Topic: Healthcare
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—over 99.99% of our DNA is shared. But somewhere…
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…
The Hidden Danger of Illegally Obtained Marijuana in the Black Community
Here is something that does not get talked about enough: when marijuana is obtained from the illegal street market, you do not know what you are actually getting. That is not a scare tactic. It is a fact. Legal, licensed…
Gynecomastia vs. Pseudo-gynecomastia in African American Men: The Role of Lifestyle, Hormones, Marijuana, and Alcohol
Gynecomastia vs. Man-Boobs Enlargement of male breast tissue, sometimes called “man-boobs,” is a common but often overlooked condition that can significantly affect physical health, self-image, and psychological well-being. It is more common in older Black men. Pseudo-gynecomastia, also known as…
The Blood Type Diet: Is It Really “Precision Nutrition” for Us?
My patients often ask me what their blood type is. From my perspective, we only check this before surgery in case a transfusion is needed. Why do they ask? It’s usually a supplement they saw on social media or the…
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…
Better Black Health Book
“Better Black Health: A Comprehensive Guide in the Age of Precision Medicine” is a coffee table reference book that should be in every African American’s home. This 400-page book offers a wide range of best practices for improving African American…
Low Vitamin D in African Americans
African Americans Have Low Vitamin D Vitamin D is acquired through diet and skin exposure to ultraviolet B light. The skin's production of vitamin D is determined by length of exposure, latitude, season, and degree of skin pigmentation. African Americans…
African Americans Fear Medication Side Effects
African Americans Fear Medication Side Effects I had a patient come with a number of complaints related to joint pain. His chronic pain was causing him anxiety about his quality of life, and all of these concerns made him feel…
Uterine Fibroids and African American Women
Uterine Fibroids and African American Women Uterine fibroids disproportionately affect African American women, leading to a higher prevalence and more severe symptoms compared to other racial groups. This disparity can result in adverse health outcomes, such as increased rates of…
