Brand Newz introduces a new segment about health with trainer and physical expert Will Potts. Will will share great tips and simple excercises that will help prevent and resolve health issues. In addition Brand Newz will still feature occassional inspirational stories from people around the country who are beating the odds in spite of negative statistics, through Potts and health information that BNz provides. We hope to contribute to a long prosperous life to our viewers. We ask that those that are dealing with serious health matters consult with your doctor about any physical illnesses.   

Certain diseases and conditions are major issues in the African American population so it is of great importantance that African Americans understand how these diseases and conditions may possibly affect their lives, and the significance to take the appropriate measures to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The major health issues that face African-Americans include: Diabetes, Hypertension, Lupus, Prostate Cancer, Sickle Cell Disease.

Diabetes is a disease that affects 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people or nearly one-third are unaware that they have the disease. What is diabetes, diabetes is when the body does not produce or properly use insulin. What is insulin, insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, in the African-American community although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

In the OGTT test, a person’s blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

Major Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

Pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

What is hypertension? What causes hypertension and what are the symptoms?

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels), which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and it contributes to hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis and the development of heart failure.

What Is “Normal” Blood Pressure?

There are several categories of blood pressure, including:

Normal: Less than 120/80,
Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89,
Stage 1 hypertension: 140-159/90-99,
Stage 2 hypertension: 160 and above/100 and above
People whose blood pressure is above the normal range should consult their doctor about methods for lowering it.

What Causes Hypertension?

The exact causes of hypertension are not known. Several factors and conditions may play a role in its development, including: Smoking, Being overweight, Lack of physical activity, Too much salt in the diet, Too much alcohol consumption (no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day), Stress, Older age, Genetics, Family history of high blood pressure, Chronic kidney disease, and Adrenal and thyroid disorders.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypertension?

There are usually no symptoms or signs of hypertension. In fact, nearly one-third of those who have it don’t know it. The only way to know if you have hypertension definitely is to have your blood pressure checked. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including: Severe headache, Fatigue or confusion, Vision problems, Chest pain, Difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat.

Who Is More Likely to Develop Hypertension?

African-Americans, People with family members who have high blood pressure, People who smoke, African-Americans, Women who are pregnant, Women who take birth control pills, People over the age of 35, People who are overweight or obese, People who are not active, and People who drink alcohol excessively and, People who eat too many fatty foods or foods with too much salt.

How Is Hypertension Diagnosed?

Your health care provider can tell if you have hypertension by checking your blood pressure with a special meter called a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, dial, pump, and valve. You can also measure your own blood pressure at home. You should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year to make sure you don’t have hypertension.

What Health Problems Are Associated With Hypertension?

Hypertension is a serious condition that can damage the heart and blood vessels, and can eventually lead to several other conditions, including: Stroke, Heart failure, Heart attack, Kidney failure and, Vision problems.

How Is Hypertension Treated?

Hypertension is typically treated by making changes in your lifestyle, and with drug therapy. Lifestyle changes include losing weight, stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet (such as the DASH diet, which includes lowering sodium but including daily servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods), and getting enough exercise, especially aerobic exercise.

What is lupus?

Lupus, also called systemic lupus erythematosus (sis-teh-mik lew-pus er-eh-thee-muh-toh-sis) or SLE, is a disease that affects your immune system. Normally, your immune system fights infections caused by germs. Instead of protecting your body, your immune system makes the mistake of attacking your body’s healthy cells. Lupus can affect almost any part of your body, including your joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. There is no way to know what part of your body will be affected. For most people though, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few parts of your body, and some patients don’t get inner organ problems (like in the heart and lungs), but do have skin and joint problems. Normally, lupus develops slowly, with symptoms that come and go. For some, it can cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Even for patients with diseases that hurt their organs, with good care and management and a strong partnership between a patient and her health care provider, the prognosis is good.

Who has lupus?

Lupus affects up to 1.4 million people in the United States. About 9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women. Lupus is 3 times more common in black women than in white women. It is also more common in women of Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and American Indian descent. Black and Hispanic/Latina women tend to develop symptoms at an earlier age than other women. African Americans have more severe organ problems, especially with their kidneys.

