The Health In Harlem Podcast

Oral Health and Your Healthy Lifestyle

I think we all at one point thought that the extent of poor dental health was an unsightly smile, but more and more, researchers are finding real links to oral health and our overall health and  well-being. We sat down with Dr. Latoya Joseph, owner of Sebastian Dental Spa Oral Health and Wellness Center and her husband, Dental Student Steve Joseph to talk about oral health how impacts the rest of our body. We also discuss the best practices as far as oral care and hygiene, right down to the type of toothbrush and the hardness of the bristles. Ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to optimal oral health, we've got you all covered with this show. Please check out the resources below and be sure to hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, Podbean, Tumblr, etc! Smile, and have a great day!
 
University of Utah Health- Best Way to Brush Your Teeth (Modified Bass Technique
https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2014/09/090814_cvvisual-brush-teeth.php#:~:text=The%20most%20commonly%20recommended%20method,the%20edge%20of%20your%20tooth
 
Mayo Clinic- Oral Health: A Window to Your Overall Health
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
 
Consumer Reports- Should You Use an Electric Toothbrush or a Manual?
https://www.consumerreports.org/toothbrushes/electric-toothbrush-or-manual/
 
 
 
 
 

COVID Vaccine Update 4

With the February 27, 2021 Emergency Use Authorization of the Janssen Biotech Inc. (a Jannsen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson) Covid-19 Vaccine and President Biden talking about the possibility of getting "together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue (to) celebrate Independence Day", there are many reasons to be optimistic these days. However, the reality is that SARS-CoV-2 is still amongst us and we now have to contend with new variants of the virus that threaten all the hopes and dreams we all have when it comes to getting back to "normal life". With that said, it is vital that we continue to practice social distancing, mask-wearing, good hand-hygiene and to refrain from gathering in large groups so that we can finally get the upper hand over this virus. In this episode, we discuss not only the vaccine, but the new variants of the virus and why social distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions are still so important at this juncture in the pandemic. Please check out the resources below for more information and we sincerely hope that you learn from our program and that you share this information with anyone that will listen. 
The New York Times: WHO Grants Emergency Authorization to the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, a Boost for Global Vaccination Efforts
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/world/who-jj-vaccine.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How to Protect Yourself and Others
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
HUB✳️ (Johns Hopkins Magazine): What You Need to Know About the CDC's COVID-19 Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/03/10/cdc-covid-19-vaccination-guidance/

Put Your Heart Into It: Cardiovascular Disease Awareness and Prevention

Long before COVID-19, Cardiovascular disease reigned supreme as the number one cause of death worldwide (this is still the case). This pandemic has killed millions on a global scale year-after-year (18.6 million in 2019 alone), but headlines detailing the devastation are few and far between. This week, the Health In Harlem team sat down to discuss different types of heart disease and its relation to other vascular diseases and the risk factors that lead to their development. Finally, we shift to the empowering part of our program and talk about the things you can do to significantly lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Please folks be safe and keep your bodies' moving as that alone can help reduce your risk for heart disease.  Please check out the links below to learn more.  
American Heart Association: American Heart Month
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-month
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Heart Disease: It can Happen at Any Age
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/any_age.htm
MedLine Plus: How to Prevent Heart Disease
https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html
 

Beyond Growing Pains: Pediatric Depression and Suicide in the COVID-19 Era

Aside from rising death rates and significant economic effects, the COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly impacting the mental health of children worldwide. The social isolation and loneliness that arises from COVID-19 containment measures coupled with the uncertainty surrounding many aspects of the COVID-19 crisis have led to large increases in the prevalence of anxiety, mood disorders, and suicide in children and adolescents. In this episode we sat down with Dr. Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett, MD PhD, Addiction Neuroscientist, Health Equity Educator and Advocate, and Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Fellow at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons to discuss the challenges children are facing and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Please check out the resources below for more information and please hit us up with your feedback, questions, comments, or concerns!
 
