive on personal connections. So, take a walk with a friend. You’ll be hitting two birds with one stone: exercising and socializing.

Stress is not suitable for your body or brain either. Exercise, meditation, or spiritual practices can help reduce stress. There is emerging research that shows discrimination and racism take a toll on our bodies, and over time, it can lead to chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. We must avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms like smoking or drinking. Instead, find healthy ways to unwind, even if it’s just a few moments to concentrate on things aside from your current worries. I also want to add that if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, keep them under control. These conditions can increase your risk of dementia. And if you smoke, consider quitting. It’s never too late to stop.

BHM: Why is adequate sleep important for brain health, and what happens when we don’t get enough sleep?

Dr. Brangman: Sleep is another big issue, and it’s necessary for brain health. When we sleep, our brain cleans up all the chemical reactions during the day. Without adequate sleep, this self-cleaning process can’t happen. Many of us have responsibilities outside regular working hours, leading to late nights. Society often values hard work and long hours, which isn’t good for our health.

Another essential thing to know is that there are no magic sleeping pills. Many advertised on TV either don’t work or have harmful side effects on your brain. Similarly, memory supplements are often a waste of money. Instead, establish a routine and turn off screens, smartphones, and TVs at a set time each night to create a quiet, dark environment. Consistency is crucial; your brain needs good sleep every day, and you can’t catch up on a week’s sleep on the weekend. Some people think a glass of wine before bed will help them sleep, but it disrupts deep restorative sleep. Caffeine is another culprit. While this stimulant enables you to wake up in the morning, it can keep you awake at night. So, be mindful of your caffeine and alcohol intake. Your brain will thank you!

The post Brain Aging: What’s Normal & When Should We Worry? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

How it Started

Fortunately, there have been individuals who, like us, value our collective well-being and recognize the urgent need for broader access to mental health services and a shift in the narrative surrounding mental health within our community. One of those individuals was Bebe Moore Campbell; her dedication to mental health advocacy led to the establishment and recognition of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

Campbell was an influential American author, journalist, teacher, and passionate advocate for mental health. She used her literary talent to explore the intricate themes of race, family, and mental wellness. For Campbell, this advocacy wasn’t only professional. It was deeply personal, stemming from her own family’s firsthand encounter with mental illness.

She found a way to include the mental health narrative into the complexity of the Black experience. Her notable work, “72 Hour Hold,” tells the story of a mother struggling with her daughter, who has bipolar disorder, and their journey of navigating treatment in an inadequate mental health care system. Campbell extended her advocacy to younger audiences as well. She wrote, “Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry.”

This book tells the story of a young girl named Annie, whose mother has a mental illness. Campbell recognized the importance of mental health advocacy across generations. Her catalog continues to resonate and uphold her legacy, even after passing. Her contributions have left an irreplaceable mark on literature, history, and the extensive discussion of mental health.

As a result of Campbell’s determined effort, in 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives designated July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, nearly two years after her passing. Cambell is recognized nationally for bringing the conversation about mental health in minority communities to the forefront, destigmatizing mental health issues, and shedding light on the disparities.

You Can Make a Difference Too

If you are inspired by Campbell’s initiatives and passion for mental health, there are a few ways that you could participate and make a difference this month. First and foremost, it is essential to understand that advocacy manifests differently in everyone. What you might perceive as “small acts” can be powerful examples of advocacy. Here are some ways that you can make a difference.

Educate Yourself

Learn more about mental health, specifically within our community. According to Columbia University, our community is at a significantly increased risk of developing mental health issues due to historical, economic, social, and political influences that systemically expose us to factors known to be damaging to our psychological and physical health. The disparities within our community are not a new phenomenon. They have existed for generations. Research suggests that we are subject to intergenerational trauma because of enslavement, oppression, colonialism, racism, segregation, and all the systemic remnants that exist today. And setting boundaries is critical in maintaining your mental health.

As reported by the National Library of Medicine, the disparities in mental health care that our community faces can be attributed to a multitude of factors beyond just financial constraints. Many people in our community face the harsh reality of double discrimination. For instance, a Black woman may find herself at the receiving end of prejudice, not only for her gender but also for being a person of color. We may also be confronted with microaggressions; these subtle yet harmful interactions and behaviors perpetuate stigmas associated with our community, pushing us farther away from seeking the help we need. This can lead to institutional mistrust, as we may experience a lack of trust in the medical system, and some of us may even fear the outcome of seeking mental health care.

So, we encourage you to invest time in understanding the disparities in your state or delve into your family’s mental health history. All good things begin with knowledge.

Speak Up

Use what you learn about mental health to speak up. Whether mentioning awareness pointers over a family dinner, using social media, or attending a community event, don’t be afraid to speak up about mental health in our community. You may even find more joy in volunteering. Many organizations are doing incredible work to provide culturally competent care, conduct research, and advocate for policy changes. Find a way to contribute that resonates with you the most and explore your city’s opportunities.

Practice Self Care

Mental health starts with you. Prioritize caring for your mental health and encourage others to do the same. You may want to meditate, immerse yourself in a good book, spend time with friends, indulge in a spa day, or embrace the art of doing nothing. Self-care is different for everyone. Listen to your intuition and do the things that bring you joy. If you need guidance from a mental health professional, don’t hesitate to pursue that journey. Despite the numerous barriers we encounter in accessing mental health care, we deserve quality services. You may want to invest additional time in finding a therapist who aligns with your cultural background. It is okay to experience trial and error along the way; don’t let setbacks deter you from pursuing mental wellness.

In the words of Bebe Moore Campbell, “Knowing who you are begins in the mind.”

The post Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: It’s Origins And Equity appeared first on Black Health Matters.

To bridge the awareness gap, let’s delve into some essential knowledge every mother needs.

What is Cord Blood?

Following a baby’s birth, the umbilical cord and placenta are often discarded and dismissed as postpartum biological waste. However, they hold something very special: cord blood. This is not just any blood; it’s a unique type of blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth.

What sets cord blood apart is its rich content of hematopoietic stem cells, as outlined by Stanford Medicine. These cells can help strengthen the immune system, and they can even mature and grow into different types of blood cells; they hold the potential to reconstitute an individual’s entire blood supply. Their capabilities make them invaluable in the treatment of various diseases, including leukemia, genetic disorders, and immune system diseases. These reasons point to why as a community, we should think twice before discarding this life-saving resource.

How is Cord Blood Retrieved?

If you decide to store your baby’s cord blood, your healthcare provider will collect it right after they clamp and cut the umbilical cord. As explained by the Mayo Clinic, a needle is inserted into the cord to extract the blood. The blood is then put into a collection bag. This entire process takes just a few minutes and from there, the blood undergoes processing and categorization before it is dispatched for freezing.

Facts You Should Know

If you’re thinking about storing or donating cord blood, it’s important to be well-informed. The Cord Blood Association has shared some interesting, yet not widely known, facts about cord blood. Take a moment to look at these facts:

Collecting cord blood does not harm the mother or baby and does not interfere with childbirth. It is collected by one’s doctor, or the placenta is delivered and given to a cord blood collection specialist. The collection process occurs after the umbilical cord is detached from the baby.

Expecting parents should prepare in advance for the collection of cord blood. It’s recommended to talk to your obstetrical physician or other healthcare providers between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy about our interest in storing or donating your baby’s cord blood.

Unfortunately, not every hospital offers the option of cord blood donation, so checking in with your preferred hospital is important.

Cord blood is an alternative to bone marrow. It is used in transplants because it contains many natural elements and has amazing blood-forming abilities.

While you can choose to privately bank your baby’s cord blood for potential future use by your own family, donated cord blood can be used by anyone who is a match. Your baby’s cord blood could potentially save the lives of people beyond your family, patients who don’t have a suitable family donor.

When properly stored, cord blood stem cells don’t expire. Unlike bone marrow, cord blood can be frozen and stored for years or even decades.

Will Your Family’s Cord Blood Be a Match?

