How do I lose weight and keep it off? What’s the most effective treatment for Black people? Dean & Doc explore the latest in Black Health News and share it with you.
Question: What are the latest pregnancy mortality rates and has COVID had an effect on that?
Dr. Micheal LeNoir: In 2020 black maternal mortality, black pregnant women died more often than whites by a significant factor: 2.9 times higher than whites which is 14% higher than before the pandemic started. The implication being that there’s something about this virus that affects pregnancy. Now it took us a while to understand that we do know that pregnant women do die more often that have COVID. We also know that babies born to mothers who have COVID are a bit premature. Other reasons that were given was no access to adequate obstetrical care and the second reason was there’s no vaccine.
Ellis Dean: The maternal mortality rate for black women in their early twenties is matching that of white women that are in their mid to late thirties. And so, as we know, as women age, pregnancies can become more complicated. And so when you have someone that’s in those prime child birthing years, having the same mortality rate as somebody at the end of their birthing years, that is a significant problem. There’s some good news. There are some organizations and some companies that are paying attention. So for example Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of the largest insurance providers in the country has dedicated resources and funds to lower that maternal mortality rate by 50% over the next five years.
Question: What are the latest recommendations for exercise?
Dr. Michael LeNoir: The sweet spot seems to be exercising vigorously, like walking for 35 minutes. 11 to 35 minutes of exercise a day could buy you some time in the long run. You still have to watch your weight, but 11 minutes, even I can do that.
Ellis Dean: We have to be more efficient with how we exercise and the type of exercises. So that 11 minutes, I don’t suggest that as the only exercise to happen every day. But I think that if you could walk after your meal, take a walk, that is an efficient exercise.
Question: Is there a reason that albuterol should not be the only treatment for asthma?
Dr. Micheal LeNoir: In very simple terms, there are two things that happen in asthma. One is the airway closes down and the other is that a bunch of cells move into your lung and they set up shop there. Sometimes they’re there to protect you. Sometimes it’s allergy, sometimes it’s infection and those cells release chemicals. And those chemicals force that airway to close down. Now, all albuterol does is open up the airway, regardless of what closes it in asthma. It will not help you as much in chronic obstructive lung disease, but with asthma albuterol opens up the airway. But let me give you statistics about albuterol. Those who use albuterol as their only drug for chronic asthma are in the emergency room more and die more often because albuterol is not a maintenance medicine. It is a rescue medicine. And if you keep pushing on that receptor, pushing on that receptor to open up, eventually that receptor may become refractory.
Click the link to hear more discussions about various health states in the black community.
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