What's up its way up at Angela Yee.

What's up its way up at Angela Yee.

I'm Angela Yee, and we have a very special Wealth Wednesday today. And wealth is not only about finances. It's all about health too, right, because what do we say, we say health is wealth and it is also.

I'm Angela Yee, and we have a very special Wealth Wednesday today. And wealth is not only about finances. It's all about health too, right, because what do we say, we say health is wealth and it is also.

Minority Health Month.

Minority Health Month.

That's the time to talk about health disparities and how we can improve our health and the health.

That's the time to talk about health disparities and how we can improve our health and the health.

Of our communities.

Of our communities.

Now we'll be specific to New York City today because we do have health disparities here in heart disease all right, cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack and stroke. It's a leading cause of death in New York and stroke prevalence is higher among Black adults in the state than all other racial groups. So I have a great panel of people here today and I'll introduce you one by one.

Now we'll be specific to New York City today because we do have health disparities here in heart disease all right, cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack and stroke. It's a leading cause of death in New York and stroke prevalence is higher among Black adults in the state than all other racial groups. So I have a great panel of people here today and I'll introduce you one by one.

But I'll start with you.

But I'll start with you.

Paula Wheeler is the co founder of Black Health in Atlanta.

Paula Wheeler is the co founder of Black Health in Atlanta.

But you're from the d.

But you're from the d.

Yeah, I'm from Detroit.

Yeah, I'm from Detroit.

You're from Detroit but now in Atlanta, and you went to college in Atlanta, and so I want to talk about how well what Black Health is and how you founded that.

You're from Detroit but now in Atlanta, and you went to college in Atlanta, and so I want to talk about how well what Black Health is and how you founded that.

Absolutely. So Black Health is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to advance health equity in black communities by implementing anti racist programs, advocacy, education, and research. So it's an organization I started with three of my very close friends from Emory. When we were in school at Emory, we were learning a lot. We were getting our masters in public health, and we were just learning a lot of like facts about health disparity. So every day every class, we would like see all these graphs that were like, obviously, black people up here, we have higher rates of everything, and we're gonna die sooner of a lot of different illnesses. And so we were learning all of these statistics. But you know, it's easy to kind of take away from that that like, maybe there's some potential like biological issue with black folks that's causing that. But what we really start to have conversations about amongst ourselves was that really it's racism, systemic racism that's causing those health disparities that we see. So when we graduated, we were like, let's do something about that, Like let's try this, you know, start an organization. And when we started, we were really just like open to anything, like we would take any opportunity, any like anything, anyone asked us to do, we would do it. And so but now we've kind of really honed down some of the things that we provide. So we provide health education, anti racists and critical race theory, education and training to emerging and current health professionals. We also do just like nationwide public health programs as well as global, we also operate in South Africa and we do research, advocacy and our community health events which we really love doing. And you know, Angela, you were part of one of our events.

Absolutely. So Black Health is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to advance health equity in black communities by implementing anti racist programs, advocacy, education, and research. So it's an organization I started with three of my very close friends from Emory. When we were in school at Emory, we were learning a lot. We were getting our masters in public health, and we were just learning a lot of like facts about health disparity. So every day every class, we would like see all these graphs that were like, obviously, black people up here, we have higher rates of everything, and we're gonna die sooner of a lot of different illnesses. And so we were learning all of these statistics. But you know, it's easy to kind of take away from that that like, maybe there's some potential like biological issue with black folks that's causing that. But what we really start to have conversations about amongst ourselves was that really it's racism, systemic racism that's causing those health disparities that we see. So when we graduated, we were like, let's do something about that, Like let's try this, you know, start an organization. And when we started, we were really just like open to anything, like we would take any opportunity, any like anything, anyone asked us to do, we would do it. And so but now we've kind of really honed down some of the things that we provide. So we provide health education, anti racists and critical race theory, education and training to emerging and current health professionals. We also do just like nationwide public health programs as well as global, we also operate in South Africa and we do research, advocacy and our community health events which we really love doing. And you know, Angela, you were part of one of our events.

Yeah, congression of that, Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, congression of that, Yeah, exactly.

So last year's Congressional Black Caucus Foundations Annual meeting, we did an event in partnership with Amgen. It was our Heart Health Equity panel that you hosted, did x job and doctor Jones was there with us as well. Speak Yeah, we have great pictures of you actually, yeah. Yeah, And so we're just really happy to be able to bring a lot of the things we talked about in that conversation to the audience today.

So last year's Congressional Black Caucus Foundations Annual meeting, we did an event in partnership with Amgen. It was our Heart Health Equity panel that you hosted, did x job and doctor Jones was there with us as well. Speak Yeah, we have great pictures of you actually, yeah. Yeah, And so we're just really happy to be able to bring a lot of the things we talked about in that conversation to the audience today.

Well, listen, this is just an inser and there's a lot to unpack, but we're going to introduce everybody and then have the conversation because you said so many things that I think are going to be so important for what we're about to discuss. But next up, speak of Carl Hasty from the Bronx.

Well, listen, this is just an inser and there's a lot to unpack, but we're going to introduce everybody and then have the conversation because you said so many things that I think are going to be so important for what we're about to discuss. But next up, speak of Carl Hasty from the Bronx.

Is that right, or I just want to make.

Is that right, or I just want to make.

Sure the proudly from the Bronx. He's the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. And so for you to be here, I know a lot of what you do has to do You're always out in the community, and I remember during the pandemic like you were front and center making sure that people were getting taken care of. And so I just want you to talk about why what you do is so important for making sure that there are healthy people here in the city.

Sure the proudly from the Bronx. He's the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. And so for you to be here, I know a lot of what you do has to do You're always out in the community, and I remember during the pandemic like you were front and center making sure that people were getting taken care of. And so I just want you to talk about why what you do is so important for making sure that there are healthy people here in the city.

Well, as you say, Angelie, you know, health is wealth and and for me, we just want the whole person to be okay. From a government standpoint, and particularly for me, I want to make sure that people can have a good job, have a place to leave live, and they have you know, good health. And so I try to, you know, stay in my lane, and I take the advice of experts, and I probably just try to find the way in the in the funding to make sure that we can do that in New York and.

Well, as you say, Angelie, you know, health is wealth and and for me, we just want the whole person to be okay. From a government standpoint, and particularly for me, I want to make sure that people can have a good job, have a place to leave live, and they have you know, good health. And so I try to, you know, stay in my lane, and I take the advice of experts, and I probably just try to find the way in the in the funding to make sure that we can do that in New York and.

Particularly the Bronx.

Particularly the Bronx.

You know, the Bronx is known as the most unhealthiest county in the entire state of New York, and it's also the most minority county of any in the in the state of New York as well.

You know, the Bronx is known as the most unhealthiest county in the entire state of New York, and it's also the most minority county of any in the in the state of New York as well.

So it's a challenge. You know.

So it's a challenge. You know.

Are we making progress, Yes, but the mission is not it's not finished yet.

Are we making progress, Yes, but the mission is not it's not finished yet.

