Topic: Health Disparities
Genetic Risk Isn’t Destiny for Black Americans. It’s a Target.
There is an understandable fear in medicine about linking genetics to the health of Black Americans. The worry goes like this: if we say Black people have an inherited risk for a disease, someone will conclude, “Well, that’s just how…
Black Women Are Three Times More Likely to Die During Pregnancy. Why?
In 2024, Black women in the United States died during pregnancy or within six weeks after at a rate of 44.8 per 100,000 live births. For White women, the rate was 14.2. That is about 3.2 times higher, and the…
African Americans and Mental Health: Lower Rates, Worse Outcomes
The Black mental health paradox By and large, African Americans report fewer depression and anxiety disorders than White Americans in national surveys. In the National Survey of American Life, about 10% of African Americans had experienced major depression in their…
“Air Hits the Cancer and Spreads It”- A Dangerous Myth That Is Costing Black Lives
I have heard it in my office, in barbershops, and at family reunions. A patient gets a concerning lump or an abnormal scan result. Their doctor recommends a biopsy. And someone in the room — a cousin, a neighbor, an…
Why Do Health Disparities Exist If Race Is a Social Construct?
For years, we’ve heard a well-intentioned statement repeated in medicine and academia: “Race is a social construct.” At a high level, that statement is true. The genetic differences between humans are small—any two people’s DNA is about 99.6% identical.[1] But…
Lipoprotein(a): The Hidden Heart Risk That Hits Black Americans Hardest
A New Cholesterol Problem? When we talk about cholesterol and heart disease, most people have heard about LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and HDL ("good" cholesterol). But there is another cholesterol-related particle that deserves serious attention — especially in the Black community…
New Year’s Resolutions For Black Health: Give Your Family the Information it Needs
Every year people across the country think of the new year as a new beginning, particularly for their health. Many of my patients take the same approach. “I'll stop smoking at the beginning of the year,” or “I'm going to…
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and African American Health: What It Does and Who Needs More
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and African American health Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, helps the body turn food into energy. It is also needed to activate other B vitamins, including vitamin B6 and folate, and it supports healthy skin, eyes, nerves,…
Probiotics and African American Health: What Your Gut Bacteria Say About Your Risk
Probiotics and African American health Probiotics are everywhere, from yogurt aisles to supplement shelves. They may help digestion, and researchers are finding that the bacteria living in our gut may influence the risk of colon cancer, a disease that hits…
Statin Intolerance in African Americans: Why It Happens and What Helps
When my patients have high cholesterol levels, I frequently suggest starting a statin (a cholesterol medicine) to bring the levels down and, therefore, lower their risk for heart attack, stroke, and circulation problems. Many are scared to start the medications…
