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Colorado Black Health Collaborative takes our role of being a resource information HUB seriously.  In these trying times we are keeping our ears peeled to get information on available resources.  Included in this notice are links to resources related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) affecting Blacks/African Americans, education, and business.  We will provide periodic updates on pertinent topics related to the Coronavirus – king of chaos.

 

The Risk is Real – African Americans and Coronavirus:

Read these resources that talk about some of the myths.  YES!  It is important to know that Black people can get Coronavirus.  Idris Elba, the actor, confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19.

Risks to African Americans

COVID-19 Facts | Debunking Myths

School/Education Resources:

Here is a link to educational resources in Colorado for parents and students during the extended spring break – https://www.cde.state.co.us/safeschools

From NewsWest9 – ways to keep kids educated and entertained while they are on Coronavirus – Break.

• National Geographic

Nat Geo for Kids has plenty of resources to learn about animals, geography, science experiments and more.

• Into the Book

Into the Book allows children to practice reading strategies.

• Seussville

Read and play games with the Cat in the Hate, the Grinch and more on Seussville.

• ABCya

ABCya has fun games for children to practice math and reading skills from Pre-K to sixth grade and above.

• Fun Brain

Fun Brain features a variety of educational videos, fun books, a playground area and a math zone perfect for children through eighth grade.

• PBS Kids

PBS Kids allow you to enjoy learning with Cookie Monster, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and more of your PBS buddies.

• Starfall

Starfall is perfect for children up through third grade to practice reading and math skills through games and songs.

• Highlights Kids

Highlights Kids features fun activities, games, jokes and so much more.

• Scholastic

Scholastic Learn at Home has a variety of activities featuring earth and animal science, social studies and more for all elementary grades.

• Chris Field Live Streams

Chris Field on Facebook will be hosting “A Week of Awesome Afternoon Adventures!” featuring giraffes, yoga, art and more.

Small Business Resources:

Resources provided by Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

COVID-19 Resources
There are a number of resources online that may be helpful to you and your colleagues.

• B:CIVIC Virtual Call: Leading During COVID-19 – 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Share your company’s response to COVID or ask questions of other leaders.
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses
• Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses from the SBA
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Denver Department of Public Health and Environment
• Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
• S. Chamber of Commerce Guidance for Employers

Mental Health Resources:

Let’s face it, these times are stressful, as Bill Bellamy noted at the last Colorado Black Health Collaborative Gala on October 13, 2019.  Below are some resource links providing additional suggestions.

Managing Stress and Anxiety

COVIC-19 and Mental Wellness

Have you found useful resources related to COVID-19?  Is yes, please share them with us at CBHC and we will help to get the word out to the Community.

 

Dr. T

www.coloradoblackhealth.org

 

COVID-19 concerns have risen dramatically over the past few weeks.  Our nation has been whipped into a frenzy!  Lines wrapped around stores to buy toilet paper, masks, gloves, cleaning products, and basic necessities, just in case.  Stores have not been able to keep up with the demands.  Community members and the media remark about the empty shelves in many of the stores, leaving the Internet as the only source of over-priced toilet paper and other assorted “emergency” goods.

COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China where human illness was noted by December 2019.  One of China’s young doctors, Dr. Wenliang, tried to warn and alert the medical community, but the Chinese authorities tried to shut him down.  In January, the first United States (U.S.) case appeared in Washington, a young American citizen returning from China.  Yet, the virus remained a bit under the radar.  There were even social media myths suggesting that Black people were not susceptible to the virus.  This proved to be far from the truth as two Black NBA players faces were blasted on television when their tests confirmed the infection.  This Coronavirus knows no boundaries and is affecting people worldwide – all races, genders, socioeconomic statuses, and political affiliations or not.  Corona means crown in Latin and this virus has shown itself to be the king of chaos, creator of fear, and exposer of implicit biases, governmental lethargy, and greed.

Let’s take a closer look at this virus.  It is being called a “novel” virus, one that has never been encountered before.  However, it is in the family of the Coronavirus, first identified in the 1960’s, a culprit of the nagging common cold.  Early on it was noted that the people in China who were infected worked or shopped at a seafood market that sold live, as well as freshly slaughtered animals.  This has led some experts to believe that this infection crossed over from animals to human.  Most people have heard that the bat is the original source, although the verdict is not in, some research is suggesting that the bat had an accomplice, the Pangolin*.

