The month of May is American Stroke Month, which is the 3rd leading cause of death in America that can lead to disability and even death among its victims. African Americans are twice as likely to die from strokes than Caucasian Americans and the rate of first strokes among African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians. Although the condition is more common among men, strokes actually kill more women each year. So what’s up? What is a stroke, what are the risk factors, signs and symptoms? Why are African Americans so disproportionately affected? What are the myths about stroke and how do we combat this disease? Ready? Let’s roll!
What is a Stroke: Strokes are also known as “brain attacks,” occur when blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted. They are medically classified under the umbrella of heart disease, which is the number one killer of all Americans regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity. There are two major causes of stroke: ischemic (is-keem-ik) and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are the most common types of stroke and are caused by blockages in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. These blockages result from cholesterol deposits that narrow the arteries; a blood clot forming in an artery (thrombus); and from clots originating somewhere else and lodging in an artery (embolus). Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and burst, allowing blood to spill out into the very restricted space between the brain and the skull. In both types of stroke, the blood flow is decreased and some part of the brain is damaged. The ability to walk, talk, speak, swallow, and even breathe normally can be affected.
Risk Factors: Some stroke risk factors are preventable and others are not. The risks factors that we have control over include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity. The risk factors that we cannot control include age, a family history of stroke, race, and gender. Being active has tremendous benefits, and if coupled with health eating and proper rest one can: control his/her weight, improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, prevent bone loss, boost energy levels, improve stress levels and improve overall self image. The risk for stroke increases as we get older. African American men develop heart disease and develop it earlier, but women close that gap after age 55. Also remember that if a family member, especially your parents, brothers, or sisters have heart disease, you are at increased risk as well. So know your family history. Even though you cannot control that, it will help you and your doctor to make better choices about the way you live.
Warning Signs: The warning signs for a stroke include: a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause. It is recommended that anyone experiencing these signs should see their doctor immediately.
The African American Factor: Medicine and research have not clearly delineated why African Americans are more at risk than other ethnic groups, but we do know that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke. One in three African Americans has high blood pressure/hypertension. Diabetes also runs rampant in the African American community and is another major risk factor for this disease. African Americans with sickle cell anemia also run a high risk for strokes. Anybody with risk factors should see a doctor on a regular basis, eat healthy, exercise, and of course take medicines as prescribed.
Dispelling Myths: There are many myths about stroke that need to be cleared up. Some believe that strokes are unpreventable. That is absolutely not true. Taking charge of your health and establishing a relationship with your doctor is one important step in stroke prevention. Also life style changes like exercising, losing weight, smoking cessation, and controlling your blood pressure and diabetes. Another popular myths about strokes is that they cannot be treated and only happen to the elderly. Wrong again! Strokes can happen to persons young and old, but if the warning signs are recognized, a stroke can be treated. There are also those that believe that once a stroke has occurred, there are only a few months of recovery. This is also not true. Stroke recovery continues throughout life and it is possible to regain bodily function when working in conjunction with your primary care doctor, specialist (such as neurologist and physiatrist) and a treatment team that include speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and social workers.
We can take control of our health! We must learn the risk factors for stroke, see our doctors on a regular basis, learn our family history, exercise, eat healthy, stop smoking, and take our medicines as prescribed to control diabetes and high blood pressure. We have the power! You have the power! Together we have the power to end stroke!
For more information on strokes visit http://www.americanheart.org/, http://www.strokeassociation.org/. (c) 2006 Rani Whitfield. This article was published May 2007 at http://www.eurweb.com/
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
HIV/AIDS
African Americans are well represented in many areas these days. We are leaders in business and education, have ownership in both the private and public sector, dominate sports (now with head coaches and franchise owners), have lead roles in cinema, and only comprise 13% of the United States population. Even in small numbers we have found a way to make our presence known and have a positive impact on society. So how is it that we make up only 13% of the US population, yet we account for approximately half of the more than one million people estimated to be living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)? Since the “discovery” of HIV/AIDS in the early 1980’s, 40% of all deaths among people with HIV/AIDS in the US have been among African Americans. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), an intricate, sometimes difficult, but effective treatment regimen is expensive, but has expanded the lifespan of people infected with the virus. This has also created the environment for HIV transmission as some individuals still continue to participate in unsafe practices despite known infection.