Okay, well, thank you for that, Doctor Warren Jones, who I had the pleasure of meeting when we were at the Congression of Black Caucus last year. You have a powerful story to tell. This is something that's near and dear to your hearts. You're a family physition with expertise in cardiovascular health.

Okay, well, thank you for that, Doctor Warren Jones, who I had the pleasure of meeting when we were at the Congression of Black Caucus last year. You have a powerful story to tell. This is something that's near and dear to your hearts. You're a family physition with expertise in cardiovascular health.

Yes, your heart is the center of the family more than your physiologic heart. It's your emotional heart, it's your intellectual heart, it's the center of the family. You can't be a family physician without focusing on that. My belief strongly is that if we can keep families heart healthy, we can keep them together longer. A lot of people focus on how do you add years to someone's life, But I want to focus on how to add life to those years, And the way that you do that is by having a healthy, strong family bond. You eat together, you work together, you work out together and you pray together. I'm so excited to meet the speaker because I went to school in the Bronx for two years. I do with Clinton High.

Yes, your heart is the center of the family more than your physiologic heart. It's your emotional heart, it's your intellectual heart, it's the center of the family. You can't be a family physician without focusing on that. My belief strongly is that if we can keep families heart healthy, we can keep them together longer. A lot of people focus on how do you add years to someone's life, But I want to focus on how to add life to those years, And the way that you do that is by having a healthy, strong family bond. You eat together, you work together, you work out together and you pray together. I'm so excited to meet the speaker because I went to school in the Bronx for two years. I do with Clinton High.

School and live the part he loves you from that not far away from where he was.

School and live the part he loves you from that not far away from where he was.

I was at one forty seventh and third, one forty nine and thirty, so I understand the burden that exists in that area and I remember it from all those years ago, back in the sixties. I've had the pleasure of gaining a platform where I can share information by being the first black president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. And it's not that Academy represents over one hundred and eighty four thousand family physicians across America. It's not about look at me. It's about how do I leverage that position to get the right messages out. For instance, one of the things that Miss Wheeler talked about was health disparities. Not I' would ask people, is diabetes health disparity? And they'd say yes, And I'd say is heart disease a health disparity? And they'd say yes, And I say, neither one is a health disparity. They are symptoms of health disparities. It's the systematic problem, the system problem that creates the disparities. So I like to have people be aware of what's the difference between the disparate condition and the community and the infrastructure that creates that problem. And I'd love to talk with you more about that today. I'm just so excited to be here with you. Thank you for the chance to be here.

I was at one forty seventh and third, one forty nine and thirty, so I understand the burden that exists in that area and I remember it from all those years ago, back in the sixties. I've had the pleasure of gaining a platform where I can share information by being the first black president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. And it's not that Academy represents over one hundred and eighty four thousand family physicians across America. It's not about look at me. It's about how do I leverage that position to get the right messages out. For instance, one of the things that Miss Wheeler talked about was health disparities. Not I' would ask people, is diabetes health disparity? And they'd say yes, And I'd say is heart disease a health disparity? And they'd say yes, And I say, neither one is a health disparity. They are symptoms of health disparities. It's the systematic problem, the system problem that creates the disparities. So I like to have people be aware of what's the difference between the disparate condition and the community and the infrastructure that creates that problem. And I'd love to talk with you more about that today. I'm just so excited to be here with you. Thank you for the chance to be here.

Oh no, I'm excited. I learned a lot from you when we did that panel together. That's why I'm really excited that you're here, and Paula like with the work that you're doing. I was telling you on the way here, we were riding together, and I was talking about my own issues that I've had, and I think all of us, if it's not personal, but we have somebody close to us that has had, you know, heart issues and heart disease, and so I can say that within my own family. I know, you know, for myself, I know you reached out to me initially because I've been open about the issues that I've had with my cholesterol being really high when I was young. You know, I was in my early thirties and the doctor told me, oh, your cholesterol is so high it will be an issue for you later if you don't take care of it now. And fortunately I was able to find that out early on and really make some changes in my lifestyle that were permanent changes that I had to make in order to make sure and it's been fine ever since, but definitely something that I continue to monitor. And so when we talk about that, Paula, I was also telling you, I also read that people will tell you that in the Black community we don't have the highest rates of high cholesterol, but when it comes to heart disease, have we die at a higher rate than any other group of people. So can we talk about that a little bit.

Oh no, I'm excited. I learned a lot from you when we did that panel together. That's why I'm really excited that you're here, and Paula like with the work that you're doing. I was telling you on the way here, we were riding together, and I was talking about my own issues that I've had, and I think all of us, if it's not personal, but we have somebody close to us that has had, you know, heart issues and heart disease, and so I can say that within my own family. I know, you know, for myself, I know you reached out to me initially because I've been open about the issues that I've had with my cholesterol being really high when I was young. You know, I was in my early thirties and the doctor told me, oh, your cholesterol is so high it will be an issue for you later if you don't take care of it now. And fortunately I was able to find that out early on and really make some changes in my lifestyle that were permanent changes that I had to make in order to make sure and it's been fine ever since, but definitely something that I continue to monitor. And so when we talk about that, Paula, I was also telling you, I also read that people will tell you that in the Black community we don't have the highest rates of high cholesterol, but when it comes to heart disease, have we die at a higher rate than any other group of people. So can we talk about that a little bit.

Yeah, definitely, And for Black health, we really like to focus less on kind of like individual actions and telling people you need to do this, you need to eat healthier, you need to do that. Like those things are obviously very very important, but for us as an organization, we really go back to what you were getting to, doctor Jones, those social determinants of health. And how so, social determinants of health are the non medical factors that affect your health. So it's things like where you live, the quality of your edge education, the access to the kinds of food, nutritious foods are not. And so we know like Detroit, New York, Atlanta, you know, all the places that our people live, like, there's a lot of residential racial segregation, and so issues like that, like policies things like redlining that are still operating that like racial segregation that causes black people to have less access to these health promoting resources, to those social determinants of health. So that's why you can look at almost any issue, you know, health outcome, particularly cardiovascular disease, and you see these immense differences by race with these health disparities.

Yeah, definitely, And for Black health, we really like to focus less on kind of like individual actions and telling people you need to do this, you need to eat healthier, you need to do that. Like those things are obviously very very important, but for us as an organization, we really go back to what you were getting to, doctor Jones, those social determinants of health. And how so, social determinants of health are the non medical factors that affect your health. So it's things like where you live, the quality of your edge education, the access to the kinds of food, nutritious foods are not. And so we know like Detroit, New York, Atlanta, you know, all the places that our people live, like, there's a lot of residential racial segregation, and so issues like that, like policies things like redlining that are still operating that like racial segregation that causes black people to have less access to these health promoting resources, to those social determinants of health. So that's why you can look at almost any issue, you know, health outcome, particularly cardiovascular disease, and you see these immense differences by race with these health disparities.

What are some things you've learned, Carl, just from being in the Bronx and like you said, the issues in the Bronx that you guys have had, and what are some things that you feel like have been useful or helpful, and what is some of the pushback that you feel like you receive when it comes to residents.

What are some things you've learned, Carl, just from being in the Bronx and like you said, the issues in the Bronx that you guys have had, and what are some things that you feel like have been useful or helpful, and what is some of the pushback that you feel like you receive when it comes to residents.