Most cord blood treatments rely on matching human leukocyte antigens (HLA), these are proteins that are found on most cells in your body. Your immune system uses these markers to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. In many cases, cord blood from a family member isn’t always a match. Even though family members share genes, the combination of HLA markers can vary. While cord blood can be a valuable resource, it is not guaranteed to be a match for siblings or other family members. This is one of the primary reasons why cord blood banks and registries are important. They reduce the waste of viable cord blood and increase the chances of finding a match for those in need of transplants.

Public vs Private Cord Blood Banks

When it comes to cord blood banking, public and private cord blood banks offer different services.

Donating cord blood to a public bank is a generous act that comes at no cost to you. Once donated, the cord blood becomes available to any patient in need of a transplant, or it can be used for medical research. Although public banking doesn’t reserve your donation for your family alone, it can contribute to health equity in our community, ensuring that we have the same access to life-saving treatments as patients from other ethnic backgrounds.

On the other hand, private cord blood banking is a personal investment. While it does come with collection and storage fees, it ensures that your baby’s cord blood is exclusively reserved for your family’s use. Initial collection fees can cost thousands of dollars, and annual storage fees can cost several hundred dollars, but for many families, it is worth it. Private banks have more flexible guidelines, allowing them to store any amount of cord blood, regardless of the stem cell count.

If your family ever needs cord blood, retrieving your specific donation from a public bank is highly unlikely. Once you donate to a public bank, the cord blood is owned by the bank, and there’s no guarantee it will be available if needed. If guaranteed access to your baby’s cord blood is what you’re looking for, private cord banking might be the route for you.

Each type of banking comes with its own advantages and challenges. While the financial aspect often stands out in comparison, as a mother, you possess the understanding of what is best for your family. Looking further into your options is always a wise move so that you can make informed decisions that align with your family’s needs.

Why It’s Important That We Participate

Choosing to donate your newborn’s cord blood can contribute to a nationwide effort to create a genetically diverse inventory of stem cells for transplantation and treatments. Patients in need of a transplant are more likely to find a suitable match from a donor of the same ethnic background, and the importance of cord blood awareness, particularly for Black mothers, can’t be understated.

The National Marrow Donor Program has revealed that approximately 70% of patients requiring transplants don’t have fully matched family donors. These patients often depend on cord blood transplants from unrelated donors. Therefore, even if your donation doesn’t directly benefit your own family, it serves as an invaluable contribution to the broader healthcare system.

Engage in conversations about Cord Blood Awareness Month with your loved ones. Spreading awareness can significantly enhance the chances of saving lives and collectively advance the research and treatments for conditions that affect us profoundly. Every conversation counts.

The post Understanding Cord Blood (What Expectant Mothers Should Know) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What are the symptoms?

PTSD has a wide variety of symptoms, but some everyday things to look out for include:

• Intrusive memories: unwanted recurring distressing memories, flashbacks, and nightmares of the event. Severe emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event.
• Avoidance: Avoiding thoughts, conversations, places, activities, or people associated with the event.
•  Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: Negative self-perception and pessimism about the future. Memory issues, difficulty in relationships, detachment from loved ones, loss of interest in activities, difficulty feeling positive emotions, and emotional numbness.
• Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: Easily startled or frightened, always on guard, self-destructive behavior, sleep and concentration problems, irritability, anger, guilt, or shame.

The symptoms of PTSD can often mimic the unpredictable nature of flares, varying in intensity as time progresses. An individual suffering from this condition might experience periods of relative stability, only to have their symptoms intensify when faced with reminders of the traumatic event. For example, a combat veteran might find loud noises particularly distressing. It is essential to closely observe your loved one and engage in open communication to identify their specific triggers accurately. If they are not already under the care of a professional, it may be beneficial to suggest they consult with a mental health expert who specializes in PTSD. This could be a very vital step in their healing journey.

Healthy Communication is Critical

Healthy communication can make a significant difference in letting your loved one know you are there for them. If communication is a work in progress for you and your loved one, take note of the advice provided by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. They suggest the following:

• Be clear and to the point.
• Be positive. Blame and negative talk will not help the situation.
• Be a good listener. Don’t argue or interrupt. Repeat what you hear to ensure you understand, and ask questions if you need to know more.
• Express your feelings. Your loved one may not know you are sad or frustrated unless you are clear about your feelings.
• Help your family members express their feelings. Ask, “Are you feeling angry? Sad? Worried?”
• Ask how you can help. Don’t advise unless you are asked.

Emotions such as blame, guilt, and shame can create barriers to communication with your loved one. To navigate this, make their mental well-being your primary focus. Recognize and accept your emotions and listen attentively to your loved one’s feelings without attributing any blame. They may need to discuss the traumatic event repeatedly, so instead of urging them to move past it, try to embrace the healing process, even if it seems repetitive. Also, if they choose not to talk, respect their decision. It is more beneficial for them to share their experiences naturally rather than feeling coerced into revealing information.

If you encounter challenges in communicating with your loved one, explore the option of family therapy. This form of counseling can include multiple family members and provide an environment that promotes open communication. Additionally, it can aid in preserving a healthy relationship during your loved one’s healing journey and offer a supportive platform to navigate challenging emotions and difficult conversations.

Dealing with Anger

Some people who have PTSD may feel angry about many things. It is a normal reaction to trauma. Still, anger and violence can hurt relationships and make it complicated for both parties to think clearly.

If your loved one’s anger ever leads to violent behavior or abuse, remove yourself from the situation, go to a safe place, and call for help right away. This type of anger can be frightening, and although you may want to help your loved one, professional help is better suited to such an expression. If your loved one is exhibiting general anger or frustration, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs suggests setting a time-out system; this includes the following:

• Agree that either of you can call a time-out at any time.
• Agree that when someone calls a time-out, the discussion must stop immediately.
• Decide on a signal you will use to call a time-out. The signal can be a word that you say or a hand signal.
• Agree to tell each other where you will be and what you will do during the time-out. Tell each other what time you will come back.

During the time-out, think calmly about how you will continue to talk things over to find a solution. After the time-out, practice the following:

• Take turns talking about solutions to the problem. Listen without interrupting.
• Use statements starting with “I,” such as “I think” or “I feel.” Using “you” statements can sound accusing.
• Be open to each other’s ideas. Don’t criticize each other.
• Focus on things you both think will work. It may both will have good ideas.
• Together, agree on which solutions you will use.

By reading this article, you are already taking a significant step towards supporting your loved one. PTSD can heighten the risk of other mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts or actions. For those suffering from PTSD, having a supportive network and someone to envision a hopeful future with can be incredibly beneficial. Throughout this journey, it is important not to feel guilty if you don’t have all the answers or fully understand the intricacies of the condition. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Remember, your support can play a crucial role in preventing your loved one from resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the value of a mental health team. Professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or family therapists can provide you and your loved one with essential information about treatment options and coping strategies. Your dedication and expertise can work together toward a healthier future.

PTSD Resources include The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, The National Center for PTSD, and The National Alliance on Mental Health.

The post How To Support a Loved One With PTSD appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In light of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, we spoke with Chris, a devoted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital parent. Chris is the father to two daughters with Sickle Cell Disease, and following their diagnosis, he joined St. Jude as a full-time employee in their pathology lab. He is determined to find a cure for the disease that impacts his daughters and countless other children, and he has become an integral part of the St. Jude community. Today, he gives us a glimpse into his journey.

BHM: Could you share a little about your daughters?

Chris: I have two daughters with Sickle Cell Disease, Khirsten and Kaitlyn. They are both high-spirit souls who love to be outside and have as much fun as possible in a day!

BHM: What was your family’s journey after your daughters were diagnosed with SCD?

Chris: Our journey started with very little information and knowledge about Sickle Cell and no problems in the first five years of their life. After that, my wife and I started shifting into overdrive, trying to figure out how we could help in our own way along with St. Jude.

BHM: How do you manage to be a supportive father while also managing the challenges that come with your daughters’ SCD?

Chris: Being a father of three daughters is a job all in itself! Having two with Sickle Cell is what I call EXTRA. Normally, we see extra as a good thing, but it was a big challenge for my family and me. It wasn’t easy, but we have learned to adapt to the life God said we could handle!

BHM: How do you advocate for your daughters within the healthcare system, and what advice would you give to parents in similar situations?