Let us look at the numbers collected by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the last 4 years (2001-2005). This data is based on information from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting. African American women are the fastest growing population of HIV-positive people in the US, however, African American men continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infection. In 2005, the rate of HIV diagnosis among African American men was seven times higher than that of Caucasian men, and more than twice that of African American women. Infection rates among African American women were more than 20 times that of white women. In our young African American brothers and sister, defined by the CDC as ages 13-24, we accounted for 61% of the HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Another shocking statistic is that there are 200-300,000 people in this country who are HIV positive and have not been tested. They are unaware of their infection, and for one reason or another have yet to be tested. Barriers to testing include poverty, lack of education and awareness, denial, and the social stigma placed on individuals that are diagnosed. Once considered a gay-white man’s disease, HIV/AIDS has become the greatest crisis facing African American men, women and young people today!
Transmission of HIV has been clearly identified and the major modes of infection are by unprotected sex, sharing needles with someone who is infected, blood transfusions (very rare now), and babies born to HIV infected mom’s during birth or through breast feeding after birth. I include substance abuse as a major risk factor because when someone is under the influence, the chance for him or her to indulge in risky behaviors increases. Health care workers and sometimes the patients are at risk of transmission and thus universal precautions and safety are a must in the hospitals and physician offices. HIV cannot be spread by casual contact (i.e. hugging, casual kissing, shaking hands). Dispelling these myths will decrease some of the negative attitudes and stigmata placed on individuals who are HIV positive.
There is some good news however. Even in the storm of rising HIV disease, there is no indication that the overall rate of infections in African Americans is increasing. Mother to child transmission has been significantly reduced, and there also has been increase use of condoms among young people and a decrease in risky sexual behavior.
In my opinion, there is nothing “positive” about being HIV positive. Once this diagnosis is handed to someone, his or her entire life changes. Negative attitudes, beliefs, and actions are directed at those living with HIV/AIDS despite the mode of transmission. Consider the 1980’s when blood transfusions where a major route of transmission. Now we have the unsuspecting mother/girlfriend/lover whose partner brings the virus into what was believed to be a monogamous relationship; or the unborn child who is infected by an HIV positive mom. Men having sex with men (MSM- the undercover brother or the down low brother) is getting more attention than the other common means of infection among African American men which are IV drug abuse and having unprotected sex with a woman who is HIV positive. For women, the most common ways of getting infected include having unprotected sex with an infected male and IV drug abuse. If you are unaware of your partner’s risk factors, have a sexual transmitted disease (STD), live below the poverty level, or have been incarcerated, your risk of HIV is higher.
Max Robinson, Eric “Easy E” Wright, and Arthur Ashe are not here anymore to be celebrity leaders, advocates, and spokes persons’ against this disease. All died from the complications of AIDS, but did live long enough to speak out against HIV. Magic Johnson is carrying the torch by himself in this celebrity role, but there are other organizations and individuals stepping up and speaking out. On December 1st of 2006, World AIDS Day, author/editor Gil Robertson, IV released his book Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community. This collection of powerful polemics, essays, and personal stories speaks to the lack of discussion and the denial in our community when it comes to addressing HIV/AIDS. You can read the words of Rev. Calvin Butts, Hill Harper, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Patti LaBelle, Mo’Nique, Sheryl Lee Randolph, and Dr. Jocelyn Elders, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Omar Tyree just to name a few. The CDC has several programs that are addressing HIV/AIDS across the nation including programs specifically targeting incarcerated men, gay and bisexual men, emergency rooms, and labor and delivery departments. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) spoke before congress in March of this year to address the lack of prescription coverage for the uninsured and underinsured. Individuals have died because they could not get/afford their medication. Whitney Breaux, sophomore at Louisiana State University and Miss Teen Louisiana has made over 100 hundred appearances educating teens and young adults on the ills of HIV. Phil Wilson, Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute has an educational website that is constantly updated and addresses all realms of the disease. Phil is also a contributor to Not In My Family. I have personally seen the effects of HIV/AIDS on the south as southern states have been hit the hardest. Baton Rouge, my birth place and home suffers from the sixth highest AIDS case rate in the nation. Many HIV/AIDS residents, primarily African American, displaced by hurricane Katrina, have attempted to return to New Orleans or surrounding areas to find the necessities of housing, employment, and healthcare stable and fragmented. It was a “no brainier” when asked by Gil to contribute to his book.