Well, we do try to do that as well, as I said, you know, when I first got elect to speaker, we said we want to have a family's First agenda, uplifting all aspects of a family and particularly women who are put in you know, in black households, often the leaders of those households. We just tried to do all of those things that uplifted. So of course, trying to put an educate a let's say, importance on funding education, funding higher education, making sure that people do have access to healthcare, and still trying to push people from using the emergency rooms as their primary care physicians. That's often the biggest challenge that I find in the BRONX, getting people to want to go to their doctor rectly and go get the regular checkups. It's like people often are behind and just trying to play. So we're really just trying to move the whole the whole structure that surrounds people, particularly people of color, to just try to move them forward.

Well, we do try to do that as well, as I said, you know, when I first got elect to speaker, we said we want to have a family's First agenda, uplifting all aspects of a family and particularly women who are put in you know, in black households, often the leaders of those households. We just tried to do all of those things that uplifted. So of course, trying to put an educate a let's say, importance on funding education, funding higher education, making sure that people do have access to healthcare, and still trying to push people from using the emergency rooms as their primary care physicians. That's often the biggest challenge that I find in the BRONX, getting people to want to go to their doctor rectly and go get the regular checkups. It's like people often are behind and just trying to play. So we're really just trying to move the whole the whole structure that surrounds people, particularly people of color, to just try to move them forward.

And doctor Warren Jones, I talked specifically about cholesterol right now, So can we discuss that a little bit because some people might be listening and not understand because I know, even for me, I mean I learned this in school, but I still need to keep getting it, like ingrained in me the different types. Because there's good cholesterol, there's bad cholesterol. How can you monitor that? What's the problem with the bad cholesterol?

And doctor Warren Jones, I talked specifically about cholesterol right now, So can we discuss that a little bit because some people might be listening and not understand because I know, even for me, I mean I learned this in school, but I still need to keep getting it, like ingrained in me the different types. Because there's good cholesterol, there's bad cholesterol. How can you monitor that? What's the problem with the bad cholesterol?

Yes, Well, as you learned in school, cholesterol is a compound. Okay, it's kind of a waxy kind of substance, and it's found all over the body. One of the problems that people don't recognize is when we talk about heart disease. The same way cholesterol affects the blood vessels and the heart, it afflects the brain, it affects the kidneys, it affects the liver, it affects the eyes, it affects all of it. So the cholesterol is something we've got to be careful to learn about. There are two categories of cholesterol. Three actually, there's something called triglycerides, and there's low density lip of proteins and high density lipe of proteins. The triglycerides we don't really worry as much about because it's easier to manage them. They're short acting. It's the HDL, which is a good cholesterol. You want to have high numbers. You get that, but doing all of the things that I don't really do as much as I should, by eating healthy and exercising and working out, so you know, you don't get a gut like this by working on your HDL all the time. But then there's the LDL, the low density lipe of protein. That's the one that people usually call the bad cholesterol, and the reason is because it is most readily turned into the plaques that line. Imagine you've got a host pipe in your backyard and the rust the dirt builds up in that hosset pipe and begins to block off that hole and you can't get the water through. That's what cholesterol does to your blood vessels. So it's the cholesterol that builds up that leads that to be a problem. And when you've got a low density like of protein that's high, you got much better chance of having that. So what are we worried about? My goddaughter niece had a stroke at thirty nine. Fortunately she lived a lot of people don't. I'd give talks and I'd ask how many of you had someone in your family that had a stroke before age fifty, and over half the audience's hands would go up when they were people of color. And it got to the point that even my own daughter died early on from complications of heart disease. She had some signs of congestive heart failure in her forties, and I told her she needed a defibrillator, something to shock her heart back into functioning, and I said, talk to your doctor about it. She went and talked to a doctor and he said, well, we can manage you without it. Three weeks later she was dead.

Yes, Well, as you learned in school, cholesterol is a compound. Okay, it's kind of a waxy kind of substance, and it's found all over the body. One of the problems that people don't recognize is when we talk about heart disease. The same way cholesterol affects the blood vessels and the heart, it afflects the brain, it affects the kidneys, it affects the liver, it affects the eyes, it affects all of it. So the cholesterol is something we've got to be careful to learn about. There are two categories of cholesterol. Three actually, there's something called triglycerides, and there's low density lip of proteins and high density lipe of proteins. The triglycerides we don't really worry as much about because it's easier to manage them. They're short acting. It's the HDL, which is a good cholesterol. You want to have high numbers. You get that, but doing all of the things that I don't really do as much as I should, by eating healthy and exercising and working out, so you know, you don't get a gut like this by working on your HDL all the time. But then there's the LDL, the low density lipe of protein. That's the one that people usually call the bad cholesterol, and the reason is because it is most readily turned into the plaques that line. Imagine you've got a host pipe in your backyard and the rust the dirt builds up in that hosset pipe and begins to block off that hole and you can't get the water through. That's what cholesterol does to your blood vessels. So it's the cholesterol that builds up that leads that to be a problem. And when you've got a low density like of protein that's high, you got much better chance of having that. So what are we worried about? My goddaughter niece had a stroke at thirty nine. Fortunately she lived a lot of people don't. I'd give talks and I'd ask how many of you had someone in your family that had a stroke before age fifty, and over half the audience's hands would go up when they were people of color. And it got to the point that even my own daughter died early on from complications of heart disease. She had some signs of congestive heart failure in her forties, and I told her she needed a defibrillator, something to shock her heart back into functioning, and I said, talk to your doctor about it. She went and talked to a doctor and he said, well, we can manage you without it. Three weeks later she was dead.

Wow.

Wow.

Clinicians often don't listen closely to women if they don't take care of the women regularly. If you have the longitudinal relationship where people know you know them and they know you, then you have a good example we all saw during COVID where this's female physician actually chronicled her own demise from complications of COVID, whether the system did not believe her thought she was drug seeking even though she was a physician describing her symptoms. So that's one one of the challenges of the symptoms. But so we've got to work with health professionals and folks in your community, your listeners. They've got to say, I want my doctor to listen to me.

Clinicians often don't listen closely to women if they don't take care of the women regularly. If you have the longitudinal relationship where people know you know them and they know you, then you have a good example we all saw during COVID where this's female physician actually chronicled her own demise from complications of COVID, whether the system did not believe her thought she was drug seeking even though she was a physician describing her symptoms. So that's one one of the challenges of the symptoms. But so we've got to work with health professionals and folks in your community, your listeners. They've got to say, I want my doctor to listen to me.

Because sometimes you go to the doctor and they don't have a lot of time. There's patients waiting, and they're trying to get you in and out, and it might be something wrong and you're telling them or you feel rushed, so you're not able to really like explain in detail, and sometimes they'll tell you, well, you'll be fine. If it keeps on bothering. You call me back and you're like, okay, because you don't want to be a bother really, and you're thinking about, okay, there's a line of people and they're just trying to rust me out the door. But you need to advocate for yourself.

