By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black Black patients are more likely than other racial groups to be restrained during emergency department (ED) visits, according to a new study by Baylor University College of Medicine. The findings — released in JAMA Internal Medicine on Sept. 25 — are based on a systematic review of 10 studies […]
Category: Health
Parasite detected in Baltimore’s Druid Lake Reservoir
By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political WriterTmcqueen@afro.com The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) announced on Sept. 28 their discovery of Cryptosporidium (Crypto), a microscopic parasite, in the Druid Lake Reservoir. This discovery has impacted parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County. “Monthly, DPW collects samples both at Ashburton and Druid Lake Reservoirs and […]
Raising awareness and reducing stigma about ADHD
By Mylika ScatliffeAFRO Women’s Health Writer Peyton Cain, 14, of Glen Burnie, Md., was in second grade, when her teacher noticed she was having trouble staying focused in class. “She mentioned it was really hard for Peyton to stay on task,” said Teri Cain, Peyton’s mother. “She would easily distract herself. If she saw another […]
Addressing the childhood obesity public health crisis with a holistic and family focused approach #education
By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer What is obesity? According to the Oxford English dictionary obesity is “the condition in which excess fat has accumulated in the body, mostly in the subcutaneous tissues.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines obesity as an adult with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 […]
It’s time to address Parkinson’s Disease in the Black community
By Valerie Gibson Too many African Americans with Parkinson’s disease experience invisibility when it comes to their medical care. In fact, no one in the Parkinson’s healthcare community even has an estimate as to the number of Blacks in this country living with the disease. As a Black neurological physical therapist who has treated Parkinson’s […]
Taraji P. Henson expands mental wellness program to 2nd HBCU campus
By AFRO Staff Actress Taraji P. Henson is continuing her goal to boost mental health among Black women. Building upon their inaugural success at Alabama State University, Henson’s nonprofit, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is expanding its partnership with kate spade new york to establish their “She Care Wellness Pods” at Hampton University this fall. […]
Good Fathers Only founder explains the impact of male parents
Reginald WilliamsSpecial to the AFRO According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, Black fathers are more engaged in the lives of their children than any other population of fathers– even when a father lives apart from their child. One might ask why the propensity to color Black fathers with hues of […]
New COVID-19 variant ‘Pirola’ raises concerns amidst ongoing crises
By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia (NNPA NEWSWIRE) – Amidst a news cycle that now routinely features wildfires, a former president’s indictments, and extreme weather events, the world is grappling with the resurgence of COVID-19 as a new and concerning variant, BA.2.86, emerges. This variant, informally dubbed “Pirola,” has ignited alarm among public […]
Black leaders voice opposition to impending FDA ban on menthol cigarette and flavored cigars
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Political Writer tmcqueen@afro.com As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars this fall, several Black leaders recently gathered on a virtual call to seek a halt on the policy and stress the negative impact the prohibition could have on Black Americans. “I find […]
Black veterans and inaccessibility to mental health resources
By Sam JudyThe Dallas Weekly News (NNPA Newswire) ━ Despite taking the same risk of death and costly sacrifice to their mental wellbeing, Black Veterans continue to suffer as mental health services are statistically less accessible to them than their White counterparts. Institutional racism continues to persist as the Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged […]
Companies manufacturing products with ‘forever chemicals’ expected to face repercussions in 2024
By Tashi McQueen, AFRO Political Writer, tmcqueen@afro.com In recent years, Americans have been raising concerns about toxic chemicals found in drinking water within firefighters protective gear, which largely include PFAS, a “forever chemical” found in polyfluoroalkyl substances which feature particles that slowly break down over time. Since the 1950s, products made with these chemicals have […]
Black students at remote colleges still need hair products — enter a vending machine
Attending colleges ‘in the middle of nowhere’ can present a struggle for Black students who need hair care products. (Black PR Wire) – When Rahya Kelley isn’t attending classes or practicing with her cheerleading squad at Olivet College, she styles the hair of Black students on campus. But it can be tough for Kelley to […]