More must be done to effectively address the impact of HIV/AIDS among African Americans men, women, and young people. Although prevention efforts have grown substantially over time and important progress has been made, major unmet needs remain. If this disease is killing “US”, then “US” needs to fight. ADAP, the CDC, Not In My Family, The Black AIDS Institute, and Whitney Breaux cannot fight this battle alone. It will take a nation wide effort.
© 2007 Rani Whitfield.
Let us look at the numbers collected by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the last 4 years (2001-2005). This data is based on information from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting. African American women are the fastest growing population of HIV-positive people in the US, however, African American men continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infection. In 2005, the rate of HIV diagnosis among African American men was seven times higher than that of Caucasian men, and more than twice that of African American women. Infection rates among African American women were more than 20 times that of white women. In our young African American brothers and sister, defined by the CDC as ages 13-24, we accounted for 61% of the HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Another shocking statistic is that there are 200-300,000 people in this country who are HIV positive and have not been tested. They are unaware of their infection, and for one reason or another have yet to be tested. Barriers to testing include poverty, lack of education and awareness, denial, and the social stigma placed on individuals that are diagnosed. Once considered a gay-white man’s disease, HIV/AIDS has become the greatest crisis facing African American men, women and young people today!
Transmission of HIV has been clearly identified and the major modes of infection are by unprotected sex, sharing needles with someone who is infected, blood transfusions (very rare now), and babies born to HIV infected mom’s during birth or through breast feeding after birth. I include substance abuse as a major risk factor because when someone is under the influence, the chance for him or her to indulge in risky behaviors increases. Health care workers and sometimes the patients are at risk of transmission and thus universal precautions and safety are a must in the hospitals and physician offices. HIV cannot be spread by casual contact (i.e. hugging, casual kissing, shaking hands). Dispelling these myths will decrease some of the negative attitudes and stigmata placed on individuals who are HIV positive.
There is some good news however. Even in the storm of rising HIV disease, there is no indication that the overall rate of infections in African Americans is increasing. Mother to child transmission has been significantly reduced, and there also has been increase use of condoms among young people and a decrease in risky sexual behavior.
In my opinion, there is nothing “positive” about being HIV positive. Once this diagnosis is handed to someone, his or her entire life changes. Negative attitudes, beliefs, and actions are directed at those living with HIV/AIDS despite the mode of transmission. Consider the 1980’s when blood transfusions where a major route of transmission. Now we have the unsuspecting mother/girlfriend/lover whose partner brings the virus into what was believed to be a monogamous relationship; or the unborn child who is infected by an HIV positive mom. Men having sex with men (MSM- the undercover brother or the down low brother) is getting more attention than the other common means of infection among African American men which are IV drug abuse and having unprotected sex with a woman who is HIV positive. For women, the most common ways of getting infected include having unprotected sex with an infected male and IV drug abuse. If you are unaware of your partner’s risk factors, have a sexual transmitted disease (STD), live below the poverty level, or have been incarcerated, your risk of HIV is higher.
Max Robinson, Eric “Easy E” Wright, and Arthur Ashe are not here anymore to be celebrity leaders, advocates, and spokes persons’ against this disease. All died from the complications of AIDS, but did live long enough to speak out against HIV. Magic Johnson is carrying the torch by himself in this celebrity role, but there are other organizations and individuals stepping up and speaking out. On December 1st of 2006, World AIDS Day, author/editor Gil Robertson, IV released his book Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community. This collection of powerful polemics, essays, and personal stories speaks to the lack of discussion and the denial in our community when it comes to addressing HIV/AIDS. You can read the words of Rev. Calvin Butts, Hill Harper, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Patti LaBelle, Mo’Nique, Sheryl Lee Randolph, and Dr. Jocelyn Elders, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Omar Tyree just to name a few. The CDC has several programs that are addressing HIV/AIDS across the nation including programs specifically targeting incarcerated men, gay and bisexual men, emergency rooms, and labor and delivery departments. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) spoke before congress in March of this year to address the lack of prescription coverage for the uninsured and underinsured. Individuals have died because they could not get/afford their medication. Whitney Breaux, sophomore at Louisiana State University and Miss Teen Louisiana has made over 100 hundred appearances educating teens and young adults on the ills of HIV. Phil Wilson, Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute has an educational website that is constantly updated and addresses all realms of the disease. Phil is also a contributor to Not In My Family. I have personally seen the effects of HIV/AIDS on the south as southern states have been hit the hardest. Baton Rouge, my birth place and home suffers from the sixth highest AIDS case rate in the nation. Many HIV/AIDS residents, primarily African American, displaced by hurricane Katrina, have attempted to return to New Orleans or surrounding areas to find the necessities of housing, employment, and healthcare stable and fragmented. It was a “no brainier” when asked by Gil to contribute to his book.