Psychiatric Times: New Findings About Children's Mental Health During COVID-19
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/new-findings-children-mental-health-covid-19
 
Healthy Children.Org: Mental Health During COVID-19: Signs Your Child May Need More Support 
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Signs-your-Teen-May-Need-More-Support.aspx
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coping With Stress
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update 3: Vaccine Mistrust and Hesitancy in Minority Communities

With the COVID-19 vaccine distribution broadening (including people 65 years and older, essential workers, and people with certain comorbid illnesses), more and more racial and ethnic minorities are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, as of February 4 only 49% of blacks planned to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, (the virus that causes COVID-19), with only 19% agreeing to the vaccine right away and 31% expressing plans to wait to see what happens to other people before getting vaccinated. 31% of black adults says that will not get the vaccine and another 12% are unsure. While the number are somewhat higher for Latinx people, the numbers of people willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine is lower than that of whites.  Dr. Dial Hewlett, Medical Director-Division of Disease Control, and Deputy to the Commissioner of Health at Westchester County Department of Health and Dr. Adam Aponte, Chief Medical Officer at the East Harlem Council for Human Serivces and the Boriken Neighborhood Neighborhood Health Center joined the Health In Harlem Team to discuss the issues surrounding mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccines in minority communities and why it is imperative that the people in these communities consider getting vaccinated. Please check out the links below for more information and don't be afraid to share what you learn form this program. 
 
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer Website: Everything I've heard About: Testing and vaccines
https://www.manhattanbp.nyc.gov/testing-and-vaccines/
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: COVID-19 Vaccines
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page
New York City COVID-19 Vaccine Finder
https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/
 
 

Cervical Cancer Awareness with Dr. Sharan Abdul-Rahman

January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and though it is now January, we could not pass up the opportunity to talk about this wholly preventable cancer. In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Sharan Abdul-Rahman, an OB/GYN and the Founder of the The Black Woman's Health Directory, a directory that lists black male and female healthcare providers including physicians, therapists, and even midwives. Dr. Abdul-Rahman breaks everything down, from the reasoning behind and the need for the Pap smear to the importance of considering vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in order to prevent development of cervical cancer.  Ladies enjoy gentlemen, enjoy the program and please share this information with anyone that will listen because this is truly life saving information!
The Black Woman's Health Directory
https://www.theblackwomanshealthdirectory.com/
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
https://www.nfid.org/tag/cervical-cancer-awareness-month/#:~:text=January%20is%20Cervical%20Cancer%20Awareness%20Month%2C%20a%20great%20time%20to,women%20in%20the%20United%20States.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/cervicalcancer/index.htm
 
 
 
   

Ignorance Is Blindness: Glaucoma Awareness with Dr. Neha Shaik

More than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma and according to the National Eye Institute that number will balloon to more than 4.2 million people by 2030. In African Americans it is the second-leading cause of blindness. Perhaps even more distressing is the fact that many people with this disease have little to no symptoms until it's too late; when their vision is severely compromised and there is no chance of recovering what was lost. With that said, we hope that you learn from this episode as we sit down with Dr. Neha Shaik, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Please enjoy this EYE OPENING (I know, we're so corny sometimes) talk so that this disease doesn't sneak up on you. Check out the following resources for more information:
Glaucoma Research Foundation
https://www.glaucoma.org/news/glaucoma-awareness-month.php
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html
National Eye Institute
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma

To Make or Not to Make New Years Resolutions

According to the Pew Research Center, one-third to one-half of Americans make resolutions each year. Despite a desire to make important and often healthy changes in their lives, millions of people barely make it past the first month of the year before they abandon their new diets, exercise routines, and budgets. If the vast majority of us are destined to fail, then why make resolutions at all? In this episode we explore this question and begin to understand when, how, and why you should make a new years resolution and we discuss the strategies and tools you can employ at any point in time when you resolve to make important, healthy changes in your life.
 
