Marilyn Anderson a Health Warrior in the Struggle Against Diabetes

by Kenny Anderson

I take much pride and respect in highlighting a Black female health warrior Marilyn Anderson who happens to be my little sister. Marilyn is a Registered Dietitian and a seasoned Certified Diabetes Educator who has assisted diabetic Black folks in Detroit for over 30 years in reducing their diabetes complications and deaths from uncontrolled diabetes.

Marilyn Anderson

As a health professional my sister possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes management. Over the years Marilyn has taught hundreds of Black folks diabetes self-management skills to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes. Moreover she's taught diabetic cooking classes to hundreds of Black folks.

For years Marilyn has been sounding the alarm that diabetes is an epidemic in African American communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control 4.9 million Blacks aged 20 years or older have diagnosed diabetes. African-Americans are 77% more likely to have diagnosed diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians. African American women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy face a 52% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian women diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Diabetes and Heart Disease

When I founded Black Hearts Matter to reduce heart disease, my sister informed me that heart disease is common in Black people with diabetes; that diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing heart failure because of the abnormal cardiac handling of glucose and free fatty acids (FFAs), and because of the effect of the metabolic derangements of diabetes on the cardiovascular system.

Studies show that high blood sugar either damages the cells of the heart muscles or forces the heart to work harder due to damage to smaller blood vessels throughout the body and in the heart. Data from the National Heart Association shows 65% of people with diabetes will die from some sort of heart disease or stroke. In general, the risk of heart disease death and stroke are more than twice as high in people with diabetes.

Tackling the Pervasiveness of Diabetes

My sister has discussed with me numerous times over the years that Black folks must counter the diabetes epidemic through health self-determination by self-management that includes diet, physical activity (reduce obesity), and stress management. She says when people with type 2 diabetes are under mental stress they generally experience an increase in their blood glucose levels; when their under physical stress, their blood sugar can also increase.

Marilyn emphasizes that diabetes support groups must be established - there are few in our communities; diabetes support groups are important because diabetes affects much more than blood sugar. It can lead to sudden mood changes that may place an emotional strain on relationships and personal life. Family, relatives, and friends may struggle to understand these mood swings, but learning about how diabetes can affect mood and providing support can help promote stronger - healthier relationships.

Marilyn says much-much more diabetes education is needed in Black communities especially educating Black young adults and youth about diabetes prevention, along with much more diabetes advocacy from Black leadership! 

Indeed I'm proud of my sister who is still today out on the diabetes battlefield forefront putting in work as a health warrior to do what she can against the diabetes epidemic gripping Black communities nationwide.

Keeping it Moving a Black Man's Approach to Reducing High Rates of Heart Disease

by Kenny Anderson

In Pontiac, Michigan there's a fitness trainer whose been on a mission to get the Black community to "keep it moving" to reduce the prevalence of heart disease and other chronic diseases. 

This fitness trainer is Jermaine Branner aka "Max Out", Brother Max has been 'all out' in promoting the critical need for physical activity in chronic disease prevention.

Jermanie Branner

Indeed a lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease even for people who have no other risk factors. The lack of physical activity also increases the likelihood of developing other heart disease risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

As a fitness professional Brother Max understands his key public health role in reducing the high levels of heart disease in African-American communities. That fitness training 'aerobic cardio-vascular exercise' is best in heart disease prevention; it trains the heart to become more efficient and trains the body to better utilize oxygen. 

Cardiovascular exercise lowers blood pressure and reduces total cholesterol, two problems associated with heart disease. It increases insulin sensitivity, helping to prevent diabetes and other metabolic conditions. Obesity is often a precursor to heart disease, and cardiovascular exercise is the best method for weight loss. 

As a fitness trainer Brother Max is known as a 'real motivator', research shows that a lack of motivation is a key factor that influences a lack of physical activity. Brother Max takes a holistic approach to fitness training and motivates those to engage in being 'whole person fit' physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Brother Max has been on a visionary mission to improve the health status in Black communities, he started out by providing a small number of folks fitness training in parks, now he's co-owner of Anytime Fitness where hundreds are getting their fitness on to reduce heart disease.

