Topic: Health Disparities
STATIN INTOLERANCE IN AFRICAN AMERICANS
STATIN INTOLERANCE IN AFRICAN AMERICANS When my patients have high cholesterol levels, I frequently suggest starting a statin to bring the levels down and, therefore, lower their risk for heart attack, stroke, and circulation problems. Many are scared to start…
Metformin Intolerance in African Americans
"I DON'T WANT METFORMIN" When my patients get diagnosed with diabetes, the first medication I want to prescribe is metformin. Almost immediately, my patients pushed back, saying metformin is "a terrible medication" and, "isn't there something else they can try…
Salt Intolerance is Killing the Black Community: Understand Why
The biggest dietary message that I give to my patients is to decrease their consumption of salt in their diet in order to lower their blood pressure and, therefore, lower their chances of suffering a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure,…
Low WBC in African Americans is Likely Not a Problem
Is There Something Wrong With Me? I have had several patients ask me why the white blood cell (WBC) count on their CBC (complete blood count) panel was flagged (or red) as abnormal. After digging deeper into the lab result,…
Scoliosis and African Americans
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Scoliosis Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk for prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a host of other health problems that are very common in the…
BENEFITS OF ZINC FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
Zinc and Infections In this age of deadly infections, it’s particularly important to have an adequate amount of zinc in your system because zinc possesses potent antiviral and antibacterial effects. African Americans have the highest risk for infections of almost…
African Americans Are Not Getting Their Pain Adequately Treated
A Black Doctor Needed Pain Medicine and Didn't Get It When I suffered from appendicitis a few years ago, I was admitted to the hospital and had emergency surgery. I woke the next day with all sorts of tubes and…
Increased Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in African Americans Linked to Poorer Nutrition
STD Infections? Do you have trouble with recurrent sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections? Is bacterial vaginitis a recurrent problem? African Americans have the highest rate of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and bacterial vaginitis in the country while not having much…
Bacterial Vaginitis in African American Women
Bacterial Vaginitis is NOT an STD Bacterial vaginitis (BV) is an imbalance of the bacteria that normally inhabit the vagina. A third of US women overall have had “BV”. Unfortunately, African American women have the highest occurrence of BV at…
Low Potassium and African Americans
Potassium doesn’t get enough credit as a very beneficial nutrient to good health and potassium deficiency (low potassium) has been directly related to high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, muscle weakness, fatigue, and much more. Multiple studies have confirmed that…