Chris: Well, some of what we have learned comes from other parents who have been down the road while we were traveling. We also learned that asking questions can sometimes lead to other deeper questions that you might not want to hear and accept. This, too, is part of the journey. As parents, my wife and I want our children to be “in the know,” as some people would say. We would get information and try to break it down for our girls so they can, in turn, know what to ask as they get older to advocate for themselves. My Wife and I tell other parents about beginning their journey: Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Ask as many questions as possible; if you don’t know what to ask, that’s okay for now. Get as much information as you can! The questions will come. You are your child’s BIGGEST advocate and best hope! Your child is looking at you for all the answers! As parents, that is what we do!

BHM: Why is World Sickle Cell Awareness Day important to you? How can awareness improve the lives of those with the disease?

Chris: Sickle Cell Awareness Day is not well-known enough! To this day, we still have people who haven’t heard of Sickle Cell Disease; we all have heard about cancer. Information is the key to understanding, and understanding brings results! In our conversation with Chris, we gained valuable insights into the realities of living with Sickle Cell Disease from a parent’s perspective. If you are a parent out there trying to manage your child’s sickle cell diagnosis, never be afraid to ask too many questions, and remember that you are your child’s biggest advocate. It is okay not to have the answers to everything but to gather as much information as possible.

In recognition of Sickle Cell Awareness Day, let’s put forth a collective effort to support those affected by the disease and promote understanding the disease. With increased awareness, we have a better chance of finding a cure.

The post Guiding His Children Through Life with Sickle Cell: Chris’s Story appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that is the predominant cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities that are serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain, and it accounts for 60% – 80% of all dementia cases.

The flaws in the healthcare system, paired with the most significant risk factors, such as age and a family history of Alzheimer’s, only make things worse when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. According to the special report, the cumulative stress resulting from structural racism and the disparities in social and physical environments within our community may directly contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, this stress exacerbates the existing healthcare disparities that we encounter. It increases our vulnerability to other chronic conditions that themselves serve as risk factors for Alzheimer’s, including conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Ethnic and cultural bias often influences our healthcare experiences, and unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease is not an exception. African Americans tend to receive diagnoses at later stages of the disease; this limits the effectiveness of treatments that rely on early intervention. Additionally, although we are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than our white counterparts, we are still underrepresented in current clinical trials. We represent less than 5% of participants in most new drug and therapy trials, according to the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation. This data highlights the urgent need for change, especially considering genetic variations in drug responses across different races and ethnicities.

As we recognize the disparities affecting our community, we must familiarize ourselves with the signs of this disease. This knowledge can enable us to identify Alzheimer’s in our loved ones and even in ourselves.

The Stages and Symptoms The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes three stages of Alzheimer’s including:

• Early-stage Alzheimer’s (mild).
• Middle-stage Alzheimer’s (moderate).
• Late-stage Alzheimer’s (severe).

Common signs of early-stage Alzheimer’s are:

• Producing the right word or name.
•  Remembering names when introduced to new people.
• Having difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings.
• Forgetting material that was just read.
• Losing or misplacing a valuable object.
• Experiencing increased trouble with planning or organizing.

In this stage, people usually maintain their independence regarding their day-to-day lives, but they may experience memory lapses. Although the symptoms aren’t always apparent, close family and friends can sometimes identify the shift.

Middle-stage Alzheimer’s is usually the longest stage.

It can last for many years. During this time, dementia symptoms are more pronounced as damage to nerve cells in the brain can make it difficult for people to express themselves and perform their typical tasks independently.

In this stage, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Being forgetful of events or personal history.
• Feeling moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations.
• Having trouble recalling information about themselves, like their address or telephone number and the high school or college they attended.
•  Experiencing confusion about where they are or what day it is.
• Requiring help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion.
• Having trouble controlling their bladder and bowels.
• Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night.
• Showing an increased tendency to wander and become lost.
• Demonstrating personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions or compulsive, repetitive behavior like handwringing or tissue shredding.

In the final stage of Alzheimer’s, the dementia symptoms are severe.

People lose their ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation, and, eventually, control movement. They may still say words or phrases, but initiating engagement in the late stage becomes difficult. As their memories and cognitive skills continue to worsen, significant changes can occur in their personalities.

Symptoms include:

• Need for around-the-clock assistance with daily personal care.
• Lose awareness of recent experiences and their surroundings.
• Experience changes in physical abilities, including walking, sitting, and swallowing.
• Have difficulty communicating.
• Become vulnerable to infections, especially pneumonia.

Navigating the Conversation of Alzheimer’s with a Loved One

If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing Alzheimer’s, take the initiative to foster open communication about the topic. Some people in the early stages of dementia can identify their memory lapses, and if approached gently, they may be relieved to talk about it. When talking with your loved one, use your knowledge of their personality and preferences to tailor your approach. Brace yourself for a range of emotions.

While some individuals are relieved to discuss their experiences, others may react with denial or anger. Try to emphasize your concern for the person and refrain from prematurely labeling their symptoms as Alzheimer’s. Instead, encourage them to explore this specific term with a medical professional.

If the individual you’re concerned about has a support system beyond you, consider reaching out to them. Ask if they have noticed any of the concerns you’ve observed. This can help you confirm your judgment and set the initial stages of a solid foundation of support as your loved one navigates this disease.

The post Alzheimer’s: Identifying The Signs & Supporting Your Loved Ones appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Testicular cancer can occur at any age, but it is most common among males aged 20 to 44 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be 9,760 new cases of testicular cancer diagnoses and about 500 deaths from testicular cancer. Although testicular cancer is not common, 1 in every 250 males will develop it at some point in their lifetime.

What is Testicular Cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, testicular cancer is a growth of cells that start in the testicles. The testicles, which are also called testes, are in the scrotum. The scrotum is a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles are responsible for making sperm and the hormone testosterone.

What Are the Symptoms?

The first sign of testicular cancer is often a bump or lump on a testicle. The Mayo Clinic has formulated a list of signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, which includes:

• A lump or swelling in either testicle.
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
• A dull ache in the lower belly or groin.
• Sudden swelling in the scrotum.
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum.
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breast tissue.
• Back pain.

If these symptoms last longer than two weeks, please see your healthcare provider; an early diagnosis is always best.

What Does Your Diagnosis Mean?

The Black community is used to taking the lead in many cancers, but in the case of testicular cancer, white people are at greater risk due to the genetic factors involved in the disease. According to Healthline, white people tend to be four to five times more likely to have testicular cancer than Black or Asian people.

If you are diagnosed with testicular cancer, it is important to know what type of testicular cancer you have. John Hopkins Medicine gave insight into the different types of testicular cancer, including:

* Seminomas.

* Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors (NSGCT).

* Stromal Tumors.

Seminomas are tumors originating in male germ cells. They tend to grow and spread slowly, but some seminomas can grow rapidly. 95% of seminomas are classic, and then there are spermatocytic seminomas, which tend to occur in older men. Seminomas can secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Four main types of NSGCTs can appear alone but often appear mixed, meaning there is more than one type of NSGCT. This includes:

• Embryonal carcinoma is present in about 40 percent of tumors and is among the most rapidly growing and potentially aggressive tumor types. Embryonal carcinoma can secrete HCG or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
• Yolk sac carcinoma is the most common type of tumor in children; it responds well to chemotherapy in children and adults. Yolk sac tumors almost always secrete AFP.
• Choriocarcinoma is a very rare and very aggressive form of testis cancer. It can secrete HCG.
• Teratoma most often appears as a mixed NSGCT. They usually grow locally but can appear in retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Teratoma is chemotherapy- and radiation-resistant and best treated with surgical removal.

Then, there are stromal tumors, which develop from the supportive tissues around the germ cells in the testicle. These tumors are rare as they make up less than 5% of testis cancers, and they have an excellent prognosis if treated surgically. There are two types of stromal tumors including:

• Leydig cell tumors impact the Leydig cells responsible for making testosterone.
• Sertoli cell tumors impact Sertoli cells, which support and nourish the developing sperm.