Michigan State Representative Has Put Her Heart In To Improving Black Health

by Kenny Anderson

In Michigan African-Americans have a real advocate for healthy equity in state government, House Member State Representative Brenda Carter has been a forefront voice in addressing the state's racial health disparities.

Michigan State Representative Brenda Carter

Those African-American leaders who lead in improving Black health are special because they realize the most important thing we possess is our health!

Representative Carter a Democrat has especially pushed hard for policies to improve the health status of Black women and children in reducing high rates of maternal mortality and infant mortality. 

Not only has Rep Carter pushed hard for health equity policies, she works closely with local individuals and groups including veterans who are engaged in community-based preventative health initiatives.

Rep Carter has tirelessly highlighted the unacceptable high levels of chronic diseases among African-Americans particularly heart disease; she’s challenged Blacks to take the lead in health self-improvement by reducing internal health detriments and living healthier lifestyles.

Black Hearts Matter salutes Michigan State Representative Brenda Carter's dedicated efforts to improve African-American health.    

The Heart the Most Critical Electric Organ

by Kenny Anderson

The Creator 'Source of Creative Intelligence' created the foundation of the human body as an 'electrical system'. The nervous system is the body's electrical wiring, a complex collection of nerves. 

When we look at the nervous system, we should conclude that the designer of the human body must have had an intricate knowledge of electronics and must have known how to harness electrical energy to change it into other forms of energy.

The electrical nervous system and the heart

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are opposing forces that affect your heart rate. Both systems are made up of very tiny nerves that travel from the brain or spinal cord to your heart.

The sympathetic nervous system is triggered during stress or a need for increased cardiac output and sends signals to your heart to increase its rate. The para -sympathetic system is active during periods of rest and sends signals to your heart to decrease its rate.

Our Hearts Electricity

The heart is the most powerful source of electromagnetic energy in the human body, producing the largest rhythmic electromagnetic field of any of the body's organs. The heart's electrical field is about 60 times greater in amplitude than the electrical activity generated by the brain.

For our hearts to beat continually the heart muscle has to contract in a uniform way. Contraction starts when an electrical message going out to your individual heart muscle cells. The electrical signal starts in a group of cells at the top of your heart called the sinoatrial (SA) node. The signal then travels down through your heart, triggering first your two atria and then your two ventricles.

The heartbeat happens as follows:

1. The SA node (called the pacemaker of the heart) sends out an electrical impulse.

2. The upper heart chambers (atria) contract.

3. The AV node sends an impulse into the ventricles.

4. The lower heart chambers (ventricles) contract or pump.

5. The SA node sends another signal to the atria to contract, which starts the cycle over again.

Although the heart can operate independently, the heart responds to many factors in your body; there are a number of feedback systems between your heart, your brain, and other organ systems that help maintain a normal heart rate and rhythm.

The field of neurocardiology numerous research has shown that the heart sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart. And the brain responds to the heart in many important ways. This research explains how the heart responds to emotional and mental reactions and why certain emotions stress the body and drain our energy.

As we experience feelings like anger, frustration, anxiety and insecurity, our heart rhythm patterns become more erratic. These erratic patterns are sent to the emotional centers in the brain, which it recognizes as negative or stressful feelings. These signals create the actual feelings we experience in the heart area and the body. The erratic heart rhythms also block our ability to think clearly.

Many neurocardiology studies have found that the risk of developing heart disease is significantly increased for people who often experience stressful emotions such as irritation, anger, frustration, etc. 

These emotions create a chain reaction in the body stress hormone levels increase, blood vessels constrict, blood pressure rises, and the immune system is weakened. If we consistently experience these emotions, it can put a strain on the heart and other organs, eventually leading to serious health problems and death.

Heart Disease And Black Women

Heart disease disproportionately affects Black women. Importantly, Black women are less likely than white women to be aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death.

Major highlights of Black women and heart disease:

*Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 Black women annually.

*Of Black women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases.

*Only 1 in 5 Black women believes she is personally at risk.

*Only 52 percent of Black women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

*Only 36 percent of Black women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.