Because sometimes you go to the doctor and they don't have a lot of time. There's patients waiting, and they're trying to get you in and out, and it might be something wrong and you're telling them or you feel rushed, so you're not able to really like explain in detail, and sometimes they'll tell you, well, you'll be fine. If it keeps on bothering. You call me back and you're like, okay, because you don't want to be a bother really, and you're thinking about, okay, there's a line of people and they're just trying to rust me out the door. But you need to advocate for yourself.

When you get in front of that doctor. You're the most important person in the world. But you've got homework to do when you get Before you go, make a note to yourself with the things that you want to make sure and the document the symptoms you've been having so that you can effectively and efficiently convey all of that information. But if you want to wander, there is some time for that.

When you get in front of that doctor. You're the most important person in the world. But you've got homework to do when you get Before you go, make a note to yourself with the things that you want to make sure and the document the symptoms you've been having so that you can effectively and efficiently convey all of that information. But if you want to wander, there is some time for that.

Right The other thing people have to stop doing is googling stuff to see, you know, how people will have something wrong and then go on Google and then diagnose themselves. I'm a little guilty of that sometimes, but honestly, you know, it is important to make sure that we have our annual checkups and like you said, document and make sure when you go in there you know what you're.

Right The other thing people have to stop doing is googling stuff to see, you know, how people will have something wrong and then go on Google and then diagnose themselves. I'm a little guilty of that sometimes, but honestly, you know, it is important to make sure that we have our annual checkups and like you said, document and make sure when you go in there you know what you're.

Going in there for.

Going in there for.

Because sometimes you'll be like, okay, this is let me just google this. Oh I just need some you know, X, Y and Z to try to fix this, and it could be something that the longer you wait, it's worse, Like if I didn't go when I did, it could have been way worse for me later. And even knowing what you want to get checked out for, like when we go to the doctor, what should what should we be asking?

Because sometimes you'll be like, okay, this is let me just google this. Oh I just need some you know, X, Y and Z to try to fix this, and it could be something that the longer you wait, it's worse, Like if I didn't go when I did, it could have been way worse for me later. And even knowing what you want to get checked out for, like when we go to the doctor, what should what should we be asking?

Like what type of testing should we be having done?

Like what type of testing should we be having done?

Well, you know, Andrew, you mentioned a funny funny story. You know, when I, if I eat a lot of processed foods, I end up having GI issues. And so as you say, going on the internet, I thought I had everything colon cancer and I remember while I was they were taking in for the colonoscopy. I remember saying this to my doctor and he said, stay off the f and internet.

Well, you know, Andrew, you mentioned a funny funny story. You know, when I, if I eat a lot of processed foods, I end up having GI issues. And so as you say, going on the internet, I thought I had everything colon cancer and I remember while I was they were taking in for the colonoscopy. I remember saying this to my doctor and he said, stay off the f and internet.

That's what you have.

That's what you have.

But you know, but I but I was very descriptive with him, and I do think it is the doctor says, you know, you gotta be honest. Tell your doctor what you know, what's you know, what's going on, what you're feeling, Don't hold any don't hold anything anything back when you go doctor. Typically black men are the worst. I'm not one of those, you know. Fortunate for me. I have every doctor's cell phone number.

But you know, but I but I was very descriptive with him, and I do think it is the doctor says, you know, you gotta be honest. Tell your doctor what you know, what's you know, what's going on, what you're feeling, Don't hold any don't hold anything anything back when you go doctor. Typically black men are the worst. I'm not one of those, you know. Fortunate for me. I have every doctor's cell phone number.

I'm annoying to all of them, have a cough.

I'm annoying to all of them, have a cough.

I just to that point because I think with us, you know, I think the body is a wonderful machine. Most times it does tell you when something is wrong, and I just think we have to sometimes listen to our bodies and communicate that to the doctor.

I just to that point because I think with us, you know, I think the body is a wonderful machine. Most times it does tell you when something is wrong, and I just think we have to sometimes listen to our bodies and communicate that to the doctor.

That is so critically important. Listen to your body. Way back in nineteen seventy one when I started medical school, not when the earth was cool. Just after that, my doctor, my professor, said, if you listen to the patients, they will tell you what's wrong. They may not give you the diagnosis, but they'll tell you enough so that you know what's wrong. And so one of the things I try to do today is to teach young doctors and medical schoodents to listen to their patients. And I tell patients, the best thing you can be is an informed, intelligent, motivated person when you're going to see your doctor. That's the best of all circumstances.

That is so critically important. Listen to your body. Way back in nineteen seventy one when I started medical school, not when the earth was cool. Just after that, my doctor, my professor, said, if you listen to the patients, they will tell you what's wrong. They may not give you the diagnosis, but they'll tell you enough so that you know what's wrong. And so one of the things I try to do today is to teach young doctors and medical schoodents to listen to their patients. And I tell patients, the best thing you can be is an informed, intelligent, motivated person when you're going to see your doctor. That's the best of all circumstances.

Yeah, and so what should we be asking for, like what type of testing? I definitely want to know that because I told Paul of this earlier.

Yeah, and so what should we be asking for, like what type of testing? I definitely want to know that because I told Paul of this earlier.

So when you watch the video, you'll see. But the reason.

So when you watch the video, you'll see. But the reason.

Why I went and even was doing like blood testing and everything was X that was cheating. But you know, what should we be asking for when we go When we're getting because I remember even getting my life insurance, you know, they do everything because they want to make sure that share and good health before they issue that policy. But when we go to the doctor, what should we be saying we need to get done just for a general checkup.

Why I went and even was doing like blood testing and everything was X that was cheating. But you know, what should we be asking for when we go When we're getting because I remember even getting my life insurance, you know, they do everything because they want to make sure that share and good health before they issue that policy. But when we go to the doctor, what should we be saying we need to get done just for a general checkup.

I mean, I'll say, for me, you know, I was in a car accident. I'd say in like the early nineties, and I'd say, you know, maybe twenty something years later, I found that I have bone spurs on my on my neck and sometimes it triggers and I get this excruciating pain, and I'd go to my orthopedic doctor and he compare the X rays and he says, even though there's no change in the X ray, he says, but I don't care what the X ray shows me.

I mean, I'll say, for me, you know, I was in a car accident. I'd say in like the early nineties, and I'd say, you know, maybe twenty something years later, I found that I have bone spurs on my on my neck and sometimes it triggers and I get this excruciating pain, and I'd go to my orthopedic doctor and he compare the X rays and he says, even though there's no change in the X ray, he says, but I don't care what the X ray shows me.

I care what you're telling me that you're feeling.

I care what you're telling me that you're feeling.

So I think that we should never back away from what we're feeling and just be as honest and descriptive as you can. What you talked about, what you what you are, you know what your feeling. I feel like that that helps, even though I'd say what I saw on the X ray looked like there was no change, but I was in a lot of pain.

So I think that we should never back away from what we're feeling and just be as honest and descriptive as you can. What you talked about, what you what you are, you know what your feeling. I feel like that that helps, even though I'd say what I saw on the X ray looked like there was no change, but I was in a lot of pain.