Tests and Detection of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is usually found because of symptoms that a person is having but it can also be found when tests are done for another condition, according to the American Cancer Society. When going to see a doctor regarding the concern of testicular cancer, the doctor may give you an exam to detect any swelling, lumps, or tenderness. The doctor may also examine your abdomen, lymph nodes, and other parts of your body to look for signs of cancer spread. To better assess your condition, you may also partake in the following procedures:

• Ultrasound of the testicles.
• Blood tests for tumor markers and the secretion of HCG and AFP can be found in the blood; this will signal your doctors to look further into the possibility of cancer.
• Biopsy is a rare method for testicular cancer.
• Scans and imaging tests, including x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans.

Treatment Options

Testicular cancer treatment often involves surgery and chemotherapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Still, your treatment plan is unique to your specific needs, and only your healthcare team can provide you with the best plan.

Some common forms of treatment include:

* Surgery.

* Chemotherapy.

* Radiation therapy.

* Immunotherapy.

Surgery can be conducted to remove the testicle or nearby lymph nodes. Chemotherapy treatment uses strong medicines, either implemented orally or through intravenous injection (IV), to kill cancer cells; this can aid in treating cancer spread as well. Radiation therapy includes the use of special high-energy X-rays that can kill cancer cells and or alter their ability to multiply. Then, there is immunotherapy, a cancer treatment method that uses drugs and vaccines to aid white blood cells in identifying and attacking the cancerous cells. This is sometimes used in advanced testicular cancer cases.

It is essential for you to ask your medical team any questions that you have regarding treatment, as every approach has its risks, advantages, and disadvantages. Also, some doctors may suggest a mixture of treatments; be prepared for this, as your treatment plan will be personalized just for you.

Although there is cause for concern regarding testicular cancer, there is also room for optimism as studies have shown that the average five-year survival rate for Black males with testicular cancer is 88.8%, as reported by VeryWellHealth. So, stay informed, and good health is within reach with the right medical care.

Risk Factors

Genetics are heavily to blame for testicular cancer diagnoses as having a parent with the disease increases your risk by nearly 400%, and having a sibling with the disease increases your risk by more than 800%, according to VeryWellHealth.

There are a few risk factors beyond family genetics that can increase your risk for testicular cancer. These include:

•  Being between the ages of 20 and 34.
• Having an undescended testicle (known as cryptorchidism).
• Having had testicular cancer before.
• Having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Your Medical Team

The type of medical team you have is based on the treatment options you need and the severity of your condition. The American Cancer Society reports that different types of doctors may be on your treatment team, including:

• Urologists: surgeons who specialize in treating diseases of the urinary system.
• Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer by using radiation therapy.
• Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicines like chemotherapy.

Although there is cause for concern regarding testicular cancer, there is also room for optimism as studies have shown that the average five-year survival rate for Black males with testicular cancer is 88.8%, as reported by VeryWellHealth. So, stay informed, and good health is within reach with the right medical care.

The post Understanding Testicular Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Mayo Clinic states that melanoma typically starts on the skin when exposed to the sun. The common areas where melanoma may be found include the following:

• Arms.
• Back.
• Face.
•  Legs.

In some cases, melanoma can develop in the eyes, and although it is rare, it can form inside the body and affect areas such as the nose or throat.

MedicalNewsToday reports that the most common form of melanoma in our community is acral lentiginous melanoma, which has a prevalence of 35-60%. This type of melanoma develops on the soles of the feet and under the nails.

It tends to occur in less visible areas, combined with its ability to blend in with our complexions, exacerbates the rate of late diagnoses and introduces more risk to our community.

What Causes Melanoma?

The exact cause of all melanomas is not determined, although many cases can be linked to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. One of the most common sources of UV radiation is natural sunlight. As we enjoy outdoor activities, we must also prioritize safeguarding our skin with sunscreen and taking precautions against sun exposure.

Healthline reports that DNA damage within melanocytes can trigger the uncontrolled growth of new skin cells. As these cells build up, they can eventually develop into a tumor.

So much remains unsaid regarding the exact causes of melanomas and DNA damage. Many specialists attribute them to genetic and environmental factors.

How to Identify Melanoma on Your Skin

Recognizing the signs of melanoma can be challenging, especially on darker skin. Melanomas may be less noticeable due to their ability to camouflage themselves. These skin cancers can start as new growths or manifest as existing moles or freckles change. Understanding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ABCDE guidelines for melanoma detection can help you achieve an early diagnosis. Be mindful of any changes in your skin, as this is the most common sign of skin cancer. Whether it is a new growth, a sore that won’t heal, or a change in a mole, don’t hesitate to bring it up to your doctor.

For melanoma specifically, try to remember this list of warning signs:

A. Asymmetrical: Does the mole or spot have an irregular shape with two parts that look very different?

B. Border: Is the border irregular or jagged?

C. Color: Is the color uneven?

D. Diameter: Is the mole or spot more significant than the size of a pea?

E. Evolving: Has the mole or spot changed during the past few weeks or months?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, consider visiting your healthcare provider to be safe.

The Stages & Diagnosis

Healthline points out that melanomas consist of the following stages:

• Stage 0 (Melanoma in situ): The melanoma is only in the epidermis, the top layer of skin.
• Stage I: Low-risk primary melanoma with no evidence of spread. This stage is curable with surgery.
• Stage II: Features indicate a higher risk of recurrence, but there is no evidence that cancer has spread to other organs.
• Stage III: The melanoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes or nearby skin.
•  Stage IV: The melanoma has spread to more distant lymph nodes or skin or has spread to internal organs.

The first step toward diagnosing melanoma is a physical examination of the skin. Your doctor will carefully check for markings or moles on your skin that may suggest the presence of cancerous cells. In addition to examining the common areas associated with melanoma, they may also assess other regions such as the:

• Palms.
• Scalp.
• Feet, including your soles and between toes.
• Genitals.
• Buttocks.
• Eyes.
• Mouth.

To reach a diagnosis, your doctor may also use several tests, such as the following:

Computed tomography (CT): CT scans use potent X-rays to get detailed images of where cancer may have spread.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRIs use magnets, radio waves, and an injected substance called gadolinium to get highly detailed, cross-sectional images of your body to find where cancerous cells have spread.

Positron emission tomography (PET): PET Scans involve injecting radioactive glucose that is tracked by a scanner. This helps doctors detect areas of high chemical activity in your body where diseased or cancerous tissue might be present. When doctors suspect that a mole might be cancerous, they may recommend a biopsy. During this procedure, a skin sample is removed and sent to a laboratory for testing to detect the presence of melanoma cells. If the doctor believes that melanoma has spread, they might suggest a lymph node biopsy. This involves taking a tissue sample from nearby lymph nodes, often with an injection of dye near the tumor site. These procedures can be vital for diagnosing and staging melanoma.

Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, you will most likely be working with dermatologists as well as surgical and medical oncologists. Your treatment depends on the stage of your cancer and your unique health needs. It can be helpful to know the treatment options out there. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, some of the most common forms of treatment include:

• The surgical removal of the melanoma.
• Immunotherapy: it boosts the body’s ability to fight melanoma and other cancers by using synthetic versions of natural immune system proteins or by enabling the release of cells that attack tumors.
• Targeted therapy: uses drugs and other agents to attack melanoma by inhibiting the action of defective genes and molecules.
• Chemotherapy: a systemic approach to stopping tumor growth using certain medicines that kill or stop cancer cells from multiplying.
• Radiation: a localized treatment that directs high-energy X-ray beams to penetrate and destroy the tumors or keep them from growing.

Ask Questions

Although Black Americans don’t lead in melanoma diagnoses, we have a 26% higher risk of death from melanoma than white Americans, as reported by Northwell Health. Given the rarity of melanoma in our community, both healthcare professionals and the broader medical community may overlook the possibility of skin cancer or lack experience in identifying melanoma on our skin. Therefore, we need to monitor our skin and proactively engage with our doctors by asking questions such as:

• How far has the melanoma spread within or beneath the skin?
• Has the melanoma spread to other parts of my body?
• What kinds of tests will I need before we can decide on treatment?
• Will I need to see any other types of doctors?
• What type or subtype of melanoma do I have?
• If I’m concerned about the costs and insurance coverage for my diagnosis and treatment, who can help me?

