There’s an epidemic of cardiovascular disease in the United States, and it’s especially prevalent in minority communities.
Photo by g-stockstudio
Phillip Duncan wants to motivate Richmond residents to join the battle to fight the epidemic.
The Richmond cardiologist is serving as local host for Spirit of the Heart, a community health initiative of the Association of Black Cardiologists Inc., which will hold a series of education and health events in Richmond from Oct. 28-30.
The focal point is a free health and education fair to be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Trinity Family Life Center, 3601 Dill Road. That event will feature actor Lamman Rucker, who is currently in the dramatic series “Greenleaf” on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and starred in the Tyler Perry films “Why Did I Get Married,” “Why Did I Get Married Too” and “Meet The Browns.”
Lammon Rucker
Lamman Rucker
Other health fair offerings include free health tests including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screening; food preparation demonstrations; fitness and interactive events and educational presentations; activities for children and informational sessions. There’s also a walk-through inflatable heart, so you can learn from the inside out how the heart functions, Dr. Duncan says.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some form of cardiovascular disease is present in about 48 percent of black women and in about 44 percent of African-American men. African-Americans also lead the world in high blood pressure rates, according to the American Heart Association.
The local event will focus on the prevalence of heart failure, the most common heart disease that no one knows about, Dr. Duncan says. “It’s terribly underrecognized, underappreciated and underdiagnosed," he adds.
Heart failure, or fluid on the heart, effects all ages, and is far more common in African-Americans than in other groups. Its onset occurs a decade earlier in black Americans than in white, and African-Americans also suffer the highest mortality rates from the condition. Dr. Duncan notes there are likely multiple factors contributing to a higher incidence of the condition in African-Americans. High blood pressure, which is also more prevalent in African-Americans than in any other group, is the most common factor. Genetics, diabetes, obesity and socioeconomic and psycho-social factors also likely contribute, he said.
Early symptoms can be subtle and can include shortness of breath, fatigue, a cough at night, feeling light-headed, and swelling or bloating. A variety of tests can be used in the diagnosis, including an echocardiogram, a BNP blood test or an EKG.
It can be managed, and people with the condition can usually enjoy a decent quality of life if they are diagnosed and treated early and aggressively. There are several medications available that are effective in treatment, and some that “can actually improve outcomes,” he said.
Spirit of the Heart opens with a by-invitation community leaders' forum from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 28, at the John Marshall Ballrooms on North Fifth Street. It’s an educational session that will offer information on cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment and management, and on developing ways to improve the quality of life in the city, according to a release.
On Sunday, Oct. 30, the initiative will be taken to the pulpits in various churches across the city, with information provided on nutrition, healthcare and lifestyle and behavior modification.
CAPSULES
A weekly roundup of health and medicine news
Alzheimer's Care
A caregiver’s perspective on Alzheimer’s is the subject of a monthlong multimedia project from the Community Idea Stations. The public broadcasting outlets will present vignettes on radio station WCVE-FM (88.9) beginning today and continuing through Nov. 17. They will air during “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
A documentary, “Alzheimer’s: The Caregivers Perspective,” will air on its television stations, WCVE and WHTJ, at 9 p.m. on Nov. 10 and at 11 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Caregiver workshops will be offered Nov. 17. Learn more and register.
Alzheimer’s research will be the topic of a presentation by George S. Bloom from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the Science Pub RVA series. It will be held at The Tin Pan, 8982 Quioccasin Road. Admission is $5.
Zombie Walk
What better way to boost breast cancer awareness than to dress up like an undead, shuffling, brain-eating zombie and stagger and shuffle about Scott’s Addition?
That’s the thinking behind the neighborhood's inaugural Zombie Walk, which begins at noon on Saturday at Isley Brewing Company, 1715 Summit Ave. Dress up, get your zombie goo makeup in order and get ready for the walk, which begins at 1 p.m. and will last about an hour before the undead horde returns to Isley for some food truck fare and brews. South Hill Banks performs, beginning at 6 p.m. The event benefits the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. Admission is $15.
Last Ride
You’ve got your last chance to Breakaway next week. The final community bicycle ride for the season, sponsored by Breakaway RVA, will be held Thursday, Oct. 27. As usual, there will be several starting points around the city and the destination is a secret. It’s a family-friendly event. The ride begins at 6 p.m.
State of Mental Health
An advocacy group that promotes early treatment for mental illness has given Virginia low marks in an annual assessment. The group, Mental Health America, in its third annual State of Mental Health report, placed Virginia at 38 in the nation, based on its overall score in 15 categories. Connecticut topped the survey, which was based on data from 2014. The better the score, the greater the access to mental health treatment and the lower the prevalence of mental illness.
Dental Sealants
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is promoting increased use of dental sealants, especially in children. Sealants are painted onto the chewing surface of back teeth and prevent 80 percent of cavities. Low-income children are 20 percent less likely to have sealant treatment and twice as likely to have untreated cavities than children from higher-income families.
CDC Dental Sealants infographic
Image courtesy CDC