Magnesium and Black Hearts

by Kenny Anderson

Magnesium is essential to heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Magnesium is needed to support the electrical activity of the heart, keeping the heart beating over 30 million times a year. Magnesium is also needed for blood pressure regulation and heart rhythm control. 

Magnesium deficits have been linked with cardiovascular disorders: high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, cholesterol-clogged coronary arteries, painful spasms of coronary arteries, and sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack). 

Numerous studies show that most Americans are not getting enough magnesium in their diet. Studies shows a staggering 68% of Americans do not consume the recommended daily intake of magnesium 310–420 mg and 19% of Americans do not consume even half of the government’s recommended daily intake of magnesium.

Research has shown that people with a higher intake of magnesium have a lower risk of heart disease. Studies have also revealed that the higher your blood level of magnesium the lower your risk of coronary artery calcification. 

Recent studies cite that low magnesium levels have been found to be the best predictor of heart disease, contrary to the traditional belief that cholesterol or saturated fat play the biggest roles.

Additionally, it has been discovered that higher levels of magnesium are associated with lower levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein which is linked to heart problems. Blacks have the highest rate of heart problems in America; over 40% of Black men and women have heart disease.

Blacks High Level of Chronic Stress and Low Levels of Magnesium

Blacks in America definitely are not getting enough magnesium due to poor diets (over consumption of processed foods) and the depletion of magnesium due to chronic stress. 

Blacks are the most oppressed racial group in America, suffering more chronic stress from institutional racism. Chronic distress includes unending feelings of despair - hopelessness, anger, shame, worry, and grief; poverty, family dysfunctional stress, traumatic experiences, experienced and perceived racial discrimination, neighborhood stress, daily stress, acculturative stress, and environmental stress.

Indeed, chronic stress depletes your body of magnesium leading to magnesium deficiency; the greater your level of stress, the greater the loss of magnesium. Living under constant conditions of mental or physical stress causes magnesium to be released from your blood cells and goes into the blood plasma; from there it's excreted into the urine. 

The lower your initial magnesium level is, the more reactive to stress you become, and the higher your level of adrenaline in stressful situations. Higher adrenaline causes greater loss of magnesium from cells creating a vicious cycle.

Heart health benefits of magnesium include but are not limited to:

*Preventing arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats such as atrial fibrillation)

*Keeping blood vessels healthy

*Supporting normal blood vessel dilation and contraction

*Helping to reduce damage to the heart from oxidative stress

*Boosting the good HDL cholesterol

*Protecting against Type 2 Diabetes

*Anti-inflammatory action

What Are Cardiac Symptoms of a Magnesium Deficiency?

*Heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, PAC’s and PVC’s.

*Elevated blood pressure

*Inflammation

*Blood sugar imbalances

What Are Other Symptoms of a Magnesium Deficiency?

*Insomnia

*Fatigue

*Muscle pain

*Anxiety or stress

*Headaches and migraines

Some Foods High in Magnesium

*Fatty Fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut) 

*Greens (collard, mustard, turnips; kale, spinach)

*Bananas

*Nuts (Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews) 

*Seeds (flax, pumpkin, chia)

*Legumes (beans)

*Avocados

What Are the Best Forms of Magnesium for the Heart?

Of the nine common forms of magnesium there are five that are imperative to heart health. These are magnesium malate, magnesium citrate, magnesium taurinate, magnesium bisglycinate chelate, and magnesium orotate:

*Magnesium Malate: This form consists of magnesium combined with elemental malic acid. This type of magnesium is well absorbed and supports energy levels. Malic acid supports energy production in cells and aids in detoxing heavy metals from the body. It is a highly bioavailable form to support blood pressure, heart rhythm, inflammation and nerve function.

*Magnesium Citrate: This form is magnesium bound to citric acid. It has a high absorption level. It is good for sleep and heart muscle relaxation. It aids in supporting digestion and improving constipation. Again, it is highly bioavailable to support blood pressure, heart rhythm and the heart muscle.

*Magnesium Taurinate: This form, consisting of magnesium and the amino acid taurine, is highly bioavailable to the cells. This form is exceptional for the heart as both the magnesium and taurine can improve the function of the heart muscle. This form can increase ATP (energy) production in the cell, which protects the heart muscle. This type also reduces blood pressure and increases insulin sensitivity, further protecting the heart.