Yeah, and that's a very real thing. UH doctors want you to talk to them about pain rather than you're going to talk to uh missally in the community who tells you to buy all of this stuff that you waste your money and you don't feel better. But one of the things that you can do. This is one of the times you can go to the internet.

Yeah, and that's a very real thing. UH doctors want you to talk to them about pain rather than you're going to talk to uh missally in the community who tells you to buy all of this stuff that you waste your money and you don't feel better. But one of the things that you can do. This is one of the times you can go to the internet.

There are there are recommendations from something called the United States a Preventive Services Task Force, and they recommend and at your age group the kinds of things that you need to be screened for. Okay, if you look up the USPSTF, the United States Preventive Services Task Force for your age, it'll tell you age and gender, It'll tell you and.

There are there are recommendations from something called the United States a Preventive Services Task Force, and they recommend and at your age group the kinds of things that you need to be screened for. Okay, if you look up the USPSTF, the United States Preventive Services Task Force for your age, it'll tell you age and gender, It'll tell you and.

I would encourage you to make a list of those things. Don't take them the article. Make a list of them and ask that of your doc when you go in. I had eleven brothers and sisters. I've only got nine now, and I can tell you that for the last forty years I've been telling them to do that, and they end up going in there and getting what they wanted and they're living longer because of that. So I would encourage you to do it.

I would encourage you to make a list of those things. Don't take them the article. Make a list of them and ask that of your doc when you go in. I had eleven brothers and sisters. I've only got nine now, and I can tell you that for the last forty years I've been telling them to do that, and they end up going in there and getting what they wanted and they're living longer because of that. So I would encourage you to do it.

Now, what role does family history play when it comes to cardiovascular disease.

Now, what role does family history play when it comes to cardiovascular disease.

Plays a big role. It's not always the decisions you make, it's fund of your genetic makeup. Also, that's why there's something called familial hypercholesterolemia familiar familiar hyperlipidemia, where even though families may eat well and exercise, that in certain family lines as a genetic potential predisposition. So what we're doing now in science is we're looking for genetic markers, and these genetic markers are telling us who are the people that are at greater risk. One of the things that most of your women on the phone, I mean, on the program we'll learn about is the genetic testing about breast cancer. We now know which families are at higher risk, and there are other Heart disease has similar kinds of things that are being developed. But I can tell you that with the medications that exists and the changes in your exercise and eating, you can overcome those challenges. Most often if you're honest with yourself so you know, if you live in the community where it's not a safe place to walk, get together with the speaker and some of the folks to go to Walmart and say, dedicate a section of your parking lot where we can walk safely.

Plays a big role. It's not always the decisions you make, it's fund of your genetic makeup. Also, that's why there's something called familial hypercholesterolemia familiar familiar hyperlipidemia, where even though families may eat well and exercise, that in certain family lines as a genetic potential predisposition. So what we're doing now in science is we're looking for genetic markers, and these genetic markers are telling us who are the people that are at greater risk. One of the things that most of your women on the phone, I mean, on the program we'll learn about is the genetic testing about breast cancer. We now know which families are at higher risk, and there are other Heart disease has similar kinds of things that are being developed. But I can tell you that with the medications that exists and the changes in your exercise and eating, you can overcome those challenges. Most often if you're honest with yourself so you know, if you live in the community where it's not a safe place to walk, get together with the speaker and some of the folks to go to Walmart and say, dedicate a section of your parking lot where we can walk safely.

All right, Age, And I learned today too, Angela. You're already kind of doing something like that with your club.

All right, Age, And I learned today too, Angela. You're already kind of doing something like that with your club.

Yeah, And I've done in my round club really as a way to get people who normally wouldn't work out to come and do that.

Yeah, And I've done in my round club really as a way to get people who normally wouldn't work out to come and do that.

So you don't have to run, you can walk, you can jog.

So you don't have to run, you can walk, you can jog.

So now we can ask Kyle to join us.

So now we can ask Kyle to join us.

And I want to touch on something you said earlier, Carl about colon cancer and how a lot of times black men don't like to go get tested for certain things. And that's that's an issue that's really near to Black health because we had a very big national and still do have a national colon cancer screening program. Because something that's very important for us is kind of building this bridge between the black community and doctors, because we know a lot of times it's hard for us to actually get there, whether it's where we live or our relationship. Is a lot of mistrust between our communities and you know, the medical system. And so where we kind of come in as a as a nonprofit is to try to help provide people with resources that they might not otherwise get. And so one of the ones I also wanted to plug was it's a program that Ampjin has. You can go to what is my LDL dot com and actually find out information and find out your eligibility to receive a free LDL or like that that bad cholesterol to get a free LDL test. So go to what is my LDL dot com and get more information on how you can get one of those tests if for some reason, you know, you're unable to right now go to the doctor and you just want to have that information for yourself too. There are free resources, and so for black health, that's really important for us to like give people free resources and take some of that out of the clinic, you know, and put it in people's hands.

And I want to touch on something you said earlier, Carl about colon cancer and how a lot of times black men don't like to go get tested for certain things. And that's that's an issue that's really near to Black health because we had a very big national and still do have a national colon cancer screening program. Because something that's very important for us is kind of building this bridge between the black community and doctors, because we know a lot of times it's hard for us to actually get there, whether it's where we live or our relationship. Is a lot of mistrust between our communities and you know, the medical system. And so where we kind of come in as a as a nonprofit is to try to help provide people with resources that they might not otherwise get. And so one of the ones I also wanted to plug was it's a program that Ampjin has. You can go to what is my LDL dot com and actually find out information and find out your eligibility to receive a free LDL or like that that bad cholesterol to get a free LDL test. So go to what is my LDL dot com and get more information on how you can get one of those tests if for some reason, you know, you're unable to right now go to the doctor and you just want to have that information for yourself too. There are free resources, and so for black health, that's really important for us to like give people free resources and take some of that out of the clinic, you know, and put it in people's hands.

You know, people will tell you that racism doesn't exist anymore, depending on who you ask, But can we talk about racism in the healthcare system and how that does affect our community?

You know, people will tell you that racism doesn't exist anymore, depending on who you ask, But can we talk about racism in the healthcare system and how that does affect our community?

Well, do you know, the Institute of Matterson did some research After many years folks were saying we're being treated differently and having different outcomes as people of color, and that there was disparity in the way we were managed. And it wasn't until that research actually occurred by the Institute of Medicine. They showed that for fully insured blacks and fully insured brown people that the quality of care they got was significantly lower than the quality of care offer to fully insured whites. Now we're not talking about people who were poor. We took the best, okay, of both communities. And if you want to go to the internet, look up the IOM Report on Health Disparities, okay, and that'll show you. There's a graphic to show the difference. So race plays a big role. The big problem I would ask you to do is to try to find the clinician, a physician, a nurse practitioners, someone that you care care that you seek for health care who can identify with you, someone that's either has a similar background or similar gender, because the cultural relationship in healthcare is critically important. I'll tell you about another family member who complained for a lot of times, many years about a misery on her side, and I kept telling her to tell her doctor. When I finally moved close to where she was. I had her to go see a female physician that I knew would listen to her. She saw on her Thursday, did a CT on a Friday, and Monday removed a big cancer off of her kidney. Wow, the misery on her side for those three years was a cancer three years and nobody would listen to her enough to be able to take it from her misery to something physiologic. So you got to find a health care provider, a doctor that you can communicate, communicate with, especially surrounding heart disease and cholesterol management, because it affects so many different systems. As we talked to and I'm sorry everybody doesn't have a master's in communication of hard information.

