In the Mississippi Delta, which has the highest amputation rates for Black patients in the country — three to four times the national average— Dr. Foluso Fakorede, MD, CEO of Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi, an interventional cardiologist, has witnessed firsthand how the lack of education on treatment options for peripheral artery disease has impacted his community. Dr. Fakorede notes that in Southern rural areas, there is a high incidence of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and, in some cases, tobacco smoking that leads to plaque buildup. “80% of the patients I see are ..read more

  Before he took the stage to host our Spring 2024 Health Summit & Expo, actor and health advocate Lamman Rucker chatted with Black Health Matters founder and President Roslyn Young-Daniels about what Black health means to him and where he finds inspiration. He also shares why Black men must take care of their health and how mental health factors into it all. Check out their chat (and the transcript is also below). Roslyn Young-Daniels (00:15): So listen, Mr. Rucker. Yes ma’am. What does Black health mean to you? Lamman Rucker (00:20): Oh, that’s such a huge question, but really it m ..read more

There is no guarantee that the first doctor a patient meets is right for them. For those with obesity, the challenge may be even more significant. According to Johns Hopkins, frustrations may mount for some patients. Researchers found that 37% of patients who had obesity switched providers up to three times a year, which impacted the continuity of their care. “The practice of “doctor shopping” among overweight patients may be a result of negative experiences with the health care system, whether that be off-putting comments by office staff, unsolicited weight loss advice by providers, or improp ..read more

You may have noticed the influx of commercials and media coverage on whole-body deodorants. These products are precisely what their names allude to: they are designed to combat body odor in multiple areas. Even though we are primarily taught to put deodorant on our armpits, they are not the only parts of our bodies that can sweat and produce odor. Other body regions can produce sweat and body odor, such as the groin, feet, skin folds, thighs, pubic area, chest, and buttocks. We decided to dive into the topic of whole-body deodorants and get professional guidance to help you determine if it is ..read more

It was an honor to sit down with former music executive Shanti Das about what inspired her shift to create a purpose-driven nonprofit called Silence the Shame Incorporated. As she tells her story, you will discover that the roots of this organization were planted in her childhood and take root after a series of events took place many years later. Shanti is based in Georgia, but her work reverberates throughout the country through Silence the Shame and her podcast, the MIBO Show, which you will hear about. Read the transcript below or tune in as we have a powerful discussion on mental health, p ..read more

Hair growth moments from TikTok influencers promoting hair growth remedies like hair oiling/slugging, a rosemary and caffeine mixture to promote hair growth, and hair cycling similar to skin cycling are on the radar of those who want to achieve the ultimate hair goal— healthy long hair. But does that look the same for everyone? Beyoncé’s recent unveiling of her natural hair entered the chat, and Pandora’s box opened. For years, the singer’s hair fueled endless rumors and speculation, highlighting a troubling gap in our understanding of hair health and care. This gap has led to misinformation w ..read more

Amanda Seales announced that she was recently diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum on social media and during her appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. Seales, a comedian and actor, is in her early forties. Her discovering this information later in life is reflective of autism diagnoses for Black women. According to the Autism Journal, “female and Black populations in the United States are diagnosed later.” The publication declared that “autistic Black girls are effectively invisible in the current scientific literature.” The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines Auti ..read more

You probably already know that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a critical health concern for Black women because they disproportionately affect us. There are a few reasons for that: We have higher rates of specific diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis than white women. The CDC reported that Black Americans had 31% of cases reported in 2022. Rescripted says that those of us who identify as Black women also contract long-term STIs like herpes simplex more frequently. But our high rates are not the result of sexual activity alone but also access to quality healthcare ..read more

I was fortunate enough to chat with the award-winning journalist Natasha S. Alford about growing up in Syracuse, New York, as a child of Puerto Rican and Black heritage. Throughout her life, Alford has navigated biculturally, understanding how her background and skin tone were perceived in her upstate New York hometown in Puerto Rico, while at college at Harvard, and time spent in the Dominican Republic. But her perspective informed her story and made her an accomplished storyteller today. Having been diagnosed with lupus at 30, Alford has made adjustments, like learning to say no, but she can ..read more

According to the US Department of Labor, the Black unemployment rate hit a new high in March 2024. It is 6.4% for us, while the rate has decreased to 3.8 overall. But when it comes to Black women, the situation is even more concerning. Our unemployment rate went from 4.4% to 5.6%. People of Color in Tech reported, “In past business cycles, Black workers have been the last to be hired during expansions and first fired during contractions, so an increase in the Black unemployment rate is eye-catching to forecasters,” from Comerica Bank. But if you look closely, we are represented in every indust ..read more