More must be done to effectively address the impact of HIV/AIDS among African Americans men, women, and young people. Although prevention efforts have grown substantially over time and important progress has been made, major unmet needs remain. If this disease is killing “US”, then “US” needs to fight. ADAP, the CDC, Not In My Family, The Black AIDS Institute, and Whitney Breaux cannot fight this battle alone. It will take a nation wide effort.
© 2007 Rani Whitfield.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Strokes
We are under attack!
Well, our brains are for sure, and if African Americans don’t wake up we will ultimately perish from the disease that directly attacks the brain—STROKES! The month of May is Stroke Awareness Month and with the “stroke” of my keyboard I will give you the Power to End Stroke! Strokes are the third leading cause of death among Americans and a leading cause of disability and lost days of work among adults. They are more common among men, but kill more women each year. Strokes come under the umbrella of heart disease, which is the number one killer of all Americans no matter what race, gender, or ethnicity. Heart disease, which encompasses diseases of the heart and blood vessels, claims the lives of over 96,000 African Americans each year and account for 33% of all deaths among blacks in the United States. African Americans are twice as likely to die from strokes than Caucasian Americans and the rate of first strokes in African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians. So what’s up? What is a stroke, what are the risk factors, and what are the signs and symptoms? Why are African Americans so disproportionately affected? What are the myths about stroke and how do we combat this disease? Ready? Let’s roll!
Strokes, also called “brain attacks”, occur when blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted. In other words, no flow-no go. There are two major causes of stroke: ischemic (is-keem-ik) and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are the most common types of stroke and are caused by blockages in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. These blockages result from cholesterol deposits that narrow the arteries; a blood clot forming in an artery (thrombus); and from clots originating somewhere else and lodging in an artery (embolus). Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and burst, allowing blood to spill out into the very restricted space between the brain and the skull. In both types of stroke, the blood flow is decreased and some part of the brain is damaged. The ability to walk, talk, speak, swallow, and even breathe normally can be affected.
Risk factors, which are the things that increase your chances of having a stroke, include things that we can and things we cannot control. The risks factors that we have control over are smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity. The risk factors that we cannot control include age, a family history of heart disease/stroke, race, and gender. Being active has tremendous benefits, and if coupled with health eating and proper rest one can: control his/her weight, improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, prevent bone loss, boost energy levels, improve stress levels and improve overall self image. The risk for stroke increases as we get older. African American men develop heart disease and develop it earlier, but women close that gap after age 55. Also remember that if a family member, especially your parents, brothers, or sisters have heart disease, you are at increased risk as well. So know your family history. Even though you cannot control that, it will help you and your physician make better choices about the way you should live.
Everyone, including family and friends, should know the warning signs of stroke. By knowing them you can significantly reduced the long-term effects of a stroke and possibly save someone’s life. The warning signs include: a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Medicine and research have not clearly delineated why African Americans are more at risk than other ethnic groups, but we do know that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke. One in three African Americans has high blood pressure/hypertension. Diabetes also runs rampant in the African American community and is also a major risk factor for strokes. There is also a special population of African Americans, those with sickle cell anemia, who run a high risk of stroke. All patients with risk factors should see a doctor on a regular basis, eat healthy, exercise, and of course take there medicines as prescribed.
The myths about stroke need to be stated and cleared up now. Some believe that strokes are unpreventable. That is absolutely not true. Taking charge of your health and establishing a relationship with your doctor is one important step in stroke prevention, along with life style modifications like exercising, losing weight, smoking cessation, and controlling your blood pressure and diabetes. Some also feel that strokes cannot be treated and that they only happen to the elderly. Wrong again! Strokes can happen to the young and old, and if the warning signs are recognized, a stroke can be treated with very little disability. There are also those that believe that once a stroke has occurred, there are only a few months of recovery. This is also not true. Stroke recovery continues throughout life and it is possible to regain bodily function when working in conjunction with your primary care doctor, specialist (such as neurologist and physiatrist) and the treatment team that include speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and social workers.
