Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
I had the distinct privilege of interviewing Dr. Keith Ferdinand. He is the Gerald S Berenson endowed chair in preventive cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Ferdinand is well-versed in preventive medicine, and we had a conversation about cardiovascular health and how to prevent heart disease. With Black History Month, we paid special attention to Black people.
Dr. Ferdinand spoke of the marked difference in longevity that is exhibited between people in this country with Black men especially experiencing a shorter lifespan than any other group.
The reasons for this are certainly complex but there are some reasons that are known that need to be addressed. It is well known that cardiovascular health is the number one killer in this country. When people are not taking care of their cardiovascular health they die earlier. So, one of the major ways to make sure people live longer is to make sure that people know their health numbers.
This means knowing what your blood pressure numbers are. It is well known that we need to keep the top number below 120, and the bottom number below 80 for the best health outcomes. It is also important to know your cholesterol levels and strive to keep the total cholesterol below 200 and the LDL below 100. Kidney function numbers are also important. Keep the GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) above 60. Most of all one should have a primary care provider, discuss these numbers with them, and get a good understanding of what the numbers mean and how they affect your health.
Dr. Ferdinand mentioned that many people are resistant to taking medications. He brought up the point that there are cases when medication is needed, and if not taken, the results could be a decreased lifespan. Again, it is important to have a primary care provider to address these issues and help you find medications that work for you with the least amount of side effects.
One of the topics that Dr. Ferdinand addressed the most was diet and making sure that one is eating a diet that is appropriate for them. A person with hypertension must make sure he or she consumes a decreased amount of sodium in their diet. That consumption should consist of no more than 1200 milligrams of sodium in a day. Just for reference, a hamburger and French fries from most fast-food restaurants contain more salt than is recommended in our daily diet. Dr. Ferdinand said eating a low-salt diet is a learned behavior, and he encourages everyone to try this practice.
He also mentioned that if a person is diabetic, they need to make sure their diabetes is under control. He noted that if a diabetes patient has a hemoglobin A1C above 5.5, he or she needs to get that measurement lower by changing their diet by decreasing sugar and carbohydrate consumption. Cutting the amount of processed foods one consumes is a good way to begin decreasing one’s sugar intake.
Dr. Ferdinand also reiterated how health and one’s lifestyle go hand in hand. He said it is an important part of everyone’s lives. He emphasized the importance of getting to know your relatives to determine family health history as well as creating bonds that may last for generations to come. One of his favorite lines is that Black children should be able to get to know their grandparents as they should not die of early deaths. This can be achieved if we make lifestyle changes to our diet, exercise and watch our health numbers. These tips will help all of us elongate our lifespans. Now is the time to do the right thing for our health and longevity.
Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.