Not sure why anyone would want to eat this gnarly looking animal, but apparently it is considered a delicacy. Perhaps these animal markets need to take a public health approach so that additional novel viruses don’t emerge. It might also be a good idea to figure out how to relocate BATS so they no longer can serve as a vector.  At any rate the mode of transmission is now person to person.

COVID-19 is thought to spread from person to person, between people who are in close contact, within 3-6 feet.  Respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing land in the mouths or noses of people in this zone.  Less likely, people may pick up the virus by touching a surface or object the virus has landed on and then touching their own nose, mouth, eyes.  No one knows how long the virus can survive on surfaces.  Estimates are that the virus can last hours to days and may be dependent on the type of surface or ambient temperature.  The incubation period is 2-14 days from the time of exposure.  Some people have no symptoms even when infected.  Those who become ill usually develop characteristic symptoms:

Fever (100⁰ Fahrenheit, checked with a thermometer).  However, since most stores are out of thermometers you can go with the tactile temperature method that your Mama showed you and put a hand to your forehead, cough, and shortness of breath.  High risk countries that can increase your odds of being infected with COVID-19 are China, Korea, Italy, or Iran, others are joining the list daily.  You have been in the thick of Coronavirus if you spent any time in these countries.  Also, if you are over 60 years of age and especially over 80 years old, you are at higher risk for bad infection.  People with chronic respiratory(lung) or other chronic medical problems, are at higher risk as well.

How many cases have been identified at this time?  This really is a moving target as more people are being tested along with those who are newly developing symptoms.  On March 14, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, 2499 people in America had reported having the virus.  55 people had died.  The references listed below are updated frequently so that you can get the most accurate numbers of those affected and infected.

Colorado Black Health Collaborative (www.coloradoblackhealth.org) wants to encourage you to be an active participant in stemming the tide of this potentially deadly  disease.  Yes, we know if feels like Twilight Zone, but this is for real.  However, don’t get over-hyped and have your blood pressure going up.  Get the facts and act – do the things that will keep you and your community healthy.

Here’s what you CAN do:

Stay Home

• For one, if you are ill and COVID-19 seems highly likely, then stay at home!  Lay down and wait until you are well before going around others.  If you feel like you can’t get enough air, are becoming delirious, or too weak to get out of bed then seek medical attention, ASAP.  They can offer supportive care.  Keep in mind there is no specific treatment for COVID-19.

Stay informed

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is an excellent national source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) website and Tri- County Health Department are great for local numbers and information, including testing sites:  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus, www.tchd.org/coronavirus.

• The World Health Organization(WHO) is a great international source:  https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus.

Stay tuned and follow these recommendations that were compiled from various resources:

• Cover your mouth (arm with elbow bent or tissue) and nose when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands immediately.
• Wear a mask, if you are coughing when you must go outside your home.  Note:  CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a mask to protect them from respiratory illness, including COVID-19.
• Don’t go on a cruise until further notice.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick whether spouse, kids, or BFF.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Don’t do a quick rinse be sure to wash for at least 20 seconds.
• Disinfect surfaces you touch – rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or good old- fashioned bleach can efficiently inactivate Coronaviruses within a minute.

Visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-againstsars-cov-2 to find the current list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.

• Limit travel, especially to high risk areas like Washington state, California, New York City, China, Italy, Iran, and Korea.
• Limit open handshakes, high fives, instead try elbow bumps if a touch is necessary to seal the deal.
• Social distancing is a new buzz word related to decreasing the spread of the virus. Basically, you want to put enough space between yourself and other people to avoid infection. Limit participation in large events, malls, nightclubs, and other small closed-in spaces.
• If you are planning an event, try to keep it small (100- less than 250 participants) and follow CDC guidelines for convening meetings.
• Reduce stress and anxiety – meditate, listen to calming music, take a break from news reports and social media related to the king of chaos – COVID-19.