Well, do you know, the Institute of Matterson did some research After many years folks were saying we're being treated differently and having different outcomes as people of color, and that there was disparity in the way we were managed. And it wasn't until that research actually occurred by the Institute of Medicine. They showed that for fully insured blacks and fully insured brown people that the quality of care they got was significantly lower than the quality of care offer to fully insured whites. Now we're not talking about people who were poor. We took the best, okay, of both communities. And if you want to go to the internet, look up the IOM Report on Health Disparities, okay, and that'll show you. There's a graphic to show the difference. So race plays a big role. The big problem I would ask you to do is to try to find the clinician, a physician, a nurse practitioners, someone that you care care that you seek for health care who can identify with you, someone that's either has a similar background or similar gender, because the cultural relationship in healthcare is critically important. I'll tell you about another family member who complained for a lot of times, many years about a misery on her side, and I kept telling her to tell her doctor. When I finally moved close to where she was. I had her to go see a female physician that I knew would listen to her. She saw on her Thursday, did a CT on a Friday, and Monday removed a big cancer off of her kidney. Wow, the misery on her side for those three years was a cancer three years and nobody would listen to her enough to be able to take it from her misery to something physiologic. So you got to find a health care provider, a doctor that you can communicate, communicate with, especially surrounding heart disease and cholesterol management, because it affects so many different systems. As we talked to and I'm sorry everybody doesn't have a master's in communication of hard information.

Yeah, you're right.

Yeah, you're right.

Yeah, Well, governmentally, one of the biggest challenges that we're looking at, particularly amongst Black women, as maternal mortality.

Yeah, Well, governmentally, one of the biggest challenges that we're looking at, particularly amongst Black women, as maternal mortality.

Yes, and that's been a.

Yes, and that's been a.

Huge issue here that we're trying to come up with a legislation to have a commission to study why it seems that more Black women seem to be dying during childbirth than And as you said, it's not women who are just don't medicate, it's women who have private insurance are still not getting the same type of quality of care as their white counterpart to have a baby. So that's so governmentally, like I said, I try to take the information, make sure that we can have legislation and funding to try to figure out some of these challenges.

Huge issue here that we're trying to come up with a legislation to have a commission to study why it seems that more Black women seem to be dying during childbirth than And as you said, it's not women who are just don't medicate, it's women who have private insurance are still not getting the same type of quality of care as their white counterpart to have a baby. So that's so governmentally, like I said, I try to take the information, make sure that we can have legislation and funding to try to figure out some of these challenges.

Well, I thank him for that, because it's not just it's not just maternal mortality or funeral mortality. You've got healthy, you've got well, you've got young, well insured people like in my own family who still have small forgestationally babies, babies born with low birth weight, and they fully insured and they eat healthy. So a lot of research needs to be done because babies that are born smaller at greater risk of having problems later on. And I think that mister speaker, if you can have them take a look at that as well, I think that will help immensely. American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a working group on attacking feudal mortality. The track star Alison Felix. Felix spoke to us last year and she talked about her own experience how she almost lost her life with pregnancy, and now we've got the track Start of Mississippi who just lost her life last year. So I hope that that work gets funded and done because we're losing too many intelligent, beautiful Black women and their babies to this condition.

Well, I thank him for that, because it's not just it's not just maternal mortality or funeral mortality. You've got healthy, you've got well, you've got young, well insured people like in my own family who still have small forgestationally babies, babies born with low birth weight, and they fully insured and they eat healthy. So a lot of research needs to be done because babies that are born smaller at greater risk of having problems later on. And I think that mister speaker, if you can have them take a look at that as well, I think that will help immensely. American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a working group on attacking feudal mortality. The track star Alison Felix. Felix spoke to us last year and she talked about her own experience how she almost lost her life with pregnancy, and now we've got the track Start of Mississippi who just lost her life last year. So I hope that that work gets funded and done because we're losing too many intelligent, beautiful Black women and their babies to this condition.

And you know, one thing that I have seen people being more aware of is doula's and that the the necessity of having a doula there with you to advocate for you and know the questions to ask and know some things maybe not necessary, some things maybe you do need, and having somebody there that is well versed so that they can make sure that they are speaking up for you or telling you what it is that you need to know, or when you're not able to make a decision on the spot about something, being able to give the information that you may need, because there's times that women are having c sections that they may not need to you know. Again, like just so many different things that we may not have the information to know what to ask or what to even say. So I think that's something that has been really helpful lately, because doulas is something I only heard of, maybe in the past few years, but this has been around, you know, way longer than that. And Speaker Hasey, you know what I wanted to ask you about too, we were talking about these social.

And you know, one thing that I have seen people being more aware of is doula's and that the the necessity of having a doula there with you to advocate for you and know the questions to ask and know some things maybe not necessary, some things maybe you do need, and having somebody there that is well versed so that they can make sure that they are speaking up for you or telling you what it is that you need to know, or when you're not able to make a decision on the spot about something, being able to give the information that you may need, because there's times that women are having c sections that they may not need to you know. Again, like just so many different things that we may not have the information to know what to ask or what to even say. So I think that's something that has been really helpful lately, because doulas is something I only heard of, maybe in the past few years, but this has been around, you know, way longer than that. And Speaker Hasey, you know what I wanted to ask you about too, we were talking about these social.

Determinants of health, and.

Determinants of health, and.

So what about stress, right like, because I feel like us does add you know, to cardiovascular disease. And obviously, doctor Warren Jones, you can tell us more about that. But what are some things that you see people stressed out about the most in New York that can cause health issues.

So what about stress, right like, because I feel like us does add you know, to cardiovascular disease. And obviously, doctor Warren Jones, you can tell us more about that. But what are some things that you see people stressed out about the most in New York that can cause health issues.

I'd say lack of secure housing is a big issue, you know. I'd say the big three, lack of lack of access to healthcare, lacks of lack of access to employment. You know, those are usually the big three motivators of stress. And we see that even follows through and I've even tried even when we're looking at educating our young people that often we seem like we only worried about what was happening, you know, to Johnny while he was you know, in school.

I'd say lack of secure housing is a big issue, you know. I'd say the big three, lack of lack of access to healthcare, lacks of lack of access to employment. You know, those are usually the big three motivators of stress. And we see that even follows through and I've even tried even when we're looking at educating our young people that often we seem like we only worried about what was happening, you know, to Johnny while he was you know, in school.

For those you know, six hours.

For those you know, six hours.

But we also have to look at what is the environment that Johnny's going home to and what is his parents going through? This sometimes can affect the you know, the entire families. That's why we're trying to, as I say, you try to look at not not look at these things as in silos. But how did they all come together when it looks like even an individual individual person, you know, do they have a job, do they have good housing? And then as it goes on, you know into the children. So those I'd say, the big, the big things that can lead.

