Preventive Medicine is a board-certified specialty of medical practice that focuses on the health of individuals, communities and defined populations. Its goal is to protect, promote and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease, disability, injury and death. With that in mind, let’s discuss bicycle safety. The popularity of bicycle riding is at an […]
Health + Wellness
Find stories and resources by some of the state’s top Black physicians that aim to address current disparities in prevention and treatment within our communities.
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All MN high school coaches required to take asthma training
The Minnesota State High School League has joined the Minnesota Department of Health’s asthma program to launch an online training module that teaches coaches about asthma symptoms and how to respond if a student athlete has an asthma attack. To ensure athlete safety, the high school league is requiring that all 22,000 Minnesota high school […]
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New treatment hope for thinning hair and hair loss
There are many causes for hair thinning and hair loss. Your dermatologist can help determine the exact cause and, in turn, help develop the appropriate treatment plan. The most common type of hair loss, called androgenetic hair loss (alopecia), is also known as male pattern and female pattern hair loss (also alopecia). Alopecia is the medical […]
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Advancing the growth of healthy, safe relationships
The BeMore Campaign knows that Black M.E.N. C.A.N be the solution. BeMore has become the frontrunner in increasing healthy nonviolent relationships, decreasing teen dating violence, and engaging men and young men to end violence against women and girls inside of homes and in communities around the world. The BeMore pledge goes hand in hand with […]
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To live a long, healthy and prosperous life, protect your head!
This column adds new information to a previous column, “Concussions can have long-term effects,” published in the August 31, 2016 issue of the MSR. In a shocking report published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 99 percent, or 110 out of 111 brains from deceased professional (NFL) football players donated to […]
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Great news: There is a vaccine that prevents cancer
The sad news is it’s underutilized There is a virus that causes certain types of human cancer. It is the human papilloma virus. There are over 100 different subtypes of human papilloma virus. Some types of human papilloma virus can cause common and genital warts. Fortunately, only nine types of human papilloma virus are associated with serious […]
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PTSD sufferers can now get help from medical cannabis
Patches, balms and lotions available soon to registered patients As of July 1, Minnesota patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can register to receive medical cannabis through the State’s medical cannabis program. Last December, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced plans to add PTSD to the program’s list of qualifying conditions. Patients certified by […]
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Measles outbreak not yet over
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed an additional case of measles associated with an outbreak that has been occurring primarily in Hennepin County since late March. The newest case is an unvaccinated, White adult who lives in Hennepin County and was likely exposed to measles at locations frequented by the last identified case. […]
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African Americans most at risk for brain aging
Stressful events and living conditions increase risk of dementia as we age Studies at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, held in London, highlight racial disparities in dementia risk and incidence. They confirm racial inequities in numbers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias — even after age 90 — and also point to […]
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Want to prevent illness and disease? Wash your hands!
Of all the things you can do to prevent illness and the spread of disease, proper handwashing may be the easiest and most effective. Here are simple guidelines to properly wash your hands. Talk to your children, friends and family members and make sure they get into the good hand-washing habit, too. Repeated hand-washing is […]
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A mother’s pain became a call to action
This summer marks 62 years since the 1955 lynching of then-14-year-old Emmett Till by White supremacists. It was alleged that he had flirted with a White female grocery store clerk while visiting relatives in Mississippi. The clerk’s husband and a group of other White men abducted him, beating him such that he could only be […]
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Rod Carew counts his blessings with new heart, kidney
A new person joins the organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, and at least 22 people die each day waiting for a transplant, according to the federal Organdonor.gov website. One person who has had the good fortune to receive such a transplant is using his life extension to educate and encourage potential donors. Baseball […]
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What is meningitis and why should I care about it?
The meninges is the name of the three-layered protective tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord. The suffix “-itis” is commonly used in medicine to denote “inflammation.” Meningitis is an infection, inflammation and swelling of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Meningitis can be caused both by bacteria and viruses. Bacterial infections of […]
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Blue-green algae: If in doubt, stay out
Summer is here, and while water enthusiasts and pets enjoy swimming and boating when the weather is calm and sunny, these conditions are also perfect for growing blue-green algae, which can be harmful to both people and animals. Last summer, blue-green algal blooms were reported in lakes across the state, from near the Iowa border […]
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Food-insecure children more likely to have social and behavioral problems
Throughout the school year, children are guaranteed access to balanced meals; those children go without adequate nutrition over the summer. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 13.1 million children under age 18 are living in “food-insecure families.” Not all of those families are eligible for Federal Assistance. Moreover, a food-insecure child is more […]
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Water safety precautions to keep your summer tragedy-free
Preventive Medicine is a board-certified specialty of medical practice that focuses on the health of individuals, communities and defined populations. Its goal is to protect, promote and maintain health and well-being and to prevent disease, disability and death. With that in mind, I’d like to discuss tips for staying safe in and around the water […]
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Midwives of color may improve health outcomes
Research promises to settle the question Conclusion of a two-part story Black Midwife Rebecca Polston and University of Minnesota Health Professor Rachel Hardeman are collaborating on a research project. The two women are testing a hypothesis that access to culturally focused care is a predictor of improved health outcomes, including psychosocial stress during pregnancy. The […]
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Be skin smart and sun safe this summer – Part II
Conclusion of a two-part column Last week’s column discussed good skin care, especially moisturization, and the dangers of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. This week we look at skin color, vitamin D, and measures to reduce and prevent sun damage. It’s very interesting when you look at skin color, which is merely a reflection of our […]
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Northside birth center offers Black midwifery
First of a two-part story A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll recently found that only three in 10 members of the public hold favorable views of the House Republican-passed American Health Care Act, while nearly half still favor the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The poll also shows that 55 percent of the 1,205 adult respondents […]
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Challenging domestic abuse
The BeMore Campaign knows that Black M.E.N. C.A.N be the solution. BeMore has become the frontrunner in increasing healthy nonviolent relationships, decreasing teen dating violence, and engaging men and young men to end violence against women and girls inside of homes and in communities around the world. The BeMore pledge goes hand in hand with […]