The best type of diagnosis is an early one. We highly recommend prioritizing regular skin checks, communicating with your doctors, and practicing sun safety.

The post What is Melanoma? (Yes, We Can Get Skin Cancer Too) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In our pursuit of more clarity, we turned to a trusted expert in the field, Dr. Eboni January, a board-certified obstetric gynecologist deeply committed to women’s health and education.

BHM: Why are Black women disproportionately affected by late diagnoses of uterine and endometrial cancer, and what can be done to address this issue?

Dr. January: Black women are disproportionately affected by late diagnoses of uterine and endometrial cancer due to disparities in healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and implicit biases in the medical system. Studies have shown that Black women are less likely to undergo regular gynecological exams and may experience delays in diagnostic testing and treatment initiation. To address this issue, we need to increase awareness and education about uterine cancer within Black communities, improve access to healthcare, and train healthcare providers in cultural competency to reduce these disparities.

Black women may face longer wait times for appointments, fewer referrals to specialists, and inadequate follow-up care.

Addressing these disparities requires systemic changes, such as expanding healthcare access, improving provider education on implicit biases, and fostering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive healthcare environment.

BHM: What are the most common symptoms of uterine and endometrial cancer that Black women should be aware of, and why might healthcare providers overlook these symptoms?

Dr. January: The most common symptoms of uterine and endometrial cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and unexplained weight loss. Healthcare providers can sometimes overlook these symptoms due to implicit biases and a tendency to attribute them to benign conditions, especially in Black women. Both patients and providers need to recognize the significance of these symptoms and advocate for thorough evaluations to help in early detection.

BHM: How can tools be improved to ensure better detection rates?

Dr. January: Currently, there is no specific screening tool for endometrial cancer, but tools like transvaginal ultrasound and endometrial biopsy are used for diagnosis when symptoms such as vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain are present. To improve detection rates, we need to develop more sensitive diagnostic methods, incorporate genetic and molecular markers, and ensure regular follow-ups and patient education occur. Research into tailored screening protocols that consider racial and genetic differences can also be beneficial.

BHM: How important is the patient-doctor communication in early detection of uterine/endometrial cancer, and what steps can be taken to improve this for Black women?

Dr. January: Effective patient-doctor communication is crucial for early uterine and endometrial cancer detection. As healthcare providers, we must ensure patients feel comfortable coming to us. We should understand that although patients are adults, we are the experts, and consideration of the social determinants of health is crucial. Improving this includes training healthcare providers in cultural competency, encouraging open and respectful dialogue, and ensuring patients feel heard and understood. Providing patient education materials that are culturally relevant and accessible can also enhance communication and early detection efforts.

BHM: Considering that obesity and diabetes are known risk factors for uterine cancer, how can awareness and management of this risk be better communicated and managed in our community?

Dr. January: Obesity and diabetes are significant risk factors for endometrial cancer, as they can lead to hormonal imbalances and chronic inflammation, which may promote cancer development. Black women have higher rates of obesity and diabetes, contributing to an increased incidence of endometrial cancer. Addressing these risk factors through lifestyle interventions, preventive care, and targeted education is essential for reducing cancer risk.

2015 I developed a text weight loss coaching program in response to my patients. Working with the underserved community, I found uterine cancer in women under the age of 45 who had excess weight. Due to the lack of a screening tool like we have for cervical cancer, I decided to help prevent it through weight loss and preventive health measures. Awareness and management of obesity as a risk factor for uterine cancer can be improved through targeted community outreach programs, culturally sensitive health education, and accessible weight management resources. Healthcare providers should engage with community leaders and organizations to disseminate information and support lifestyle interventions that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

BHM: What are the main factors contributing to the higher mortality rates of uterine and endometrial cancer among Black women compared to other demographics?

Dr. January: Higher mortality rates among Black women are attributed to factors such as later stage at diagnosis, less access to high-quality care, and potential biological differences in tumor behavior. Socioeconomic disparities and implicit biases in treatment recommendations also play significant roles. Improving access to timely and high-quality care, addressing socioeconomic barriers, and conducting research on tumor biology specific to Black women can help reduce these mortality rates.

BHM: Why is it important for Black women to participate in clinical trials and genetic research related to uterine cancer?

Dr. January: Participation in clinical trials and genetic research is vital to ensure that findings apply to diverse populations. It helps in understanding how uterine cancer affects Black women specifically and can lead to the development of tailored treatments and interventions. Encouraging participation requires researchers like myself to build trust, address historical mistrust, and ensure that trials are accessible and inclusive.

The battle against uterine and endometrial cancer in our community is complex; we face unique challenges when it comes to diagnoses and the specific types of cancer we encounter. Let’s continue to raise awareness about what we need to decrease our mortality rates. Every step we take towards more awareness, prevention, and early detection holds the potential to save lives. For all those reasons, we must keep this conversation going and push it beyond our recognition into active engagement to ensure change is documented.

The post Endometrial & Uterine Cancer: Combating Black Women’s Rising Rates appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: How can mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or relaxation techniques benefit lupus patients? How can they implement these things into their lives?

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Mind-body techniques such as practicing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation can help with symptom management and overall well-being. Many patients with lupus may have been told that stress can exacerbate lupus symptoms. However, their doctors may not have discussed steps to reduce stress or the stress response. Regular meditation, yoga, and mindfulness help to improve mood, fatigue, and mental clarity, as well as lower cortisol and other stress hormones that lead to an inflammatory cascade in the body. It may also help reduce pain by reducing inflammation and how patients perceive pain, lowering the need for pain medication.

I like to have my patients start with small goals and lower expectations when beginning, considering that mind-body techniques are a practice. Starting with just 5-10 minutes daily will yield many positive benefits. With regular daily practice, you may be able to increase the time spent…or not. Either way is ok. The key is to be consistent with what can fit into your lifestyle and not feel like it is a burden or another task on your list of things to do.

BHM: What lifestyle modifications can lupus patients adopt to support their overall well-being? Regarding stress reduction techniques, exercise, and getting adequate rest.

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Everyone, including patients with lupus, would benefit from lifestyle modifications that intentionally prevent or reduce inflammation and stress. This includes getting adequate sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene, removing toxins as much as possible, such as smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs, processed foods, and harmful chemicals, regular exercise, and eating a plant-predominant, whole foods diet.

BHM: What complementary therapies may be helpful for lupus patients?

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: Biofeedback, aquatic therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture may be helpful adjuvant therapies for pain control and relaxation.

BHM: What should lupus patients know when looking for herbs or supplements to support their immune health?

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: When it comes to herbs and supplements, patients with lupus should always talk to their primary care doctor, their rheumatologist, or an Integrative Medicine doctor before starting any new regimens given possible interactions with medications or the potential to exacerbate the disease process. Many people believe that just because something is “natural” means it is safe for everyone to take, and unfortunately, this is not the case. It is always best to consult someone familiar with your medications, specific diseases, and the risks and benefits of specific herbs and supplements.

BHM: Are there specific dietary or lifestyle recommendations or restrictions to help manage inflammation and support immune health in lupus patients?

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: YES! An anti-inflammatory diet is essential in managing inflammation, the immune system, and overall health. We now have a lot of data on foods that are pro-inflammatory, foods that damage the gut and weaken the immune system and foods that are nourishing and help repair the body. We generally want a plant-predominant diet, mainly from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. These are the foods that provide most of our nutrients and antioxidants. We also want to avoid or limit pro-inflammatory foods such as processed sugars, convenience foods (packed or fast foods), and animal products. There are many resources online and cookbooks to learn how to eat an anti-inflammatory diet.

It must be said, however, that when beginning the healing journey, some patients may find benefit in working with an Integrative Medicine provider and explore more restrictive diets such as Paleo, Autoimmune Paleo Protocol (AIP), or other elimination diets that may be more helpful and tailored to the specific person and their gut health and nutrition needs.

BHM: Do you know of any resources or classes available for patients to learn stress-reduction techniques?

