Advice For Black Women, From A Black Woman — It’s Time To Take Care Of Your Heart

By HuffPost’s Branded Creative Team

Heart failure impacts more than 3 million women nationwide. Dr. Alanna A. Morris shares her advice on how Black and Latina women can advocate for their heart health.

Dr. Alanna A. Morris is the Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Heart Failure Research at Emory University School of Medicine, and focuses on the impacts race and gender may have on health disparities in cardiovascular disease. She is part of a new educational initiative called Hear Your Heart, which is designed to speak directly to Black and Latina women living with heart failure and empower them to prioritize their care. We asked Dr. Morris to provide insight into managing heart failure and ways women can advocate for their health.

Why is it important for Black women to think about their heart health?

Black communities have higher rates of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure which can lead to heart disease, including heart failure.¹ Black women, specifically, face many unique challenges and barriers that prevent optimal care and a variety of social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic barriers and environmental influences, which can contribute to poor health outcomes.² Education and access to the right resources can help improve disparities in care to ensure Black women are thinking about and addressing their heart health.

In some cases, women may not feel heard by their physicians. What can women do to improve their experiences and have their concerns addressed by their doctors?

It’s important to share as much detail as possible with your doctor to make sure your concerns are being addressed. Go into appointments prepared with questions and any health updates including any side effects or changes. You may be taking multiple medications to help manage your heart failure, as well as any related conditions, such as chronic kidney disease or diabetes.³ It is important to keep track of these medications and monitor how they make you feel. Take notes or record a voice memo with your phone at your appointments to refer back to and share with other members of your care team — like family, friends, nutritionists, physical therapists, or other physicians — for reference.

If you feel like you are not getting the best care possible, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan, or request a referral to a specialist. Finding the right doctor can take time, but it’s important to continue to advocate for yourself and your needs so you are receiving the best possible care. Managing heart failure can be complicated and overwhelming⁴ but women need to feel empowered to put themselves first and get the support they need.

The full article has more advice from Dr. Alanna A. Morris.

Racism already contributes to health disparities and takes a toll on mental health.

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