I don’t know about you, but I am excited that we are in the middle of some great weather, sunny days and lots of fun. Summer always has been my favorite time of the year.  Whether it be family reunions, barbeques, bike riding, going to the beech (or whatever your favorite summer pastime is), the BlackWomensHealth.com team hopes that your summer is going well!

2008 is now half way over and I would suggest that you take a quick inventory to see how you are doing with your regard to your health and wellness goals for the year.  Have you loss the weight that you had planned for the year?  Have you been exercising at least 3 times each week or have you been able to lower your cholesterol? Is that blood pressure lower than it was in January?  The good news is that if you have not achieved all of your goals thus far, you still have 6 more months before the year is out! 

In the midst off all the summertime fun, we must continue to stay vigilant about our health and wellness.  I want to take this opportunity to share with you two important news items relating to African American health.

First, there is some sobering news for all who have diabetes or know someone in their family who has diabetes.  A new study in the June 9, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that black patients with diabetes tend to fare worse than white patients do, even if they see the same doctor. According to study author Dr. Thomas D. Sequist, a primary-care physician at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. "Amongst all providers, black patients received lower quality care, even if white patients went to the same doctors." It is clear that major disparities in care exist and we must work on many fronts to eliminate them.  Do your part by becoming more knowledgeable by reading our article on Diabetes And African American Women, and encourage others to get tested and take proper treatments if necessary.   Also, be sure to read our articles: "Living With Diabetes", "The Link Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease",  "Lose Weight without Dieting", "10 Tips to Weight Loss", and "Exercise and Diet".

Second, there is so disturbing news on the HIV front. According to the CDC, Between 2001 and 2006, male-to-male (MSM) sex was the largest HIV transmission category in the US, and in the MSM younger than age 25 group, African Americans bore the greatest burden with 7658 new diagnoses (annual rate of change 14.9 percent), followed by 3221 new cases among Caucasians (9.4 percent annual increase) and 2422 new cases among Hispanics (7.9 percent).  Again, these numbers show that African Americans are bearing the biggest brunt of the HIV epidemic.  Please read HIV and AIDS and encourage testing; we cannot afford to lose anymore of our brothers and sisters to this disease.

Peace and Blessings,

David P. Pryor, MD, MPH
President and Founder

BlackWomensHealth.com