Dr. Sydne Ford-Norton: There is an 8-week group training program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that is helpful for people living with stress and chronic diseases. It has been validated by studies and shown to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress and improve sleep and chronic pain levels. Classes may be found in person and online and are put on by organizations throughout the USA.

So, there you have it! Taking steps to manage your lupus at home is not only possible, but it can be empowering as well. If our interview with Dr. Ford-Norton piqued your interest, we encourage you to delve deeper into this approach. Take a moment to explore the topics that resonate with you, discuss your thoughts with your healthcare providers, and most importantly, don’t give up on finding a health management strategy that aligns with your unique needs.

The post Lupus Management With Holistic & Integrative Medicine (What You Should Know) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Initially, clutter may appear innocuous; we might justify it as piles of items we’ll eventually address. Over time, clutter can slowly impact our mental and emotional well-being, disrupting the balance we seek in our pursuit of productivity and wellness.

When we speak of movement hindrance, it extends beyond our physical ability to walk freely and enjoy our spaces; it also pertains to cognitive functioning, impacting our ability to focus and process information efficiently.

Identifying Your Clutter

Usually, clutter accumulates because we attach various meanings to our possessions, providing us with reasons to keep them. Navigating the fog of memories and sentimental origins during decluttering can be challenging. Fortunately, VeryWellMind has curated a list of questions you can ask yourself to self-diagnose and determine whether you require thorough decluttering. Take a look at the following questions:

• Do you own anything you never use or no longer need, like clothes that don’t fit or old electronic devices?
• Do you have a “junk drawer” of things you think you’ll need but never use? e
• Do you buy new items to replace lost ones in your house?
• Do you lack access to specific spaces in your home (i.e., you can’t open the door to your basement or park in your garage)?
• Are you afraid to have houseguests over because of the messy state of your home?

If you agree with any of the questions above, you probably have some clutter in your home, but don’t worry; we’ll discuss a few approaches to decluttering.

How to Declutter

Before you begin tackling your clutter, it is essential to remember that it may not be easy. The idea of getting rid of a ton of items usually goes smoothly when it is theoretical, but once you are sitting down and weighing out the sentimental value of a pile of t-shirts, it can be much harder to have helpful discernment. The first piece of advice would be to give yourself grace and be patient; depending on your clutter level, it may not be solved within one day.

Along with being patient, try to be realistic. Setting aside enough time to go through your belongings is necessary. You may dedicate an entire weekend to minimizing your clutter or find more peace in doing half-hour increments over an extended period. Find the time recipe that works best for you.

According to Psychology Today, when decluttering, starting small is best. Give yourself manageable goals, such as tackling one pile of clothes or a messy drawer. When you complete that task, allow yourself to feel proud and approach a new task during your next decluttering session. Another helpful tip is to ask for help. Although bringing someone into your messy space may be nerve-wracking, don’t hesitate to lean on your friends, family, or professionals to help. Sometimes, an outsider’s perspective can help you to detach from possessions that no longer serve you.

If you are struggling with parting with specific mementos, embrace the beauty of technology and snap a photo. At times, we have an abundance of items that we love but cannot afford to store. Taking a picture of the items allows you to keep them while freeing up some physical space. It can also be helpful to decide what you will do with your unwanted items. You may consider donating your items to people needing them or giving them to a thrift store. If you are interested, look up shelters or donation centers in your area to find a place that aligns with your values. Decluttering is about more than freeing up physical space; it also allows you to help others.

As we know, decluttering is a process, and some may say it is a skill that can be sharpened. Just as you may crack open a cookbook to strengthen your knowledge of a baking recipe, consider learning about decluttering.

There is so much media on decluttering regarding different organization methods, maintaining an organized space, and even shopping and purchasing with excellent and thorough intent. Just as decorating your house is a unique and personal experience, decluttering and the emotions attached to it are similar. Whether it be a book, podcast, article, or YouTube video, spend some time to find the method and approach that resonates with you the most.

One approach is the three piles method, which the New York Times mentioned. Based on the area you are decluttering, create three piles: a keep pile, a donate pile, and a discard pile. When you analyze your items, go with your gut, the initial assessment and response. For instance, if you pick up a pair of jeans and immediately think, “These are nice, but I’ll never wear them again,” toss those into the donate pile so someone else can enjoy them. Focusing on that initial thought can take you very far when deciding on the fate of your items.

Yes, Clutter Can Disrupt Your Wellness

If you are still a little wary of the importance of decluttering your space, let’s explore clutter’s impact on our wellness. Yes, it is true. Clutter impacts our mental health more than we may notice. As reported by VeryWellMind, some ways that clutter can disrupt our lives include:

• Increased stress levels.
• Difficulty focusing.
• Procrastination.
• Difficulty with relationships regarding shared space.
• Lower quality of life.

When you are in your home, you should be able to relax and be in a place of comfort, but unfortunately, clutter can manipulate that experience. According to a review by Stanford University, a study of 32 families found a link between high cortisol, the stress hormone, levels of women with a high density of household objects.

Clutter can create chaos when you are subconsciously or consciously unsettled in your home. It can disrupt your entire approach to life. If your kitchen is always messy, you may opt to order out instead of embracing healthier options that can be cooked at home. Family members sharing the same space may experience tension due to sensitivities toward disorder. Procrastination may happen as you aren’t excited to work on a project at a messy desk. Over time, clutter can lessen your quality of life as it attacks different facets of your wellness and weakens your focus as you may lose your sense of purpose. Being overstimulated by your space can significantly impact your health and productivity as your mind struggles to absorb the presence of clutter and the objectives of your day-to-day life.

Clearing your clutter allows you to regain mental clarity and stay on track with your goals.

Enlist Professional Help If You Need It

We’ve mentioned reaching out for help from a professional who is skilled in organizing, but it is also okay to seek psychological help regarding clutter. If clearing your home of clutter is extremely difficult and taxing on your mental and emotional well-being and your interpersonal relationships, consider the possibility of seeking help from a mental health professional. There is nothing wrong with needing someone with mental health expertise to guide you through those feelings, as your clutter may be a sign of something deeper that needs healing. A mental health professional can help you identify the severity of what you are experiencing and equip you with healthy coping mechanisms to navigate the emotions you feel regarding decluttering.

The post Declutter Your Space To Improve Mental Clarity appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jasmine to explore the roots of her advocacy and the pivotal moments that led to the creation of the summit.

BHM: What led you to become an advocate for HS?

Jasmine Espy: I was diagnosed with HS when I was 13. So, dealing with HS at such a young age and at that time, not having many resources for treatment, physicians, knowledge surrounding HS, how it would progress, and what it would look like on my skin as a Black woman, really led me to want to be an advocate. I realized there were people like me, young or well into their journeys with HS, who also didn’t have the same resources. My advocacy came from wanting to provide the community with information that they were missing and to heal my inner child because dealing with something like HS, especially dealing with the most extreme symptoms of HS, I know all too well what isolation, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and shame for my body feels like. I didn’t want anyone else in the community or anyone else who has HS or thinks they have HS to also deal with that as well. That’s what led me to become an advocate.

BHM: How did your personal experience with HS shape your perspective on life and health?

JE: My personal experience shaped my whole journey with HS, being an advocate and being a nonprofit founder, everything that I do for HS and my journey has shaped it. I came from a privileged space as my parents had great healthcare when I was growing up. I experienced delays and gaps, but I also had access to healthcare, which is something that can be uncommon for patients dealing with HS. In my journey, I had great healthcare, but I still was misdiagnosed.

I went to my physicians and told them about the symptoms that I was experiencing, and they told me that I had MRSA. Around the age of 14, they even told me that I had a rare blood disorder and that I was going to die potentially. Feeling the weight of those diagnoses really impacted my journey at that young age because I was already dealing with so many health issues and having so many issues interacting with my peers—dealing with bullying and feeling isolated. That deepened my feelings of insecurity, isolation, and feeling like I was disconnected from my body and community.

I was rushed into surgeries and didn’t have the best results or even find an HS specialist who could help me. All these different parallels that I experienced have really influenced my desire to provide people living with HS, their caregivers, and supporters in the community with information on what it is like to live with HS and to provide them with tips to navigate the journey.