What are the different types of lupus?

There are several forms of lupus:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is the most common type of lupus. SLE can affect many parts of the body including joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, blood, and brain. Although SLE usually develops in people between the ages of 15 and 44 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life. The signs of SLE vary and there are usually periods of both illness and wellness (also called remission or having no symptoms). Some people have just a few signs of the disease while others have more.

Its symptoms can include:”butterfly” rash across the nose and cheeks, skin rashes on parts of the body exposed to the sun, sores in the mouth or nose, painful or swollen joints, fever, weight loss, hair loss, fatigue, chest pain when taking deep breaths, purple or pale fingers or toes from cold or stress, abdominal pain, kidney inflammation, headaches, paranoia, schizophrenia, hallucinations, depression, trouble thinking memory problems, seizures, strokes and blood clots

Discoid (diss-koid) lupus erythematosus (DLE). DLE just affects the skin. It does not affect other organs, like SLE. Its symptoms can include: a red, raised rash on the face, scalp, or other parts of the body. The rash may become thick and scaly and may last for days or years and sores in the mouth or nose (sometimes)

A small group of people with DLE later develop SLE. There is no way to know if someone with DLE will get SLE. A skin biopsy (removing a piece of skin to look at under a microscope) of the rash is taken to diagnose this type of lupus.

Drug-induced lupus. This type of lupus is a reaction to some prescription medicines. The symptoms of this type of lupus are similar to SLE, except you don’t have problems with your kidneys or central nervous system. It can take months to years of taking the medicine before symptoms appear. After you stop taking the drug, it could take days, weeks, or months for symptoms to go away.

Neonatal lupus. While rare, some newborn babies of women with SLE or other immune system disorders get lupus. Babies with neonatal lupus may have a serious heart defect. About one-half of babies with neonatal lupus are born with a heart condition. This condition is permanent, but it can be treated with a pacemaker (a device that helps the heart set a rhythm). Other affected babies may have a skin rash or liver problems. Some babies have both heart and skin problems.

What causes lupus?

The cause of lupus is not known. It is likely that there is no single cause but a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors that work together to cause the disease. Lupus is not contagious-you can’t catch it from someone. No specific “lupus gene” has been found, but it does run in families.

How is SLE diagnosed?

SLE may be hard to diagnose and is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has often been called the “great imitator.” No single test can tell if a person has lupus. There are many ways to diagnose SLE:
1. Medical history. Give your health care provider (HCP) a complete, accurate medical history. This information, along with a physical exam and special tests, helps your HCP rule out other diseases that can be confused with lupus.
2. Symptoms. Having 4 (or more) of the 11 symptoms of lupus, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology. For a list of these symptoms, go to www.rheumatology.org/research/classification/sle.html
3. Lab tests. The Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a commonly used test. An antibody is a chemical the body makes to fight off infections. The test looks for the strength of your antibodies. Most people with lupus test positive for ANA. However, other health problems, like malaria (a disease from a mosquito bite), can also give you a positive test. That’s why other tests may be needed.

What are flares?

When symptoms appear, it’s called a “flare.” These signs may come and go. You may have swelling and rashes one week and no symptoms at all the next. You may find that your symptoms flare after you’ve been out in the sun or after a hard day at work. Even if you take medicine for lupus, you may find that there are times when the symptoms become worse. Learning to recognize that a flare is coming can help you take steps to cope with it. Many people feel very tired or have pain, a rash, a fever, stomach discomfort, headache, or dizziness just before a flare.

Take steps to prevent flares: Learn to recognize that a flare is coming, Try to set realistic goals and priorities, Limit the time you spend in the sun, Maintain a healthy diet, Develop coping skills to help limit stress, Get enough rest and quiet, Exercise moderately when possible and develop a support system by surrounding yourself with people you trust and feel comfortable with like family and friends.

How is lupus treated?