It seemed that 2020 was going to be a great year for sharp vision and focus, yet the first quarter has dictated a myopic (nearsighted) view of our environment and our life here in American.  Do not despair, there is still hope!  Be part of the solution for overcoming the COVID-19 epidemic.

* https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pangolin-coronavirus-scale-anteater-possible-host-of-virus-chinese-scientists-say/  

Colorado’s call line for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

For general questions about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), you can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 for answers in many languages. Email [email protected] for answers in English.

If you have upcoming travel plans, get the latest travel advisories from the CDC’s COVID-19 travel information.

 

Dr. T

www.coloradoblackhealth.org

 

 

 

Dr.  Daniel Hale Williams, III

Surgeon

 

 

 

February is both Black History Month and Heart Month.  It also marks eight years for the Colorado Black Health Collaborative’s Barbershop/Salon Health Outreach Program (BBSHOP).  This Program was started in February 2012 and is a collaborative effort with organizations like the American Heart Association and others.  Just about every Saturday our volunteers are at one of our 14 shops located across

Denver and Aurora.  We focus on blood pressure screening and health education.  Since inception, the BBSHOP has served over 8600 clients.  We have been told multiple times that our Program, “saved my life”.

Given these intersections, we love to share with you the life and contributions of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III.  Dr. Hale was born January 18, 1856 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, five years before the outbreak of the Civil War.  His dad was a freedman barber, inheriting a barber business from his dad, Daniel, Sr., a barbershop owner/preacher.  His mom was a homemaker.  Her mother was a slave that lived on the same plantation as Frederick Douglass.  He was the fifth of seven children.  After his father died from tuberculosis in 1867, 11-year old Daniel, III was shipped off to Baltimore, Maryland, where he started as a shoemaker apprentice.  He did not like the work.

He reconnected with his mother in Rockford, Illinois where he did odd jobs on lake boats and learned to cut hair.  At age 17 he opened his own barbershop.  However, this business failed, and he joined an established barbershop in Janesville, Wisconsin.  He decided to complete his secondary education, cutting hair part-time, while attending school.  He became interested in medicine when he started an apprentice with Dr. Henry Palmer, a Wisconsin surgeon, in 1878.  After 2 years with Dr. Palmer he entered medical school at Chicago Medical College where he graduated in 1883.

He immediately set up practice in Chicago after graduating and taught anatomy at the Chicago Medical College.  There were only 3 Black doctors in practice at the time.  He was called Dr. Dan by his patients. He took care of Black as well as White patients.  He was a trailblazer and set high standards in medical procedures and sanitary conditions.  Though slavery had long ended there were still obstacles related to discrimination that limited medical practice potential and patient care.  Black patients were still barred from admittance to hospitals.  Black doctors were refused staff positions at hospitals.  Dr. Hale took action to resolve the issue.  Interestingly a champion for the cause was Fredrick Douglass.

Dr. Hale co-founded the Provident Hospital and Nurses Training School in 1891.  Provident was the first Black controlled hospital in the nation.  It had interracial staff.  Dr. Williams was a surgeon there 1892-1893 and 1898 – 1912.  While working at Provident he performed the now famous open-heart surgery on July 10, 1893.  While he wasn’t the first, as has been reported, to perform open heart surgery in the United States, he was the second surgeon to perform this feat.  He was the first African American to perform the procedure.  The story was that a young Black man had been stabbed during a fight.  When he began decompensating and death impending, Dr. Hale performed the open-heart surgery.  He repaired a tear in the lining around the heart, but not the heart itself.  The patient lived for more than 2 decades after the surgery.

In 1894 Dr. Williams moved to Washington, DC where he served at the Chief Surgeon at the Freedman’s Hospital.  In 1895 he co-founded the National Medical Association since Black doctors were not allowed to participate in the American Medical Society, just because they were Black.  He married Alice Johnson in 1898 and returned to Chicago.  By 1899 he also served as a visiting Professor at Meharry Medical College.  He became the first African American charter member of the American College of Surgeons in 1913.  Until his retirement in 1926, he served as a visiting clinical professor.  He was also a member of the first Black Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi.