My journey heavily influences how I show up because I believe my experience is not an anomaly. It is very common in the community. There may be some nuanced things because everyone who deals with HS has a different experience. I would like to describe HS patients as snowflakes, we can look at the geometric patterns of snowflakes and each one of those patterns are different, HS patients mirror that. We have similarities, and we have differences, and I really want to use my experience and also the experiences that I hear from other patients to help shape the work that I do and how we influence the community not only through my advocacy work as an individual living with HS but as a nonprofit that is disseminating information for people who are living with HS.

BHM: Can you tell us more about your documentary, “My Gold Lining: A Documentary on Hidradenitis Suppurativa?” What inspired you to create it, and what impact do you want it to have?

JE: This documentary is something that I created in grad school at the University of Southern California. I graduated from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 2019. For our master’s thesis, we had to create some form of media to present. I decided to do a documentary on HS for Black women. At that time, some Black women were talking about their experiences online, like on YouTube and some on Instagram, but there wasn’t a lot of information, and the information that was available online was in a very sterile manner. We were numbers in a system rather than people with faces, experiences, feelings, and perspectives. Because I have a background in multimedia journalism, I was a journalist for over a decade. I wanted to use my connections and experience in storytelling to hone in on this community and to use it to tell my story and other Black women’s stories.

One of my inspirations was “Unrest” by Jennifer Brea; she is a woman living with multiple sclerosis (MS). She created a documentary from her perspective but then brought in other community members and people experiencing MS; she was the inspiration behind the structure of my documentary. The documentary is more artistic because we used the metaphor of Kintsugi, a Japanese pottery repair technique, to explain HS’s impact. Our goal is to create this documentary for it to be an education piece for the community but also for physicians and medical students. We want to create a curriculum behind this documentary to use it as a tool for medical students to learn more about Black people’s experiences living with HS and potentially help influence how they treat HS patients moving forward. We really want to change the way physicians interact within the Black community so that we can subsequently close these diagnosis gaps and the mistreatment of Black people in the medical system.

BHM: When can people expect to see the documentary available for streaming?

JE: I want to utilize some streaming services open to independent filmmakers now. One of our goals is to really figure out how we can disseminate this in medical schools first and then we want to release it to the public. You’ll be able to see it in 2025 definitely.

Next, Jasmine discussed her upcoming summit that will be centered on making HS research and wellness accessible, digestible, and engaging.

BHM: How did the idea for the I Reclaim__ Summit come about? What motivated you to create a platform specifically for HS awareness and advocacy?

JE: To be honest, it’s actually a derivative of the documentary. We premiered the documentary at Sony Pictures Entertainment because I’m a Sony Pictures Entertainment fellow. I was an intern at Sony for a while and because of my connections, I was able to do a screening of my documentary on the lot. After that, I got all these connections, and all these people came to me just to become more of an advocate. At the time, advocating for HS was very minimal. The pandemic hit as I was talking to different foundations and seeing how I could show this to physicians and medical schools. All those conversations went to the back burner, and everyone was at a standstill.

In 2020, I had to really think about what I wanted to do to continue impacting the community. I noticed there were conferences and summits for physicians, teaching them about HS and discussing research and treatment options. I realized patients, caregivers, and supporters needed this. They could learn about HS, talk about their experiences, and learn directly from the physicians they would potentially see. So, when I recognized that gap, I knew I was clearly the person to fill the gap. I started using the connections that I had cultivated from my documentary. We went from a virtual summit to an in-person event that has experienced tremendous growth.

BHM: What topics will be covered during the I Reclaim__ Summit? Are there specific sessions or workshops that attendees can look forward to?

JE: We will have a session discussing the new research on HS and a live demonstration on how to care for HS wounds, which our community doesn’t get when they go to dermatologists, especially for pre and post-op surgeries. One of my favorite days I’m excited about is Influencer Day. This day is all about partnering with the individuals who have had amazing, strong voices on social media, especially TikTok. One of the last sessions I’m excited about is our makeover session. We’re giving away two makeovers to two patients. We’re doing a round-trip flight for these individuals, putting them up in a hotel, and giving them a complete transformation. People with HS often have issues dealing with mental health. Subsequently, our self-care journeys are impacted, and because of that, we want to provide a space to pour back into people in the community.

The I Reclaim Summit will be held June 6-8, 2024, in Detroit, MI. Click here for more information..

The post Meet Jasmine “Ivanna” Espy: An Advocate That Is Shaping the Future of HS appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Your Medical Team and Support Factors

If you are considering advanced cancer treatment, you will need a team of specialists who can collaborate to provide you with the proper support. According to the American Cancer Society, there are many professionals that you may encounter, some of them include the following:

Oncologists can include medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists who diagnose and treat cancer.

*Oncology nurses can administer treatments, monitor side effects, and help to educate you regarding your condition.

Patient or nurse navigator: this person can guide you and your family through complex medical systems and help you work with the rest of the cancer care team to overcome barriers to care that may come up so that you can successfully complete your treatment.

Palliative care specialists can include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who work together to manage symptoms, such as pain, nausea, or fatigue. Palliative care teams can and often work alongside cancer care teams to help manage side effects during and after cancer treatment. These teams are often used to help patients during any stage of cancer, from diagnosis through treatment to the end of life.

Also, it can be helpful to welcome the expertise of social workers, psychologists, and rehabilitation experts. Cancer does not solely impact your body; it also affects your mental health. As cancer patients navigate the disruptions caused by cancer and the alterations in their reality, things like depression and anxiety can begin to surface. You need to know that based on all that you are enduring, ripples in your mental health are normal, but to begin mending them. You should seek help from professionals as well as find support in groups or with your loved ones.

Support programs come in various forms, and you may find comfort in one-on-one sessions or group counseling and support groups. Even if you do not like the idea of support groups, it is worth considering. Talking with others who can truly relate to your situation can help to alleviate some of the loneliness you may be feeling, you can speak to people who have first-hand experience with similar emotions and challenges. To learn more about this option, you may want to ask those who are on your palliative care team for more information. The American Cancer Society also has some in-person and online group support resources.

Understanding Your Treatment Options

Treatment choices for advanced cancers depend on the type of cancer, where the cancer started, and how much it has spread into the area around it, as stated by the American Cancer Society. In general, metastatic cancer will need treatment that reaches all parts of the body, including:

• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Hormone therapy

Surgery and radiation therapy only treat a certain part of the body but can help prevent or relieve certain symptoms. You may be suggested to partake in clinical trials. Overall, treating advanced cancer is complex, and your medical team may use a combination of approaches to treat you.

When treating advanced cancer, the goal is to give you the best quality of life so that you can feel as good as you can for as long as possible. You need to communicate effectively with your healthcare team so they can understand what you want from when you have left and those goals can be addressed best. For instance, you may want to focus on shrinking the cancer, slowing its growth, or relieving your symptoms. You have the right to decide what you want for your future, and this could even include the decision to stop treatment. You must make the best decision for you, which can be hard.

It can also be helpful to get your personal affairs in order. Advanced cancer is not an immediate death sentence. In many cases, the cancer can be managed for years. Still, it is important to know what you want to occur when you are no longer here and to prepare for that possibility in all aspects. This could mean organizing your important documents and figuring out insurance policies, or this could include talking with a therapist to help you and your family digest the possibilities involved in your condition. Find out what being prepared means to you and try your best to take the steps toward it.

Things You Can Practice to Help You Through This Journey

Learn as much as possible about your condition; this can help you ask your medical team informed questions.

* Utilize a palliative health team, and don’t neglect the importance of your mental health.

* Find ways to lower your stress levels through a hobby or meditation, and find pockets of time to decompress.

* Seek support in groups or through counseling.

* Candidly share your healthcare wishes with your medical team and your family.

Living with advanced cancer is a deeply personal journey, unique to everyone. Discover what strategies work best for you, and know that you are not walking this path alone. There are many resources and people ready to support you.

Stay optimistic and continue living your life with purpose because you truly matter.

The post Advanced Cancer Treatments: What You Should Know appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What is a Cancer Recurrence?