But we also have to look at what is the environment that Johnny's going home to and what is his parents going through? This sometimes can affect the you know, the entire families. That's why we're trying to, as I say, you try to look at not not look at these things as in silos. But how did they all come together when it looks like even an individual individual person, you know, do they have a job, do they have good housing? And then as it goes on, you know into the children. So those I'd say, the big, the big things that can lead.

To stresscause sometimes people felt physically ill from the stress.

To stresscause sometimes people felt physically ill from the stress.

So is that a real thing?

So is that a real thing?

Yes, it is a real thing. There was Actually there were actually some studies that were done by the NIH about ten years ago that would These were studies that were done in the rat population and they showed the rest the rat, stressed rat, the normal rat okay, and they were able to show her not only the structure of the rat change to where it was skinny and malnourished, but it also had genetic changes that led to his offspring or her offsprings and potentially having problems with stress. So it's a very real, real thing. I tell people, don't don't freak out about the word stress. There's two types of stress. There's eu stress, you stress in dis stress. Distress. EU stress is what you get when you're about to shoot, go and run that track meet, when you go out to run with your friends, that surge of energy that's you stress. That's good for you. It's the distress that's harmful when you're worried how am I going to feed, how am I going to do this, and how I'm going to do the others. So the number one thing I think causes problems for many women around stress surrounding stress is getting access to behavioral health support in order to decompress someone that's stress and help them to learn how to deal with it. And so they internalize it because nobody wants to be viewed as weak. Okay, So I think the thing that bothers me is that women are the keys are the health of a family, and if they're not healthy, how can the family? It's your fault.

Yes, it is a real thing. There was Actually there were actually some studies that were done by the NIH about ten years ago that would These were studies that were done in the rat population and they showed the rest the rat, stressed rat, the normal rat okay, and they were able to show her not only the structure of the rat change to where it was skinny and malnourished, but it also had genetic changes that led to his offspring or her offsprings and potentially having problems with stress. So it's a very real, real thing. I tell people, don't don't freak out about the word stress. There's two types of stress. There's eu stress, you stress in dis stress. Distress. EU stress is what you get when you're about to shoot, go and run that track meet, when you go out to run with your friends, that surge of energy that's you stress. That's good for you. It's the distress that's harmful when you're worried how am I going to feed, how am I going to do this, and how I'm going to do the others. So the number one thing I think causes problems for many women around stress surrounding stress is getting access to behavioral health support in order to decompress someone that's stress and help them to learn how to deal with it. And so they internalize it because nobody wants to be viewed as weak. Okay, So I think the thing that bothers me is that women are the keys are the health of a family, and if they're not healthy, how can the family? It's your fault.

No, But we talk about this a lot too in our anti racism and health workshops, you know, like how racism causes poor health outcosms. We teach just that concept and stress itself, like stress that can come from racial violence and discrimination that has a direct impact on negative health outcomes. But then exactly as you were saying, speaker, he see like there's a lot of stress that is caused by these conditions in which people live on safe housing, poor access to food, and just all the day to day things that people go through and then that has a negative outcome, negative impact on mental and physical health outcomes. So it really works in a lot of different ways.

No, But we talk about this a lot too in our anti racism and health workshops, you know, like how racism causes poor health outcosms. We teach just that concept and stress itself, like stress that can come from racial violence and discrimination that has a direct impact on negative health outcomes. But then exactly as you were saying, speaker, he see like there's a lot of stress that is caused by these conditions in which people live on safe housing, poor access to food, and just all the day to day things that people go through and then that has a negative outcome, negative impact on mental and physical health outcomes. So it really works in a lot of different ways.

You know what else I want to talk about too.

You know what else I want to talk about too.

As we're discussing this, Okay, these drugs that like ozempic and we go, we all of that was for diabetes, right, but now a lot of people are taking that for weight loss issues. And then I see lawsuits popping up. I see all kinds of things happening. So doctor Warren Jones, I want you to just let us know when is it time to get on this medication? Is it harmful for people who are doing this? I mean, because listen, obesity can lead to a lot of times to heart disease, right, So I just want to get from you, doctor Warren Jones, not from the internet, you know, your thoughts on that, because I do know a lot of people who are taking your zembic.

As we're discussing this, Okay, these drugs that like ozempic and we go, we all of that was for diabetes, right, but now a lot of people are taking that for weight loss issues. And then I see lawsuits popping up. I see all kinds of things happening. So doctor Warren Jones, I want you to just let us know when is it time to get on this medication? Is it harmful for people who are doing this? I mean, because listen, obesity can lead to a lot of times to heart disease, right, So I just want to get from you, doctor Warren Jones, not from the internet, you know, your thoughts on that, because I do know a lot of people who are taking your zembic.

She showing us how to put you on the hot seat. Ozempic is designed to help your body to metabolize the sugars you take in and when your insulin isn't working. Well, that's the concept. But one of the things that does is it helps your body from taking in too much sugar, and there's that extra sugar that you're not taking in that's causing your body's weight to go down because it's going out in you bowel movements. There's certain people for whom those types of drugs are not helpful. If someone has an irritable bowel disease or some other GI problems, that may not work well for them. If they have problems with severe constipation, it may not work for them. Okay, I really ask people, don't make a decision. I was looking at something this morning and it was saying, you don't even have to go see your doctor. Just write to us and we'll have you talk to someone and we'll send it to your home.

She showing us how to put you on the hot seat. Ozempic is designed to help your body to metabolize the sugars you take in and when your insulin isn't working. Well, that's the concept. But one of the things that does is it helps your body from taking in too much sugar, and there's that extra sugar that you're not taking in that's causing your body's weight to go down because it's going out in you bowel movements. There's certain people for whom those types of drugs are not helpful. If someone has an irritable bowel disease or some other GI problems, that may not work well for them. If they have problems with severe constipation, it may not work for them. Okay, I really ask people, don't make a decision. I was looking at something this morning and it was saying, you don't even have to go see your doctor. Just write to us and we'll have you talk to someone and we'll send it to your home.

Market.

Market.

Don't do that, women, because I get them all the time Olympic and He's like, just right.

Don't do that, women, because I get them all the time Olympic and He's like, just right.

In and get folks. For some individuals, Uh, that class of drugs may be the answer from having a bypass surgery or something else, but you shouldn't make that decision on your own. Take it to your medical home that person or the team of people that are usual in customary source care, those people whose phone number you have. Okay, that when you walk in, they'll say, I haven't really good to see you again, go and talk to them and have them help you to make an informed decision. Now, just remember that you also got to know when to stop. Some of the lawsuits come from something called what GOVI face, where some people lose so much weight that their facial structures begin to slide down. Because it wasn't well, it's once you start losing weight. Really it's it's it's called it's called Osempic face and google it. Okay, yeah, but so that's why it needs to be done in a clinical setting. Done in a clinical setting. Right now, there's too much me to hug. But I am not a candidate for a GOVI or Ozmpics. So somebody you guys have just stuck with me.