There is no known cure for lupus, but there are effective treatments. Most of the symptoms of lupus are from inflammation (swelling), so treatment focuses on reducing the swelling.
Work closely with your HCP to ensure that your treatment plan is as successful as possible. Because some treatments may cause harmful side effects, promptly report any new symptoms to your HCP. It is also important not to stop or change treatments without talking to your HCP first.

Is it safe for me to become pregnant?

Today, most women with lupus can safely become pregnant. With proper medical care, you can lower the risks of pregnancy and deliver a normal, healthy baby. However, you must carefully plan your pregnancy. Your disease should be under control or in remission for 12 months before you get pregnant. Find an obstetrician (OB) who is experienced in managing high-risk pregnancies and who can work closely with your primary HCP. Plan your delivery at a hospital that can manage high-risk patients and provide the specialized care you and your baby may need. Talk to your doctor about which medicines are safe to take while pregnant.

Women with lupus may face certain problems during the pregnancy. While flares are not caused by pregnancy, flares that do develop often occur during the first or second trimester or during the first few months following delivery. Most flares are mild and easily treated with small doses of corticosteroids. Another complication is pre-eclampsia. If you develop this serious condition, you will have a sudden increase in blood pressure, protein in the urine, or both. This is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment, and you might have to deliver your infant early.

Babies born to women with lupus have no greater chance of birth defects or mental retardation than do babies born to women without lupus. As your pregnancy progresses, your OB will regularly check the baby’s heartbeat and growth with sonograms (an machine that creates pictures of your baby’s organs). Although giving birth to your baby early (prematurity) presents a danger to the baby, most problems can be successfully treated in a hospital that specializes in caring for premature newborns. About 3% of babies born to mothers with lupus will have neonatal lupus.

Breastfeeding your baby is safe for mothers with lupus. If you are on medications and breastfeeding, talk with your provider about how the medicine might affect your baby.

How can I tell the difference between symptoms of lupus and symptoms of pregnancy?

It may be hard to tell the difference. You may have symptoms from being pregnant that you mistake for lupus symptoms.

Here are just some problems that may cause confusion:
Skin. While pregnant, you may have red palms and a rash. Lupus can also cause a rash.
Joints. Lupus can cause arthritis, and pregnancy can cause aching in your joints.
Lungs. It may be hard for you to breathe if you have lupus. Pregnancy can also cause a shortness of breath and hyperventilation.
Talk to your health care provider about how to tell the difference between the physical changes you will have during your pregnancy and symptoms of lupus.

How can I cope with the stress of having lupus?

Staying healthy takes extra effort and care for women with lupus. Sometimes, women with lupus may feel tired, and you may need extra rest because of your treatments. If you feel tired, make a point to allow yourself extra time in your schedule for rest.

Some approaches that may help you to cope with lupus include: exercising, relaxing using techniques like meditation, setting priorities for spending time and energy, educating yourself about the disease and having a good support system.

A support system may include family, friends, HCPs, community organizations, and organized support groups. Participating in a support group can provide emotional help, boost self-esteem and morale, and help develop or improve coping skills. Also, talk to your family about how they can support your efforts to take care of yourself.

African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world and the lowest rate of survival. The head of the American Cancer Society (ACS), Charles J. McDonald, MD, says: “Black men in America are 1.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer and are 2 to 3 times more likely to die of the disease than white men.”

“Prostate cancer, particularly among African Americans, is a disgraceful tragedy that needs immediate and drastic action,” says John R. Kelly, a board director of the American Cancer Society. The ACS has issued a National Blueprint for Action on prostate cancer, promising to spend $8 to $10 million annually.
Black men face a much higher risk of prostate cancer than whites, and a higher risk of dying from the disease. Today, researchers who believe they are zeroing in on answers say that too few African-American men have ever been involved enough to find out if promising genetic findings apply to African-American as well as Caucasian men.

“African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. The severity is higher and they tend to die more quickly after diagnosis Sickle cell anemia is a serious condition in which the red blood cells can become sickle-shaped (that is, shaped like a “C”).

