Taking care of your mental as well as physical wellbeing is of crucial importance. Access resources and tips for providing quality care to loved ones and those in need.
Your physician can request a wellness exam in an effort to prevent illness. The evaluation primarily consists of questions about procedures that have been recommended for you and risk factors for certain diseases based on your lifestyle. Questions will be...
It was recently reported that Oscar nominated, director John Singleton, experienced a stroke that resulted in hospitalization. The CDC reports that strokes occur two times more frequently in African American men than in Caucasian men. My experiences with...
The bucket list is a collection of things that you would like to accomplish within your lifetime. Frankly, I never thought of a bucket list until the death of my youngest daughter, Tonisha Bell Alston. She decided to take matters into her own hands and...
During the Christmas season, overindulgence of alcoholic beverages is possible. These drinks can wreak havoc on your health and can cause a trip to the ER, result in being admitted to the hospital, and possibly death. The intake of excessive alcohol can cause...
It is well documented that the social determinants of health play a major role in the health outcome of African Americans and the underserved. Recently, I witnessed this with a young, African American woman, who at age 33, had experienced a massive stroke that...
It is a heartbreaking experience to see someone, you love, with dementia. I have seen, as a physician, this phenomenon occurs among many patients and recently, personal friends. I am not convinced that black people understand, in many cases, vascular dementia...
It is not unusual for some African Americans to fail to seek medical care in a timely fashion, even when needed. Some people continue not to believe in modern medicine and do not get appropriate screening for cancer, take medications as directed, get...
Several days ago, one of my loyal patients requested to be seen, urgently, because she was upset that family members would not reveal the cause of death of a middle age family member. A lifelong friend who is battling four different types of cancer told me...
The medical literature has documented a plethora of information regarding deadly stress affecting our bodies. Many of my patients are telling me about the perils of stress and how it affects their health with headaches, diarrhea, and fatigue. Stress affects...
South Carolina is a rural state and many of the residents live in rural communities. It is well documented that they have health disparities that surpass those who live in the city. Lack of access to care and preventative health care services are also...
It is no longer appropriate for patients to call the answering service to request the physician to call in a prescription without the physician having seen the patient. Patients will often do this and get upset if the physician does not comply with his or her...
A reality not discussed by physicians and pastors is how to help people facing and dealing with end of life issues. You may not be aware, but physicians and pastors are not trained to talk with patients as they face death. I gained some insight into this issue...