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III retired after a debilitating stroke in 1926.  He spent his retirement years in Idlewild Michigan, an all-Black resort community.  He died August 4, 1931 at the age of 75.

We honor Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III for his tenacity, resilience, and for taking action to improve the health and wellness of our community.

 

“If you know whence you came there is really no limit to where you can go.”  James Baldwin

The University of Colorado School of Medicine was launched in 1883.   The new medical school, despite the sentiments about co-ed medical education at the time, did offer medical school admission to “all persons of either sex.”  There was no such provision for African Americans.  Though the early female students may not have been welcomed with open arms, the first female graduated in 1891.  However, it was over 4 more decades, in 1947, before Colorado University (CU) School of Medicine graduated the first African American student, Dr. Charles J. Blackwood.  He was featured in the CU Alumnus magazine on stage with Dr. Florence Sabin with a caption that described him as the first “Negro” graduate.

Black History Month is a great time to recount the life and legacy of this great Colorado pioneer.

Dr. Blackwood was a native Coloradan.  He was born on September 25, 1921 in Trinidad, Colorado. His dad was a trained electrician who worked as a diesel technician for the Burlington Railroad system.  At one point his dad was believed to be the only African American to hold this job in the United States.  His mom was a homemaker.  Growing up Dr. Blackwood was an active member of Grace Chapel A.M.E Church.  He graduated from Trinidad High School.  His son, Charles Blackwood, III shared that his dad wanted to run off with a band, but his family encouraged him to go to college.  Dr. Blackwood’s oldest sister said they always knew that he would become a doctor.  He graduated from Trinidad State Junior College with honors.  After completing his junior college education, he received a scholarship to attend University of Colorado at Boulder.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

He entered medical school in 1943 and was also a private in the United States Army.  Dr. Blackwood successfully graduated from CU School of Medicine in 1947.  A 2005 article in the Chronicle – News, Trinidad, Colorado, mentioned that during medical school Dr. Blackwood could only sit certain places in the lecture hall and his living arrangements were separated from the rest of his classmates.  Nevertheless, Dr. Blackwood graduated at the top of his class, in the top 10.  He subsequently completed an Internship at Harlem Hospital in New York City.  This is where he met his wife-to-be, Vivian M. Eldridge, a nurse.  After the internship he returned to Colorado where he completed a two-year residency training in Medicine at Colorado General and Denver General.  During this time, he was the only African American to serve as Police Surgeon for the Denver Police Force.  Upon completing his residency, Dr. Blackwood became the Supreme Physician for the American Woodmen in Denver, Colorado and started his private practice.  He also was appointed to the staff of Colorado General Hospital as an instructor in the medical clinic and was on the staff of General Rose Hospital.  He then served three years with the United States Air Force from 1952-1955.  A highlight of his Air Force service was that he opened the Radiology Department at Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin County, California.  He was honorably discharged as a captain and returned to Denver to continue his private Internal Medicine practice.  He was appointed to the medical staffs of St. Luke’s Hospital and General Rose.  He was the first African American physician on staff at St. Luke’s.  He was the first African American clinical professor of medicine at University of Colorado School of Medicine.

During Dr. Blackwood’s years of practice, he had many patients who could not pay for their treatment, but he never turned them away.  There are still patients who talk about his kindness, compassion, and the great care that they received from Dr. Blackwood.  He was indeed a hard worker, with lots of patients, but his son has fond memories of the time and focused attention he received from his dad.  He remembers luncheon dates with his dad at Pierre’s or listening to music.

Dr. Blackwood was a member of a number of organizations including Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, International AIDS project, Colorado Epilepsy Association, and Sertoma Club.  His spare time was spent fishing, playing bridge, golfing, reading, and listening to jazz.  He loved music.  Nancy Wilson was one of his favorite female vocalists.

After retiring from his clinical practice, he organized the Blackwood Institute that focused on AIDS project and began writing a book on Holistic Medicine.  He died August 11, 1993.  His funeral was held at a historic site in Five Points and then he was buried where he was born, in Trinidad, Colorado.

