Blessed health : the African-American woman's guide to physical and spiritual well-being / Melody T. McCloud and Angela Ebron.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McCloud, Melody Theresa.

Contributor:

Ebron, Angela.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African American women--Health and hygiene--Religious aspects.

African American women.

African American women--Health and hygiene.

Physical Description:

xv, 432 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Simon & Schuster, [2003]

Summary:

Many black women will go to church all day every Sunday but won't take one day out of the year to get a Pap test and mammogram done. Yet that yearly doctor's visit could help save lives. Often the first people to pray when a serious illness strikes, black women may be the last to seek timely medical care. As a result, they are suffering with, and dying from, manageable illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, cancer, and diabetes more than any other group in the United States.

It doesn't have to be that way. Don't wait until a health emergency happens before turning to your faith and your physician. You can achieve optimal health by arming yourself with medical knowledge and a strong spiritual base. Research has proven that a well-nurtured spiritual self can help to replenish, rejuvenate, and safeguard your physical self.

Written by a prominent African-American OB/GYN and a highly respected journalist, Blessed Health is a personal health and spirituality guide for every stage of a black woman's life.

Contents:

1 What Makes Sisters Unique? 1

Health Concerns 3

Distrust of Health Care Professionals 5

Poverty and Lack of Insurance 6

Lack of Knowledge 8

Family Traditions 9

The Health Care System Itself 9

It's Time for a Change 10

Rx: A Prescription for Your Soul 11

2 Understanding Your Body and Soul 17

A Brief Overview of the Female Reproductive System 18

The Brain/Body Connection 22

3 Take Time to Take Stock 32

Get in Touch with You

A Health Inventory 35

Assessing Your Answers 43

Checkups and Tests 51

Age-by-Age Test Guide 59

4 The Doctor's Office 73

Are All Doctors Alike? 78

Finding the Right Doctor 82

Getting the Most from Doctor Visits 86

Understanding Insurance 91

5 Common Illnesses, Simple Cures 97

Vaginitis 98

Bladder Infections 102

Other Minor Conditions 103

Rx: A Prescription for Your Soul 106

6 A Woman's Body

Dealing with Serious Illness 111

Fibroids 113

Endometriosis 121

Adenomyosis 125

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome 127

Adnexal Mass 128

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) 131

Pelvic Relaxation 138

Menstrual Disorders 144

Uterine Anomalies 150

Sexually Transmitted Diseases 150

HIV and AIDS 163

Cancer 172

Rare Gynecologic Cancers 180

7 If You Need Surgery 184

Knowledge Is Power 185

Common Surgeries 186

Before You Consent

Seven Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor 197

Do You Really Need a Second Opinion? 201

Caring for the Incision 202

8 Back to Basics

Nutrition and Exercise 208

Work That Body 211

Walking the Walk 214

Pump It Up 217

You Are What You Eat 218

Rx: A Prescription for Your Soul 228

9 Caring for Your Breasts 231

The ABCs of Breasts 232

From Buds to Breasts 234

A Little TLC 235

Breast Basics 243

Could It Be Cancer? 254

The Facts About Cosmetic Surgery 258

10 The ABCs of Pregnancy 267

A Good Start

Preparing for Pregnancy 269

The Expectant Mother 275

The Anatomy of Pregnancy 278

Testing, Testing 278

How Your Body Changes 285

Staying Fit 287

Complications of Pregnancy 291

Labor and Delivery 301

Pregnancy after Age 35 305

Infertility 308

Preventing Pregnancy 312

11 Managing Menopause 337

Demystifying Menopause 339

Signs of Menopause 341

Raising the Stakes

The More Serious Effects of Menopause 343

Osteoporosis

The Brittle Bone Disease 344

The Menopause/Heart Disease Connection 347

Managing Menopause

Is Estrogen the Solution? 348

Rx: A Prescription for Your Soul 354

12 Not for Men Only

Diseases That Strike Sisters, Too 358

Cardiovascular Disease 360

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) 362

Coronary Artery Disease 368

Stroke 368

Diabetes 371

Lung Cancer 373

Colon Cancer 374

Appendix A The Prescription Center 385.

ISBN:

0743410424

OCLC:

50560789