We can take control of our health! We must learn the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, see our doctors on a regular basis, learn our family history, exercise, eat healthy, stop smoking, and take our medicines as prescribed to control diabetes and high blood pressure. We have the power! You have the power! Together we have the power to end stroke!
For more information on disparities in health care visit www.americanheart.org, www.strokeassociation.org
© 2007 Rani Whitfield. Published April 2007 at http://www.eurweb.com/
Well, our brains are for sure, and if African Americans don’t wake up we will ultimately perish from the disease that directly attacks the brain—STROKES! The month of May is Stroke Awareness Month and with the “stroke” of my keyboard I will give you the Power to End Stroke! Strokes are the third leading cause of death among Americans and a leading cause of disability and lost days of work among adults. They are more common among men, but kill more women each year. Strokes come under the umbrella of heart disease, which is the number one killer of all Americans no matter what race, gender, or ethnicity. Heart disease, which encompasses diseases of the heart and blood vessels, claims the lives of over 96,000 African Americans each year and account for 33% of all deaths among blacks in the United States. African Americans are twice as likely to die from strokes than Caucasian Americans and the rate of first strokes in African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians. So what’s up? What is a stroke, what are the risk factors, and what are the signs and symptoms? Why are African Americans so disproportionately affected? What are the myths about stroke and how do we combat this disease? Ready? Let’s roll!
Strokes, also called “brain attacks”, occur when blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted. In other words, no flow-no go. There are two major causes of stroke: ischemic (is-keem-ik) and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are the most common types of stroke and are caused by blockages in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. These blockages result from cholesterol deposits that narrow the arteries; a blood clot forming in an artery (thrombus); and from clots originating somewhere else and lodging in an artery (embolus). Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and burst, allowing blood to spill out into the very restricted space between the brain and the skull. In both types of stroke, the blood flow is decreased and some part of the brain is damaged. The ability to walk, talk, speak, swallow, and even breathe normally can be affected.
Risk factors, which are the things that increase your chances of having a stroke, include things that we can and things we cannot control. The risks factors that we have control over are smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity. The risk factors that we cannot control include age, a family history of heart disease/stroke, race, and gender. Being active has tremendous benefits, and if coupled with health eating and proper rest one can: control his/her weight, improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, prevent bone loss, boost energy levels, improve stress levels and improve overall self image. The risk for stroke increases as we get older. African American men develop heart disease and develop it earlier, but women close that gap after age 55. Also remember that if a family member, especially your parents, brothers, or sisters have heart disease, you are at increased risk as well. So know your family history. Even though you cannot control that, it will help you and your physician make better choices about the way you should live.
Everyone, including family and friends, should know the warning signs of stroke. By knowing them you can significantly reduced the long-term effects of a stroke and possibly save someone’s life. The warning signs include: a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Medicine and research have not clearly delineated why African Americans are more at risk than other ethnic groups, but we do know that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke. One in three African Americans has high blood pressure/hypertension. Diabetes also runs rampant in the African American community and is also a major risk factor for strokes. There is also a special population of African Americans, those with sickle cell anemia, who run a high risk of stroke. All patients with risk factors should see a doctor on a regular basis, eat healthy, exercise, and of course take there medicines as prescribed.
The myths about stroke need to be stated and cleared up now. Some believe that strokes are unpreventable. That is absolutely not true. Taking charge of your health and establishing a relationship with your doctor is one important step in stroke prevention, along with life style modifications like exercising, losing weight, smoking cessation, and controlling your blood pressure and diabetes. Some also feel that strokes cannot be treated and that they only happen to the elderly. Wrong again! Strokes can happen to the young and old, and if the warning signs are recognized, a stroke can be treated with very little disability. There are also those that believe that once a stroke has occurred, there are only a few months of recovery. This is also not true. Stroke recovery continues throughout life and it is possible to regain bodily function when working in conjunction with your primary care doctor, specialist (such as neurologist and physiatrist) and the treatment team that include speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and social workers.
We can take control of our health! We must learn the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, see our doctors on a regular basis, learn our family history, exercise, eat healthy, stop smoking, and take our medicines as prescribed to control diabetes and high blood pressure. We have the power! You have the power! Together we have the power to end stroke!
For more information on disparities in health care visit www.americanheart.org, www.strokeassociation.org
© 2007 Rani Whitfield. Published April 2007 at http://www.eurweb.com/
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Disparities in healthcare
Black America, we have a problem.