But the story does not end there.  During Black History Month, February 25, 2005, CU School of Medicine and UCDHSC Office of Diversity hosted an event in honor of Dr.  Charles J. Blackwood, Jr.  Rashaan Ford a CU medical student at the time, shared his thoughts on this pioneer,  “I’m sure that only an infinitely strong, motivated, and determined person would be able to endure those types of stresses on top of a grueling medical school career in order to keep looking onward  to persevere and succeed.”  Furthermore, Ford articulates why Dr. Blackwood is truly a pioneer.  He said: “I feel ultimately indebted to him [Dr. Blackwood].  I feel like he helped pave the way for me and many of my classmates and colleagues to matriculate here.  I also realize like Dr. Blackwood, we all have to keep looking forward and continue to make strides to heighten and maintain this diversity.  Hopefully we can pave the way somehow for future generations of diverse students.”

Also, in 2005 the State of Colorado Senate and the House or Representatives honored Dr. Charles J. Blackwood for being a “devoted public servant, an outstanding citizen, and admired physician and a true pioneer.”

Let’s continue to honor and pay tribute to Dr. Charles J. Blackwood in 2020 and beyond, by maintaining a sharp focus on educating Black doctors, serving the community, and being leaders and role models for future generations.

If you would like to know more about how you can honor Dr. Blackwood,  please send us a note to: [email protected]

Just for the Health of it!

 

By: Terri Richardson, MD   2.3.20

Dr. T

Picture is from unsplash @veganliftz

 

People might think that detox should be done only when something is wrong.  I have wondered why this is a popular opinion, and it surprises me that we often believe that we have to wait until something is wrong before we decide to fix it.

Here’s my little sermon to you on detox:  Just like we do our oil change, tire rotation, and regular maintenance of a machine (car) that takes us from point A to point B; how much more should we develop the habit of proper maintenance of our physical body?

Health is wealth – they say.  When you think about the cost of prevention versus the cost of a cure; we can easily see the wealth translation.

We all know what happens when we don’t maintain our cars; check the brakes, a leak, attend to that strange noise we have heard for weeks, repair the busted headlights, renew that car registration.  It is highly likely that one day while driving, we hear a loud bang and its total breakdown.  Imagine the cost of towing your vehicle and replacing or repairing a damaged part of the car.  Imagine getting pulled over by the cops for busted headlights or expired registration; that individual will get a ticket and pay for it, in addition to the cost of fixing whatever needed fixing initially.

Be wise, don’t wait.

The goal is to have a healthy maintenance culture starting without health issues.  You don’t need to be sick and dying before you detox.

Don’t worry, I am not going to lecture you on the topic of detox or why it is good.  The goal here is to give you recipes that are quick and easy to try.  The internet has an abundance of information on definitions and reasons for detox.

I will be sharing some of the recipes I have used and liked.

For each recipe listed and discussed below, it is recommended that you try it for at least a week in order to see a difference

Try not to use more than one recipe at a time.

It is best to drink it first thing in the morning before you eat anything.

So, let’s get right to it.

Home Made Ginger-Lemon Detox Tea

• Ginger: peel ginger and shred in a Nutribullet or a blender.
• Lemon: take two lemons, wash and cut in circular slices, put in water jug/pitcher.
• Water: boil water and pour it on shredded ginger to let it sit for at least 20 minutes.
• Strain ginger over a strainer into the water jug/ pitcher containing the sliced lemon
• Then fill a 32 oz water pitcher with spring water or distilled water.
• Cinnamon: put a full tablespoon in hot water, so it dissolves easily.  Add to water mixture for added benefits

Sweetener (if needed):  You don’t need a sweetener to reduce calories, and also, this is a detox drink, adding sugar will defeat the purpose.  However, if you need to sweeten the drink, you may add honey.  Here are a few zero-calorie options (especially if you are diabetic or sensitive to insulin):  Monk Fruit Sweetener, Swerve, Erythriol, all of which I have used and recommend. I like the Monk Fruit Sweetener the best.

Leave this drink for 24 hours in the refrigerator so it all blends together.  Drink first thing in the morning.  Depending on how much you drink in the morning, it should last a few days to over a week.  Mine lasted over a week as I wasn’t drinking a full cup each time and not every morning.

