Prime time : the African American woman's complete guide to midlife health and wellness / Marilyn Hughes Gaston, M.D. and Gayle K. Porter, Psy.D. ; edited by Sheryl Hilliard Tucker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gaston, Marilyn H.

Contributor:

Porter, Gayle K.

Tucker, Sheryl Hilliard.

Elders, Joycelyn, 1933-

Joanna Banks Collection of African American Books (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African American women--Health and hygiene.

African American women.

Middle-aged women--Health and hygiene.

Middle-aged women.

Penn Provenance:

Banks, Joanna (donor) (inscription) (Banks Collection copy)

Gaston, Marilyn H. (autograph) (Banks Collection copy)

Porter, Gayle K. (autograph) (Banks Collection copy)

Physical Description:

xii, 530 pages, 2 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : One World, 2001.

Summary:

Today seven million African American women are living in their prime, experiencing the joys, the challenges, and the opportunities of middle age. Now, at last, here is the book that specifically addresses our total health needs -- physical, emotional, and spiritual. Written by a distinguished physician and a clinical psychologist, Prime Time is the first complete guide that empowers us to take charge of our lives and attain the well-being we deserve.

In many ways, it's true that we are better off today than our foremothers were: We earn more money, command more respect. Yet, in spite of these advances, we still experience more chronic health problems, endure more stress, and live shorter lives than women of other races. That's why Prime Time is both urgent and essential. This groundbreaking book not only lays out a detailed, practical plan for overall healing and for maintaining wellness, it also addresses the underlying attitudes and assumptions that lead so many of us to neglect ourselves and undermine our own health.

It's time for us as African American women at midlife to start putting ourselves first. We can save our own lives and stop ourselves from dying too soon. To do this, we each need to acquire up-to-the-minute information about our unique health concerns, adjust our diet and exercise program, and use the "power of prevention" to improve the quality of our daily lives. Prime Time helps you do all this and more by combining both traditional medicine and a holistic approach. It covers the full range of health options you can incorporate into your life, starting now -- including self-tests and quizzes that reveal your health profile and vital tips on dealing with the often-overwhelming health-care system.

A central section on the Big Four -- heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes -- explores why black women run a high risk of developing these conditions, why they so often go undetected and untreated, and what we can do about them. Prime Time also deals powerfully and directly with the psychological and spiritual issues that stand in the way of our true well-being. Historically, African American women have been expected to function as "strong black women" to overcome the harsh realities with which we've been confronted. Anger and "attitude" have often become part of our protective shield. Prime Time provides sensible, usable, and even enjoyable methods you can employ to overcome anxiety and other negative moods, channel anger in life-affirming ways, and find Prime Time Sisters to share this wonderful journey with you.

Comprehensive, straight-talking, and grounded in science and spiritual truth, Prime Time is at once a guide to total health in middle age and a celebration of the strength, wisdom, and beauty of African American women in their second half of life.

Contents:

Part I. Now is the Time. Your Prime Time Journey; Midlife in Black; The Miracle of You

Part II. Reframing Your Priorities. Now Your Journey Begins; Self-Esteem: Believing in Yourself; Confronting the Two A's: Attitude and Anger; The Power of Prevention

Part III. Putting Self-Care into Action. The Ultimate Checkup; Developing Your Prime Time Wellness Plan

Part IV. You Can Save Your Own Life. Controlling Cardiovascular Disease: Heart Disease, Hypertension, and Stroke; Combating Cancer; Dealing with Diabetes

Part V. Staying Sane in a World That Can Seem Insane. Stress Can Be Managed; Overcoming Worry, Fear, and Anxiety; Depression: You Can Feel Better

Part VI. Coping with Midlife's Passage. Maneuvering Through Menopause: A Rite of Passage; Midlife's Common Concerns; Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing: Sexual Wellness

Part VII. Living in Health and Wellness. Become a Smarter Health-Care Consumer; Reaching the North Star.

Notes:

"With a Foreword by Joycelyn Elders, M.D."

"The First Book to Address the Unique Health Issues facing African American Women in Middle Age"--Dust jacket.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 514-519) and index.

Local Notes:

Kislak Center Banks Collection copy presented to the Penn Libraries in 2018 by Joanna Banks.

Banks Collection copy has dust jacket retained.

Banks Collection copy inscribed "5-5-01 To Joanna, We love you. Thanks for your input, support & encouragement. God Bless You. Marilyn. May God bless & keep you in your Prime Time. Love Gayle".

ISBN:

0345432150

9780345432155

OCLC:

45460895

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description