Normal red blood cells are smooth and round like a doughnut without a hole. They move easily through blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Sickle-shaped cells don’t move easily through blood. They’re stiff and sticky and tend to form clumps and get stuck in blood vessels. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in the blood vessels that lead to the limbs and organs. Blocked blood vessels can cause pain, serious infections, and organ damage.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited, lifelong condition. People who have sickle cell anemia are born with it. They inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene, one from each parent. People who inherit a sickle cell gene from one parent and a normal gene from the other parent have a condition called sickle cell trait.
Sickle cell trait is different from sickle cell anemia. People with sickle cell trait don’t have the condition, but they have one of the genes that cause the condition. Like people with sickle cell anemia, people with sickle cell trait can pass the gene on when they have children. To learn more about sickle cell trait, see the section on causes of sickle cell anemia.

Anemia

Anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh) is a condition in which a person’s blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or the red blood cells don’t have enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Red blood cells are made in the spongy marrow inside the large bones of the body. Bone marrow constantly makes new red blood cells to replace old ones. Normal red blood cells last about 120 days in the bloodstream and then die. Their main role is to carry oxygen, but they also remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from cells and carry it to the lungs to be exhaled.

In sickle cell anemia, a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells occurs because sickle cells don’t last very long. Sickle cells die faster than normal red blood cells, usually after only about 10 to 20 days. The bone marrow can’t make new red blood cells fast enough to replace Sickle cell anemia affects millions of people worldwide. There are excellent treatments for the symptoms and complications of the condition, but in most cases there’s no cure. (Some researchers believe that bone marrow transplants may offer a cure in a small number of cases.)

Over the past 30 years, doctors have learned a great deal about the condition. They know what causes it, how it affects the body, and how to treat many of the complications. Today, with good health care, many people with the condition live close to normal lives and are in fairly good health much of the time. These people can live into their forties or fifties, or longer.

Sickle cell anemia affects millions of people worldwide. It’s most common in people whose families come from Africa, South or Central America (especially Panama), Caribbean islands, Mediterranean countries (such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy), India, and Saudi Arabia.

In the United States, sickle cell anemia affects about 70,000 people. It mainly affects African Americans, with the condition occurring in about 1 in every 500 African American births. Hispanic Americans also are affected; the condition occurs in 1 out of every 1,000 to 1,400 Hispanic American births.
About 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait. About 1 in 12 African Americans has sickle cell trait.
The signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia are different in each person. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have very severe symptoms and are often hospitalized for treatment. Although sickle cell anemia is present at birth, many infants don’t show any signs until after 4 months of age.

The most common signs and symptoms are linked to anemia and pain. Other signs and symptoms are linked to some of the complications of the condition.

Anemia

The general signs and symptoms of anemia are fatigue (tiredness), pale skin and nail beds, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and shortness of breath.
Pain (Sickle Cell Crisis)

Sudden episodes of pain throughout the body are a common symptom of sickle cell anemia and are often referred to as “sickle cell crises.”

A sickle cell crisis occurs when the red blood cells sickle (become “C” shaped) and stick together in clumps. The clumps block the flow of blood through the small blood vessels (capillaries) in the limbs and organs.

Sickle crises can cause acute or chronic pain. Acute pain is the most common type. This is sudden pain that can range from mild to very severe. The pain usually lasts from hours to a few days. Chronic pain usually lasts for weeks to months. Chronic pain can be hard to bear and mentally draining. This pain may severely limit daily activities.

Almost all people with sickle cell anemia have painful crises at some point in their lives. Some have a crisis less than once a year. Others may have 15 or more crises in a year. Many factors can contribute to a sickle cell crisis. Often, more than one factor is involved and the exact cause can’t be identified. Factors that occur in your body and aren’t under your control can cause a sickle cell crisis, such as an infection.

Factors that you can control also can affect whether you have a sickle cell crisis. For example, dehydration (when your body doesn’t have enough fluid) can increase your chances of having a sickle cell crisis. Drinking plenty of fluids so your body is hydrated can often help decrease the chance of a crisis.
The most common sites affected by sickle cell crises are the bones, lungs, abdomen, and joints. The blocked blood flow can cause pain and organ damage.