Lemon Drink

It is as simple as it sounds.  Get some warm to hot water and pour it in a cup.  Squeeze half a lemon into this cup, stir, and drink warm.  Add some honey.  Add some cinnamon as well.  Drink first thing in the morning.  This recipe is the easiest and quickest recipe of all.

Tummy Blast Juice

For this recipe get some fresh mint leaves, one cucumber, half a ginger knob, ½ lemon, 3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Do not add water or honey.

Cut up the cucumber into small bits.

Peel the ginger and cut into small bits as well.

Remove lemon skin and cut in small pieces.  Pour all of this in the blender or Nutribullet.

For the Apple Cider Vinegar, I use and recommend Bragg’s with the mother. Shake up the Apple Cider Vinegar bottle to ensure the sediments are mixed up well before use.  Add 3 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar.

You can add more cucumber if you want more liquid in the mixture.

Blend for a few minutes till smooth consistency and pour into a sieve to drain out the juice. Best to drink first thing in the morning or just before bed at night.

Celery Juice

Eww!  I don’t like drinking it, but it works well!  Mind over matter, right?  A Practitioner told me to DO IT per recommendation to aid my digestive system.  Celery Juice had been a craze for almost a year before I learned about it.  I read that it was so good.  Celebrities have bragged about it.  I read it was such a craze and that celery almost went extinct!  Can you imagine that?  Humans never cease to surprise me!  Anyone who had stocks/shares in celery would have made a fortune at the time.  Who knows what is next?  Cilantro lattes?  Before all the craze, I used celery as one of the ingredients for my smoothie or Celery Juice.

To get started, you need a juicer and celery.  You can also use a blender (I’ll explain) if you don’t have a juicer.  I have a centrifugal type juicer, which makes it easy. Ladies and Gents.  It is worth the investment.

One bulk of celery gives you a 16-ounce glass.  You don’t have to drink 16-ounces right way; start with an 8-ounce cup and work your way up.

It is recommended you juice it fresh first thing in the morning and drink directly to get the most benefit and wait about 30 minutes before you drink or eat anything.

I am unable to juice every day, so I often juice for two days at a time.  Due to the kind of juicer I have, which results in a higher quality product (I believe I can give myself that allowance.).

Making Celery Juice with a Blender

You will need celery and water to blend it to a smooth consistency.

Pour moisture into a nut milk bag or cheesecloth and squeeze hard until all the juice is out and drink.

Do not put ice or warm as it destroys the potency of the drink.  When you juice a vegetable or fruit, the primary nutrients have been extracted.  You can read more about juicing online.

Using a juicer is best and recommended, however, if you don’t have one and don’t want to invest that much in one, especially if you aren’t sure it will be a habit for you, try with your blender first, to see.

It is best to fill mason jars to the brim so that air bubbles don’t get in there, which leads to oxygenation.  When I make enough for a few days, I put the juice in the refrigerator, usually stored in airtight mason jars.  I bring it out first thing in the morning to allow it to return to room temperature as I cannot gulp a 16 oz. drink down in one gulp, which is my goal since I don’t like the taste.

To be honest, the taste is not that bad.  Other people who try it think the taste is ok.  It took me a while to get used to it.  I still struggle with the taste sometimes, hence the goal of drinking in one breath as quickly as possible.

Considering the benefits, it’s so worth it.  Bowel movement ranges from instantaneous (explosive cleanse) to regular.  There is the benefit of clearer skin.  There are numerous benefits.  Feel free to check out the web and see the many benefits others have claimed.

While there are a variety of ways of detoxing and recipes for detoxing that can be found on the web, these are my tried and tested (current) few.

Here is a List of Ingredients Mentioned in the Recipes Above:

• Ginger
• Lemon
• Cinnamon
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Mint
• Apple Cider Vinegar

That’s all I got, folks!

Happy Detoxing!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Disclaimer:  This is not medical advice and doesn’t substitute for medical treatment from your Primary Care Provider.  The author isn’t responsible for any issue sustained from trying any of these Recipes. This is solely the writer’s experience and should be treated as such.