In and get folks. For some individuals, Uh, that class of drugs may be the answer from having a bypass surgery or something else, but you shouldn't make that decision on your own. Take it to your medical home that person or the team of people that are usual in customary source care, those people whose phone number you have. Okay, that when you walk in, they'll say, I haven't really good to see you again, go and talk to them and have them help you to make an informed decision. Now, just remember that you also got to know when to stop. Some of the lawsuits come from something called what GOVI face, where some people lose so much weight that their facial structures begin to slide down. Because it wasn't well, it's once you start losing weight. Really it's it's it's called it's called Osempic face and google it. Okay, yeah, but so that's why it needs to be done in a clinical setting. Done in a clinical setting. Right now, there's too much me to hug. But I am not a candidate for a GOVI or Ozmpics. So somebody you guys have just stuck with me.

Okay, So you know, I do want to see for all of us here today, what are some things that we do in recognition for ourselves to make sure that we remain healthy and that we are taking care of our own cardiovascular health. Because I know, for me having had that issue, it's something that always has stuck in my mind ever since I had that high cholestero I was like, I do not want to have to be on medication for the rest of my life and it's something that I've made lifestyle changes, but it's always a work in progress, and so sometimes.

Okay, So you know, I do want to see for all of us here today, what are some things that we do in recognition for ourselves to make sure that we remain healthy and that we are taking care of our own cardiovascular health. Because I know, for me having had that issue, it's something that always has stuck in my mind ever since I had that high cholestero I was like, I do not want to have to be on medication for the rest of my life and it's something that I've made lifestyle changes, but it's always a work in progress, and so sometimes.

I fall, but I get back up there.

I fall, but I get back up there.

And so there are certain things that I've implemented in my life long term to make sure that I'm, you know, doing better than I have in the past.

And so there are certain things that I've implemented in my life long term to make sure that I'm, you know, doing better than I have in the past.

So why don't we start with you, Paula?

So why don't we start with you, Paula?

Sure, Yeah, I love this question. And I was telling you earlier too that I also was told by a doctor that my cholesterol was a bit high and that kind of shook me up as well. And so I start to implement things very similar to you, Angela, Like I go on walks a lot. I walk my dog, and I make sure to go on long walks with my dog just so that I can you know, exercise, get that like low impact activity in my day. And then I'm also really big back to our conversation about stress, like I think a lot about what is stressing me out and trying to eliminate those things from my life, particularly as a black woman, knowing how heart disease is for us. So I'm like, look, if this is stressing me out, if this guy is stressing me out, if.

Sure, Yeah, I love this question. And I was telling you earlier too that I also was told by a doctor that my cholesterol was a bit high and that kind of shook me up as well. And so I start to implement things very similar to you, Angela, Like I go on walks a lot. I walk my dog, and I make sure to go on long walks with my dog just so that I can you know, exercise, get that like low impact activity in my day. And then I'm also really big back to our conversation about stress, like I think a lot about what is stressing me out and trying to eliminate those things from my life, particularly as a black woman, knowing how heart disease is for us. So I'm like, look, if this is stressing me out, if this guy is stressing me out, if.

That's whatever, he's gotta go.

That's whatever, he's gotta go.

You're not good for my home.

You're not good for my home.

I really am really like very big on my mental health and my stress levels.

I really am really like very big on my mental health and my stress levels.

Yeah, I know your job is stressful.

Yeah, I know your job is stressful.

I'd say, to be honest, after the whole Andrew CMO, the question of impeachment that was really a lot was was on me. I know, the center of potential was on him, but with the New York State Assembly being the ones to decide whether he would be in peace or at you, I really say, like after that summer, I says, you know, I cannot let this job consume me like that. So I said, I'm going to start doing me things. Soon after that, I started to learn how to play the guitar. I can't play eight print songs.

I'd say, to be honest, after the whole Andrew CMO, the question of impeachment that was really a lot was was on me. I know, the center of potential was on him, but with the New York State Assembly being the ones to decide whether he would be in peace or at you, I really say, like after that summer, I says, you know, I cannot let this job consume me like that. So I said, I'm going to start doing me things. Soon after that, I started to learn how to play the guitar. I can't play eight print songs.

Okayrances his favorite. If you follow him, you know that I just started.

Okayrances his favorite. If you follow him, you know that I just started.

You know, I do have a have a treadmill in my house. I have a treadmill in my apartment in Albany. We built this beautiful brand new y m c A, which I'm remember I having been there, you know, recently, And as you say, sometimes you know, you stay on top of it and then sometimes you fall up. I find that my weight kind of is worse when I'm in Albany because sometimes I feel like I do stress eat and as soon as I'm done, you know, I can get back on my healthy, my healthy regimen. But it's like you just try to get better. I do try to walk a lot. Marcusia who drives me. He hates when I.

You know, I do have a have a treadmill in my house. I have a treadmill in my apartment in Albany. We built this beautiful brand new y m c A, which I'm remember I having been there, you know, recently, And as you say, sometimes you know, you stay on top of it and then sometimes you fall up. I find that my weight kind of is worse when I'm in Albany because sometimes I feel like I do stress eat and as soon as I'm done, you know, I can get back on my healthy, my healthy regimen. But it's like you just try to get better. I do try to walk a lot. Marcusia who drives me. He hates when I.

Tell him I want to walk because he doesn't want me to walk by myself.

Tell him I want to walk because he doesn't want me to walk by myself.

No, But I just try to do those those small things and really the managing of the of the stress because sometimes with the stress it can trigger, you know, the issue that I have with the bone starts from the carts and then so I really just try to figure out ways to just relax the stress.

No, But I just try to do those those small things and really the managing of the of the stress because sometimes with the stress it can trigger, you know, the issue that I have with the bone starts from the carts and then so I really just try to figure out ways to just relax the stress.

I like to you know, play.

I like to you know, play.

Video games and and you know, do fantasy sports to kind of give me something outside of this, you know job that I love that is that it's actually tough, but doing more me things. Like I said, the guitar is a really big stress relief. Of my two guitars, this one is named the Laura and the other one's named Dorothy.

Video games and and you know, do fantasy sports to kind of give me something outside of this, you know job that I love that is that it's actually tough, but doing more me things. Like I said, the guitar is a really big stress relief. Of my two guitars, this one is named the Laura and the other one's named Dorothy.

Which is.

Which is.

Why but you know it's more of the girls in the songs.

Why but you know it's more of the girls in the songs.

But you know, well, I name the new car Nikki. But that's kind of what I do. I love it you're so genuine. I love it. I'm excited to be here.

But you know, well, I name the new car Nikki. But that's kind of what I do. I love it you're so genuine. I love it. I'm excited to be here.

And what do you do, doctor Warren Jones.

And what do you do, doctor Warren Jones.

Believe it or not, I learned to compensate. I put myself in a mindset where I'm not gonna let this bother me, okay, And I try to manage my own expectations instead of letting people set the expectations for me. Sometimes people will look at me sitting down watching the game and they don't realize that I'm doing mental gymnastics that whole game, okay, and I'm working on things, and uh, my wife gets upset because she she'll know I have a big talk coming up, and when are you gonna work on it. I've been working on it for three days. But then I get out in a walk. I something very simple that people can do if you're in a building, walk the stairs.