Topic: African Americans
HbA1c Diabetes Test is Inaccurate in African Americans
If you have diabetes, there is no question your doctor has measured your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The HbA1c measures the average blood sugar level over the past three months. It provides valuable information about long-term blood sugar control and helps…
African Americans Advanced Farming in America
Historical evidence supports the connection between African farmers and Black Americans. During the transatlantic slave trade, enslaved Africans were taken from inland farms from as far as 500 miles from coastal Africa to be loaded on ships bound for America.…
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…
How Black Relationships Last: Love Is Work
Black Relationships Too many people think Black relationships should last because they're in a relationship and like or love each other. The reality is that's not the secret to a lasting relationship. At the core of African American health is…
Benefits of Zinc for African Americans: What It Does and How Much You Need
Zinc and infections Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system and for wound healing. African Americans face higher rates of many infections, including sexually transmitted diseases, bacterial vaginosis, HIV, and diabetes-related wound infections that can lead to amputations. Zinc…
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…
G6PD Deficiency in African Americans: Medicines to Avoid and Why Your A1c May Be Wrong
What is G6PD deficiency? A patient came in recently and told me he had G6PD deficiency and wondered what adjustments he needed to make in his life. I had learned about it in medical school but had long since forgotten…
Surge of Black Patients Die After a Brazilian Butt Lift
Some Black Patients LOVE the Brazilian Butt Lift But the CDC Warns . . . The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recently released a warning to American citizens about going to the Dominican Republic to have a Brazilian Butt…