Dr. Tolu Oyewumi (MD, MPH) is a people developer, divergent thinker and voracious reader who is madly in love with learning.  With her strong scientific and artistic flair, she invites you to look at the world through a different set of binoculars and microscopes.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will be recognized on February 7^th,2020 and while the height of the AIDS epidemic has passed, it is still an important topic of discussion.  As with many health issues, the Black community is disproportionally impacted by HIV/AIDS.  Blacks only account for 4% of the population but 14.7% of those living with HIV in Colorado (Source: aidsvu.org).  Those are somewhat startling numbers but there is plenty of hopeful news around HIV.  Although there is still no cure for HIV, it is completely treatable.  The treatment goal for a person living with HIV is to get them to a status of having an undetectable viral load.  Achieving that status improves the patient’s health and eliminates the possibility of them passing on the virus.  Public health organizations communicate this concept with the campaign “U=U”, “Undetectable Equals Untransmittable”.  One of the main objectives of this campaign is to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV and lower the fear of getting tested and knowing one’s status.

There is still a big focus on prevention of HIV.  The usage of condoms for sexual activity is a primary way to prevent HIV and almost all other Sexually Transmitted Infections.  Additionally, there is a medical prevention specifically for HIV called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).  PrEP is a pill that can be taken daily to prevent HIV.  The state of Colorado offers a financial assistance program specifically for PrEP that can result in a patient receiving PrEP for a lower cost or in some cases, no cost.

You can learn more about HIV in general at the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html.  You can learn more specifically about how to get PrEP at https://pleaseprepme.org .  Find a place to get a free HIV test here: https://gettested.cdc.gov/ or https://facebook.com/testcolorado.

 

After the Susan G. Komen’s MORE THAN PINK Walk® in Colorado, the community was reminded of the prevalence of breast cancer.  Information circulated by Susan G. Komen leading up to the race stated that “every two minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer” and “every sixty seconds, someone in the world dies of breast cancer” (Susan B. Komen, August 24, 2019). Websites like the Center for Disease Control [CDC] further explain what this means for Colorado residents.  For instance, between the years of 2012 – 2016, breast cancer had the highest incidence rate compared to all other cancers for women in Colorado (CDC, 2019).  Furthermore, it was the second highest ranked cancer responsible for cancer related deaths in the state.  Interestingly, Colorado’s trends also mirror those of the nation (CDC, 2019).

Many people are unaware that medical professionals were essentially mystified by breast cancer until the 19^th century (Freeman et al, 2018).  In addition, not until the 20^th century did surgeons begin to operate in a far less invasive manner (Freeman et al., 2018).  Instead of removing all underlying muscle and breast tissue from the afflicted area, surgeons were finally able to keep the underlying muscle intact.  Not too long after, the alternative surgical option of lumpectomy was developed. Lumpectomy allowed for the cancer to be removed with little extra tissue, and thus more breast tissue was preserved.  Furthermore, in the same time frame, chemotherapies and other supplemental therapies such as radiation were shown to reduce the rate of reoccurrence of the breast cancer and prolong survival (Sakorafas & Safioleas, 2018).

Even with these scientific and medical advances, several questions are still left unanswered regarding both the causes of the onset of breast cancer and the best treatment options.  However, research has shown that the earlier breast cancer is detected, the more likely treatment will be successful (Qaseem et al., 2019).  Knowing this, medical professionals highly recommend women get screened by a mammogram.  While some practitioners argue that women should begin screening in their 50’s (Qaseem et al., 2019), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN] along with the American Cancer society [ACS] recommend that women who are at “average risk” begin getting screened in their 40’s (NCCN, 2019; ACS, 2017).  Average risk includes: no previous history of breast cancer, absence of the BRCA1/2 gene mutation, and no history of radiation therapy on the chest as a child (Qaseem et al., 2019).  Due to the shared recommendation of the NCCN and the ACS, insurance companies like Medicare and Medicaid cover women’s mammograms starting at the age of 40. However, if a woman has an increased chance of breast cancer, screenings at a younger age might additionally be covered by insurance (NCCN, 2019).  An elevated risk would be a family history of breast cancer or the presence of the BRCA1/2 gene mutation.  Nonetheless, it is important to talk with your insurance company or doctor to find out if a mammogram would be covered at your age.