*Magnesium Bisglycinate: This form of magnesium consists of magnesium and the amino acid glycine. It has a high absorption rate. It is also good for sleep and muscle relaxation. It has a calming effect on the nervous system.  This type is chelated and stable so it has a non-laxative effect. Due to its high absorption level, it is helpful in regulating blood pressure, heart rhythms and the cellular activity of the heart muscle.

*Magnesium Orotate: Magnesium orotate is a compound made up of magnesium and orotic acid. This is one the most effective forms of magnesium for heart health. This form can actually penetrate cell membranes and deliver magnesium to the innermost compartments of the cells. It is needed for heart health as it can deliver magnesium to these cells and help with recovery of these tissues. It is also the best way to reverse magnesium deficiencies. Together, all five of these forms work to support the electrical activity of the heart and aid in normal blood pressure regulation.

As Black folks we must understand that our heart muscles has one of the highest needs for magnesium; our hearts need high-quality magnesium to function properly. Due to poor diets and high levels of chronic stress we need to request that our Primary Care Physicians do blood work to check our magnesium levels. Moreover we need to learn and practice stress management, increase eating foods with high levels of magnesium, or take magnesium supplements.  

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Strikes One in Eight Heart Surgery Patients

By Anne Curley

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually is associated with military personnel traumatized by combat or people who’ve been victimized by violent crime or sexual assaults.

But new study finds that one in eight patients develop PTSD after experiencing a heart attack or other major heart event. The study, published online in PLoS One, also reveals that heart patients who experience PTSD face double the risk for another heart event or dying within one to three years, compared to heart patients who do not experience PTSD.

Scientists from Columbia University Medical Center performed the first meta-analysis of studies examining PTSD induced by major heart events. The studies included almost 2,400 patients who experienced acute coronary syndrome or ACS, an umbrella term medical professionals use to describe any condition that reduces blood flow to the heart, including heart attacks and unstable angina.

“Everybody is expected to have some disruption after a life threatening event such as a heart attack,” explained lead study author Donald Edmondson, assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, “but after a month we expect people to mostly get back to normal.” Edmondson said their research focused on studies of patients who experienced symptoms of PTSD more than one months after their heart event.

“These studies measured PTSD symptoms intrusive thoughts about the heart attack – out of nowhere that sort of fight or flight response to these memories. People also have nightmares about the event, they have sleep disruptions, they actively avoid thinking about the heart attack, they try to manage their thoughts,” said Edmondson.

More than 1.4 million people in the U.S. are discharged each year from hospitals after suffering acute coronary syndrome, explained Edmondson, If 12% of those patients experience clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, that means that 168,000 patients could experience PTSD each year after heart events.

While medical professionals are keenly aware of the association that has been shown between depression and heart attacks, Edmondson believes that making patients, their families and medical professionals aware of the incidence of PTSD after heart events is critical.

Edmondson said when he’s discussed findings about PTSD with cardiologists, they’ve told him 'I thought these were funny depression symptoms. I knew there was something wrong here but I didn’t have a language for it.'  

Edmondson said that while PTSD and depression often travel together, "PTSD symptoms are unique – the experience of intrusive thoughts, the nightmares, the inability to shake thinking certain thoughts, the fight or flight symptoms are unique to PTSD. For a patient or a cardiologist who’s not looking for PTSD, once you know the symptoms, they sort of jump out and they’re unique to PTSD."

“Despite the variation in the estimates of the prevalence PTSD appears to be a reasonably common occurrence after ACS and seems to be associated with worse outcomes,” said Dr. Gordon F. Tomaselli, president of the American Heart Association.  "Further study is warranted but practitioners need to be alert to the possibly of PTSD after ACS and should institute treatment.”

“Physicians and patients have to be aware that this is a problem. Family members can also help,” said Edmondson.  "There are good treatments for people with PTSD,” Edmondson noted, explaining that the best treatment is an “exposure based talk therapy," in which the patient talks about the traumatic experience, reliving it in an effort to desensitize them to the event.