Psychology Today: The Practice and Habit of Happiness by Jeffrey Davis
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tracking-wonder/201912/the-practice-and-habit-happiness
The Atlantic: New Years Resolutions That Will Actually Lead to Happiness by Arthur C. Brooks
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/12/new-years-resolutions-will-make-you-happier/617439/
The New York Times: This Year, Try Downsizing Your Resolutions by Christina Caron
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/well/live/new-years-resolutions-2021.html
The New York Times: How to Make (and keep) a New Years Resolution by Jen A. Miller
https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/resolution-ideas
 
 
 
 
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update 2: Vaccine Safety with Dr. Stephen J. Thomas

BNT162b2 by Pfizer/BioNTech and mRNA1273 by Moderna are vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 that have been granted emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Besides the efficacy and effectiveness of these vaccines, one of the major questions everyone is asking is whether or not these vaccines are safe. Dr. Stephen J. Thomas of SUNY Upstate University sat down to answer just that question. Dr. Thomas is the co-author of the paper titled "Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine) featured in the New England Journal of Medicine and he is the Coordinating Principal Investigator for the world-wide Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine trial, thus he is probably the best person to answer the safety question. Special thanks to Ms. Kathleen Froio, Assistant Director of Public and Media Relations at SUNY Upstate Medical University for helping to make this happen. Listen up and enjoy! Check out the links below (including the article by my good friend and colleague, Alexa Mieses-Malchuk and my Mentor Dr. Teresa Smith) for more great information pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccines.
 
The Oprah Magazine- This Doctor Who Just Got the COVID-19 Vaccine Has a Message for Black and Latinx Patients
https://www.oprahmag.com/life/health/a35034365/covid-vaccine-doctor-experience/?fbclid=IwAR339i_YnijwWF24Im_rreWXKVdlilicTHB0LVoLNqEx4teb6GYtKl8_TIs
 
New York Daily News- Take the Vaccine Like I did: A Black doctor urges her community to protect itself from COVID
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-take-the-vaccine-like-i-did-20201223-btu5bd7bqjhtlhd3abjx53y5lq-story.html
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html
 
 
 
       

The Magic Pill: Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Your Health

According to Barry A. Franklin, PhD and Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH in an article that appeared in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, "there was a 64% decrease in the risk of heart disease from the least to the most aerobically fit and a 30% decrease from the least to the most physically active." Heart disease is the leading killer of people in the United States and the world (with stroke not far behind as a leading killer internationally). By being more physically active (and more specifically aerobically fit), you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease while simultaneously improving your overall health and wellness. From memory and mood boosts, to better bowel movements and even better sex, increasing your cardiorespiratory fitness will lead to tangible improvements in your mind, body, and spirit. In this episode we are joined by Leonard Kaminsky, PhD. Dr. Kaminsky is an expert in kinesiology and exercise physiology and he is the John and Janice Fisher Distinguished Professor of Wellness and the Director of the Fisher Institute for Health and Well Being at Ball State University in Indiana. In this episode we discuss the vital role that physical fitness plays in living a healthy life, the difference between physical activity and exercise, how much physical activity and/or exercise you should get each week, and why physical fitness is an important concept/point that should be addressed when individuals are being assessed by their healthcare providers. Please enjoy and also send us your questions, comments or concerns so that we could have a robust dialogue. Check out the links below for more information. Be safe, be active, and enjoy!
 
Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Cardiorespiratory Fitness: An Independent and Additive Mark...
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)60486-2/fulltext
European Journal Prevention and Rehabilitation: Cardiorespiratory fitness relates more strongly to Cardiac disease risk factors in family in healthy children and adolescents: the European Youth heart study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17667650/
 
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials: The (Many) Benefits of a Cardio Workout
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/head-toe-benefits-cardio-workout-infographic/
 
The Mayo Clinic Diet: Cardio 101: Benefits and Tips
https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/move/cardio-101