When considering African American women’s health, breast cancer becomes a greater concern.  While overall there is a slightly lower prevalence of breast cancer within the Black community, death for African American women, as opposed to their White counterparts, occurs at a much higher rate (Daly et al., 2015).  Several factors that contribute to this mortality(death) gap are suggested:

• A larger population of younger African American women being diagnosed with cancer (33% being diagnosed under 50 as opposed to 21.9% of white women).
• A higher rate of triple negative breast cancer within that same population (a breast cancer that is not easily targeted with chemotherapy).
• A higher degree of African American women do not follow up after an abnormal mammogram (Daly et al., 2015).

In the past, the predominant concern was the reduced rate of African American women getting mammograms.  In comparison to European Americans “African American women were less likely to know their lifetime risk for getting breast cancer or to understand that older women were more likely to get breast cancer” (Champion & Springston, 1999).  Over time, the rate of African American women getting screened has substantially increased (Peek et al., 2004; Daly et al., 2015).  The current concern is that African American women are not following-up after their screening.  The patient provider relationship then, is thought to contribute to whether or not a woman will follow up after her initial screening.  A study conducted by Mayne and colleagues found that more women were screened when they had relatively easier access to a provider, and more women followed up when their providers gave them a direct referral (Mayne et al, 2003).  Without such referral, the medical necessity to follow up was less understood (Mayne et al., 2003).  Follow up appointments and diagnostic evaluations are often not covered by insurance.  In the event that evaluations and follow ups are recommended, they can potentially be lifesaving.

During October (Breast Cancer Awareness month) take the opportunity to encourage the women you love and care about to get screened and follow up as recommended.  Insurance will cover breast cancer screening for women above 40 years of age.  For women who are uninsured, resources exist:

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • The Colorado Department of Public Health provides women who are eligible for their Woman’s Wellness Connection (WWC) program with access to free mammograms, and if applicable, the financial assistance needed for relevant follow-ups. Their website is: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/womens-wellness-connection-wisewoman.
• Susan G. Komen’s Helpline at 1-877-GO KOMEN (1-877- 465-6636).
  • Susan G. Komen’s Helpline is able to put women in contact with mission and care coordinators here in Colorado. These care coordinators connect those who are ineligible for the WWC program to community health care clinics close to them that are able to provide adequate care at a sliding scale fee.

Together we can spread awareness! We are women! We are strong!

 

By Paige Petrone

Professional Master’s in Biomedical Science 2019

 

References:

(2019, August 24th). Komen Website Reference Materials. Retrieved from https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastFactsReference.html

ACS Breast Cancer Early Detection Recommendations. (2017, September 1). Retrieved from https:www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/American-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html

Champion, V. L., & Springston, J. (1999). Mammography adherence and beliefs in a sample of low-income African American women. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 6(3), 228–240. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0603_2

Daly, B., & Olopade, O. I. (2015). A perfect storm: How tumor biology, genomics, and health care delivery patterns collide to create a racial survival disparity in breast cancer and proposed interventions for change. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 65(3), 221–238. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21271

Freeman, M. D., Gopman, J. M., & Salzberg, A. C. (2018). The evolution of mastectomy surgical technique: from mutilation to medicine. Gland Surgery, 7(3), 308–315.

Mayne, L., & Earp, J. A. (2003). Initial and repeat mammography screening: Different behaviors/different predictors. Journal of Rural Health, 19(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2003.tb00543.x

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2019, May 17).Retrieved from https://di.org/10/1111/j.1748-0361.2003.tb00543.x

Peek, M. E., & Han, J. H. (2004). Disparities in screening mammography: Current status, interventions, and implications. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 19(2), 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30254.x

Qaseem, A., Lin, J. S., Mustafa, R. A., & Horwitch, C. A. (2019). Screening for Breast Cancer in Average-Risk Women : A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians. American College of Physicians, (2019), 547–560. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-2147

Sakorafas, G. ., & Safioleas, M. (2010). Breast cancer surgery: an historical narrative. Part III. From the onset of the 19th to the dawn of the 21st century. European Journal of Cancer Care, 19, 144–166.