Despite what you might think, things are not equal, especially when it comes to health and health care. HIV/AIDS, heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, colon and rectal cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, and diabetes affect our race at much higher rates than other ethnic/racial groups. Just name a disease and African Americans are probably the most affected population. What’s more alarming is that often despite a good education and quality insurance, stereotyping and biases on behalf of the health care provider can still add up to unequal treatment and sub-par medical care. But its not just African Americans, it’s the poor and uninsured that really get the shaft.
True story : I had a patient who presented to my office with signs and symptoms of a heart disease; a heart attack waiting to happen. One year prior, he had been seen in a local emergency room (ER), diagnosed with “probable” heart disease. After being observed for 23 hours he was sent home without seeing a cardiologist and told to follow up with his primary care doctor. He did not have one. He called the ER and asked what he should do, and they told him not to come to their facility because he did not have insurance. Next he came to my office to discuss his options with me, which were basically none. After our appointment I didn’t hear from him for a while, but later found out that he decided to walk around the hospital grounds until he got sweaty and tired, so that he could walk in the ER complaining of chest pain. They would have to admit him. But what actually happened was after three laps around the hospital, my patient collapsed and was literally having a heart attack. He was the happiest man in the world. He was admitted to the hospital and saw one of the best cardiologists in the city. His blood work showed that he was anemic (low blood count) and because of his age and risk factors a colonoscopy was performed by a very talented gastroenterologist (stomach doctor). However, smiles turned to frowns when he was discharged form the hospital after it was discovered that he could not afford to pay for follow up treatments. He showed up at my office again after this episode, but I never heard from him again after that visit.
This is just one example of the extreme measures the poor and uninsured in America have to take in order to receive medical attention. Sadly, I could tell you many more. Research has shown that minorities are less likely to receive routine medical procedures and quality health care than their white counterparts. So what are some solutions: better doctor-patient relationships; increase the number of minorities among health professionals providing services to minority patients; ensure that both the public and private sector have the same types of coverage; increase patient education and empower patients to better care for themselves.
Racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare are a reality associated with poor medical outcomes and even death, which are unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We, as a community, must learn to take better care of ourselves. Education and awareness about health and health care is essential to the survival of our community.
For more information on disparities in health care visit www.nmhmf.org
(c) 2007. This article was published March 15, 2007 at http://www.eurweb.com/
Despite what you might think, things are not equal, especially when it comes to health and health care. HIV/AIDS, heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, colon and rectal cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, and diabetes affect our race at much higher rates than other ethnic/racial groups. Just name a disease and African Americans are probably the most affected population. What’s more alarming is that often despite a good education and quality insurance, stereotyping and biases on behalf of the health care provider can still add up to unequal treatment and sub-par medical care. But its not just African Americans, it’s the poor and uninsured that really get the shaft.
True story : I had a patient who presented to my office with signs and symptoms of a heart disease; a heart attack waiting to happen. One year prior, he had been seen in a local emergency room (ER), diagnosed with “probable” heart disease. After being observed for 23 hours he was sent home without seeing a cardiologist and told to follow up with his primary care doctor. He did not have one. He called the ER and asked what he should do, and they told him not to come to their facility because he did not have insurance. Next he came to my office to discuss his options with me, which were basically none. After our appointment I didn’t hear from him for a while, but later found out that he decided to walk around the hospital grounds until he got sweaty and tired, so that he could walk in the ER complaining of chest pain. They would have to admit him. But what actually happened was after three laps around the hospital, my patient collapsed and was literally having a heart attack. He was the happiest man in the world. He was admitted to the hospital and saw one of the best cardiologists in the city. His blood work showed that he was anemic (low blood count) and because of his age and risk factors a colonoscopy was performed by a very talented gastroenterologist (stomach doctor). However, smiles turned to frowns when he was discharged form the hospital after it was discovered that he could not afford to pay for follow up treatments. He showed up at my office again after this episode, but I never heard from him again after that visit.
This is just one example of the extreme measures the poor and uninsured in America have to take in order to receive medical attention. Sadly, I could tell you many more. Research has shown that minorities are less likely to receive routine medical procedures and quality health care than their white counterparts. So what are some solutions: better doctor-patient relationships; increase the number of minorities among health professionals providing services to minority patients; ensure that both the public and private sector have the same types of coverage; increase patient education and empower patients to better care for themselves.
Racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare are a reality associated with poor medical outcomes and even death, which are unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We, as a community, must learn to take better care of ourselves. Education and awareness about health and health care is essential to the survival of our community.
For more information on disparities in health care visit www.nmhmf.org
(c) 2007. This article was published March 15, 2007 at http://www.eurweb.com/
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Colon Cancer
She said that it started with constipation, then diarrhea, and the constipation again. For at least 6 months Mrs. Johnson, the hard workingwoman she was, ignored some of the most classical signs and symptoms of the disease that would eventually take her life. By the time she saw me in the office, this 65 year old work-a-holic had lost 30 pounds, experienced abdominal pain off and on, noticed blood in her stool, and was always complaining of feeling tired. After an extensive workup and referral to a gastroenterologist (stomach doctor), Mrs. Johnson, maid and mother of 4, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Could this have been prevented? What went wrong?
Well if you did not know, colon cancer is the second most common cancer in African-American women and the third most common cancer in African-American men. Although the incidence of colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) has stabilized over the past two decades, the rates are still higher in African Americans than the rest of the US population. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing colorectal cancers and recognition of these factors has an impact on the strategies used to screen for this disease. Age, family history, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis), diet, and race must all be considered when evaluating a patient suspected of having colon cancer. Other risk factors include physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Approximately 90% of the cases of colorectal cancer occur in persons over the age of 50 and if you have a first degree relative with the disease (i.e. mother, brother, sister, dad) then your risk increases. Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, are also at an increased risk.
Diets rich in fats and red meats are associated with increased risk as compared to diets high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber as they are associated with a decreased risk. As I got to know more about Mrs. Johnson many of these factors became quite evident. She worked hard, was uninsured, and had very little knowledge of her family history or the signs and symptoms of the disease. She did remember, however, that her mom died of a “stomach” problem and that her dad died of high blood pressure and heart disease. She was obese, a smoker, and social drinker, but as she so eloquently stated, “it hasn’t been a problem for me and if I don’t work, my children don’t eat.” Her diet was poor, sporadic, and was primarily fried foods and fast foods. Mrs. Johnson died about 8 months after we met. The cancer spread throughout her body and she died a miserable death.
If detected at an early stage, colorectal cancers are curable. Screening for this disease in an individual with risk factors is of the utmost importance and should be done at least once by age 45 or as directed by your doctor. This can be done by testing your stool for blood and/or examining the colon for polyps or other growths in the colon. The colon can actually be visualized in many ways (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, cat scan or virtual colonoscopy, x-ray with contrast) and early diagnosis and treatment can be administered and save the life of someone like Mrs. Johnson. (c) 2007. This article was published at www.eurweb.com
Well if you did not know, colon cancer is the second most common cancer in African-American women and the third most common cancer in African-American men. Although the incidence of colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer) has stabilized over the past two decades, the rates are still higher in African Americans than the rest of the US population. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing colorectal cancers and recognition of these factors has an impact on the strategies used to screen for this disease. Age, family history, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis), diet, and race must all be considered when evaluating a patient suspected of having colon cancer. Other risk factors include physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Approximately 90% of the cases of colorectal cancer occur in persons over the age of 50 and if you have a first degree relative with the disease (i.e. mother, brother, sister, dad) then your risk increases. Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, are also at an increased risk.
Diets rich in fats and red meats are associated with increased risk as compared to diets high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber as they are associated with a decreased risk. As I got to know more about Mrs. Johnson many of these factors became quite evident. She worked hard, was uninsured, and had very little knowledge of her family history or the signs and symptoms of the disease. She did remember, however, that her mom died of a “stomach” problem and that her dad died of high blood pressure and heart disease. She was obese, a smoker, and social drinker, but as she so eloquently stated, “it hasn’t been a problem for me and if I don’t work, my children don’t eat.” Her diet was poor, sporadic, and was primarily fried foods and fast foods. Mrs. Johnson died about 8 months after we met. The cancer spread throughout her body and she died a miserable death.
If detected at an early stage, colorectal cancers are curable. Screening for this disease in an individual with risk factors is of the utmost importance and should be done at least once by age 45 or as directed by your doctor. This can be done by testing your stool for blood and/or examining the colon for polyps or other growths in the colon. The colon can actually be visualized in many ways (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, cat scan or virtual colonoscopy, x-ray with contrast) and early diagnosis and treatment can be administered and save the life of someone like Mrs. Johnson. (c) 2007. This article was published at www.eurweb.com
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