Complications of Sickle Cell Anemia

Complications of sickle cell anemia come from the effects of sickle cell crises on different parts of the body.

Hand-Foot Syndrome

When sickle cells block the small blood vessels in the hands or feet, pain and swelling along with fever can occur. One or both hands and/or feet may be affected at the same time. Pain may be felt in the many bones of the hands and feet. Swelling usually occurs on the back of the hands and feet and moves into the fingers and toes. This may be the first sign of sickle cell anemia in infants.

Splenic (Sequestration) Crisis

The spleen is an organ in the abdomen that filters out abnormal red blood cells and helps fight infection. Sometimes, the spleen traps many cells that should be in the bloodstream and it grows large. This causes anemia. Blood transfusions may be needed until the body can make more cells and recover. If the spleen becomes too clogged with sickle cells, it can’t work normally. It begins to shrink and stop working.
Infections

Both children and adults with sickle cell anemia have a hard time fighting infections. Sickle cell anemia can damage the spleen.

Infants and young children with a damaged spleen are more likely to get infections that can kill them within hours or days. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death in young children who have sickle cell anemia. Meningitis, influenza, and hepatitis are other infections that are common in people with sickle cell anemia.

Acute Chest Syndrome

Acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening condition linked to sickle cell anemia. It’s similar to pneumonia and is caused by an infection or by sickle cells trapped in the lungs. People with this condition usually have chest pain, fever, and an abnormal chest x ray. Over time, lung damage may lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (see below).

Delayed Growth and Puberty in Children

Children with sickle cell anemia often grow more slowly and reach puberty later than other children. A shortage of red blood cells (anemia) causes the slow growth rate. Adults with sickle cell anemia often are slender or small in size.

Stroke

Sickle-shaped red blood cells may stick to the walls of the tiny blood vessels in the brain. This can cause a stroke. This type of stroke occurs mainly in children. The stroke can cause learning disabilities or more severe problems.

Eye Problems

The retina, a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, takes the images you see and sends them to your brain. When the retina doesn’t get enough blood, it can weaken. A weak retina can cause serious problems, including blindness.

Priapism

Males with sickle cell anemia may have painful and unwanted erections called priapism (PRI-a-pizm). This happens because the sickle cells stop blood flow out of an erect penis. Over time, priapism can damage the penis and lead to impotence.

Gallstones

When red blood cells die, they release their hemoglobin, which the body breaks down into a compound called bilirubin. When there is too much bilirubin in the body, stones can form in the gallbladder.

Gallstones can cause steady pain that lasts for 30 minutes or more in the upper right side of the belly, under the right shoulder, or between the shoulder blades. The pain may happen after eating fatty meals. People with gallstones may have nausea, vomiting, fever, sweating, chills, clay-colored stool, or jaundice (yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes).

Ulcers on the Legs

Sickle cell ulcers (sores) usually begin as small, raised, crusted sores on the lower third of the leg. Leg sores occur more often in males than in females and usually appear between the ages of 10 and 50. The cause of leg ulcers is not clear. The number of ulcers can vary from one to many. Some heal rapidly, but others persist for years or come back after healing.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Damage to the small blood vessels in the lungs makes it hard for the heart to pump blood through the lungs. This causes blood pressure in the lungs to increase. This condition is called pulmonary arterial hypertension. Excessive shortness of breath is an important symptom linked to this problem.

Multiple Organ Failure

Multiple organ failure is rare, but serious. It happens when a person has a sickle cell crisis that causes two out of three major organs (lungs, liver, or kidney) to fail. Symptoms linked to this complication are a fever and changes in mental status such as sudden tiredness and loss of interest in your surroundings.

Most of these health conditions that face African-Americans can he eliminated by changing one’s lifestyle and eating habits, but for those that can’t be prevented modern day medicines have been developed to staginate and prolong one’s good health.