According to the American Cancer Society, in some cases, cancer can come back after treatment. When this happens, it is called cancer recurrence. The cancer can come back in the same place it started, or it may come back somewhere else in the body. When the cancer comes back in a new part of the body, it is still named after the part of the body where it originally started.

Where Does Cancer Recur?

Your cancer may recur in the same place it originally started, or it can move to various parts of your body. The American Cancer Society states that recurrence is divided into three categories, this includes:

• Local recurrence is when the cancer reappears in the same place it was found or is remarkably close by. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or other body parts.
• Regional recurrence occurs in the lymph nodes and tissue near your original cancer. * Distant recurrence refers to cancer that has spread to areas farther away from where your cancer was first located. This is called metastatic cancer.

Let’s take a moment to learn more about metastatic cancer. If you happen to hear the word “metastasis” in conversation as your healthcare providers explain your condition, you may wonder what this word means and how it can impact your healing journey.

What is Metastatic Cancer?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, metastasis occurs when cancer spreads to other areas of your body beyond the place where it originally started. Nearly all cancers have the potential to metastasize, but the predictability of this occurrence heavily relies on factors such as the type, size, and location of the primary tumor. The Cleveland Clinic has provided a concise list of other names for metastatic cancer that you may hear.

This includes:

* Stage IV (4) cancer.

* Secondary cancer.

* Cancer with Mets or Mets cancer

How Does Cancer Spread?

As stated by the National Cancer Institute, cancer can spread in a few ways, including:

• Growing into, or invading, nearby normal tissue.
• Moving through the walls of nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels.
• Traveling through the lymphatic system and bloodstream to other body parts.
• Stopping in small blood vessels at a distant location invades the blood vessel walls and moves into the surrounding tissue.
• Growing in this tissue until a tiny tumor forms.
• This causes new blood vessels to grow, creating a blood supply that allows the metastatic tumor to grow.

Are Specific Cancers More Likely to Metastasize?

Cancer can spread to almost any part of the body, but different types of cancer are more likely to spread to certain areas than others. With the exclusion of lymph nodes, the National Cancer Institute has provided a list of cancers and areas prone to metastasis, this includes the following:

•  Bladder cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, bones, and lungs.
• Breast cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, brain, bones, and lungs.
• Colon cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, peritoneum, and lungs.
• Kidney cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, brain, adrenal gland, bones, and lungs.
• Lung cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, brain, adrenal gland, bones, and lungs.
• Melanoma cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, skin, muscle, liver, brain, lungs, and bones.
• Ovarian cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, peritoneum, and lungs.
• Pancreatic cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, peritoneum, and lungs.
• Prostate cancer is prone to spreading to the adrenal gland, liver, bones, and lungs.
•  Rectal cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, peritoneum, and lungs.
• Stomach cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, bones, and lungs.
•  Thyroid cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, bones, and lungs.
• Uterine cancer is prone to spreading to the liver, peritoneum, vagina, bones, and lungs.

According to this list, cancer cancer most often spreads to the liver, bones, and lungs.

Although the list seems repetitive, we urge you to take a look. You may recognize your diagnosis, which can better prepare you to manage your health.

What Are the Symptoms of Metastasis

Now that you know the areas where cancer is most likely to spread, you may be wondering how you can identify metastasis or if there are any symptoms to look out for. As stated by Healthline, metastatic cancer does not always present itself with symptoms, but when it does occur, you may experience a few things, including the following:

• Bone: pain, easily fractured bones
• Brain: headache, dizziness, vision problems, seizures
• Lung: shortness of breath, cough, chest pain
• Liver: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), bloating, abdominal pain. ]

If your cancer comes back, you may also hear the word “advanced” used to describe your condition. If you are told that your cancer is advanced, it is important to find out exactly what your doctor means. Some healthcare providers use advanced to describe metastatic cancer, and others use it to describe other situations. Understanding what your doctor means is vital, as all metastatic cancers are not advanced.

What is advanced cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, the term ‘advanced cancer’ is commonly used to describe cancers that cannot be cured. These cancers do not completely disappear and remain present despite treatment efforts. However, certain types of advanced cancer can be managed over an extended period and are thought of as ongoing or chronic illnesses.

Advanced cancer can be locally advanced or metastatic.

Locally advanced means that the cancer has grown outside of the body part it started in but has not yet spread to other parts of the body, according to the American Cancer Society. On the other hand, metastatic cancers are characterized by their ability to spread from where they started, but they are often only considered advanced when they cannot be cured or controlled with treatment.

If you are told that your cancer is advanced, you are faced with many decisions about your health, including the route that you would like to take regarding your medical team and care.

The post What if Your Cancer Comes Back? What You Should Know About Advanced Cancer & Metastasis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We decided to dive into the topic of whole-body deodorants and get professional guidance to help you determine if it is worth trying. We turned to a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, Dr. Brooke A. Jackson, for insight into whole-body deodorants.

BHM: On a molecular level, how do whole-body deodorants work?

Dr. Jackson: Let’s discuss deodorant versus antiperspirant. Deodorants minimize odor through antibacterial properties and fragrance of some sort. Antiperspirants reduce sweat and odor. Often, chemicals such as aluminum are used to minimize sweat. Aluminum salts dissolve on your skin, blocking your pores from secreting sweat.

Over the past few years there has been some concern over the use of aluminum in antiperspirants as a potential link to cancer.

Because aluminum prevents you from sweating, some proponents of aluminum-free products believe that the action of aluminum-containing products that prevent you from sweating out toxins could eventually lead to cancer. Scientific evidence to support this claim is lacking.

According to the American Cancer Society, no clear link between antiperspirants and breast cancer has been established, and breast cancer tissue has not been proven to contain higher concentrations of aluminum. Toxins are excreted from the body through the liver and the kidneys, not through sweat.

BHM: Are whole-body deodorants safe?

Dr. Jackson: Generally, yes, let’s drill down on that. Most whole-body deodorants do not contain aluminum. However, they contain potential irritants such as fragrance, alcohol, and astringents, which change the skin’s pH, making it less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria. Patients who have eczema or sensitive skin may find these products problematic. While aluminum absorption is minimal, the effect of whole-body aluminum-containing products has not been studied.

BHM: Can whole-body deodorant be used everywhere?

Dr. Jackson: Theoretically, yes, but practically, why would you need to? These products are not intended to be body lotions. The use should be limited to those areas on your body prone to odor or excessive sweat. These products are for external use only.

BHM: Are there any potential side effects of whole-body deodorants? If so, how can people reduce them?

Dr. Jackson: Alcohol, astringents, and fragrance can be issues. Approach with caution if you have sensitive skin

BHM: In your experience, are natural whole-body deodorants safer or more effective than their counterparts?

Dr. Jackson: natural deodorants often contain botanicals and fragrances, which can also be irritating.

BHM: Do you have any product recommendations for whole-body deodorants?

Dr. Jackson: Wear breathable wicking fabrics such as Coolmax, dri-fit, and Under Armor. Try going commando at night and maintain a healthy weight, as moisture, sweat, and bacteria tend to be more of an issue in those who are overweight.

If you are considering trying this new hygiene trend, look into our list of the top 3 whole-body deodorants.

1. Dove is our first choice as it promises freshness for up to 72 hours and prioritizes odor control and skin health. This whole-body deodorant can go beyond your underarms and even alleviate chafing. Infused with shea butter and vitamins B3 and E and coming in at $11 -$13 1Dove’s unscented whole-body deodorant could be perfect for you.

2. Lume is another versatile product for odor control, as it also guarantees 72 hours of protection. Depending on the type of formula, it can be found for $20 or below; we suggest the unscented formula as it is free from essential oils and fragrance oils and fully embraces the aspects of its natural ingredients.

3. Next up, we have Native. This brand is quite famous for bringing natural alternatives to the deodorant aisles, but now, they have also joined the whole-body deodorant market. According to their website, their unscented whole-body deodorant is clinically proven to provide 72 hours of protection. It is also made without aluminum, parabens, baking soda, or talc. For $13, you can give Native a try.

The post Are Whole Body Deodorants Worth Trying? appeared first on Black Health Matters.