Topic: Health Disparities
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…
Metformin Intolerance in African Americans: Why It Happens and What Helps
“I don’t want metformin” When my patients get diagnosed with diabetes, the first medication I want to prescribe is metformin. Almost immediately, many push back, saying metformin is "a terrible medication" and, "isn't there something else they can try first?"…
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: The Duffy-Null Gene and When It’s Normal
Is there something wrong with me? Several of my patients have asked me why the white blood cell (WBC) count on their CBC (complete blood count) was flagged in red as abnormal. After digging deeper into the lab result, they…
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…
