Topic: Healthcare
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…
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…
Why Black Patients’ Pain Is Under-Treated, and How Your Genes Affect Pain Medicine
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…
Garlic, Ginger, and Oil of Oregano: What the Science Shows and What to Watch For
While I practice conventional medicine, some approaches to health predate my clinical practice by centuries. There is a growing interest in food as medicine, and garlic, ginger, and oil of oregano are three of the most popular. They get little…
“PVD”- Peripheral Vascular Disease & African Americans
"My Legs are Tired" People who experience poor circulation often see changes in the color of the skin of their legs and encounter problems walking long distances. As one person described, "I have to sit down because my legs get…
Heart Disease & the Black Community
African Americans have the worst heart and stroke outcomes of any group in the United States. African Americans are at higher risk than white Americans for heart disease, as shown by: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health…
Magnesium Deficiency and African American Health
9 out of 10 Older Black Adults Have Low Magnesium Minerals like magnesium are vital to maintaining good health, and magnesium specifically plays a key role in controlling diabetes and promoting healthy blood vessels. Unfortunately, many people are not aware…
