Navigating Health Anxiety and Care as a Black Woman

Navigating Health Anxiety and Care as a Black Woman 

You’ve read the headlines: Black women are subject to higher maternal mortality rates, an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and are more likely to die from breast cancer. Those are just some of the health realities that exist. 

These stories are a constant reminder that when it comes to health, as with other consequences of living within a racist system, Black women are especially vulnerable — inevitably causing an undercurrent of anxiety. “It's almost like having the little gnats or mosquitoes that fly around your head,” says LaTasha Seliby Perkins, MD. “You swat at it, kill a few, they go away. But it's constantly an irritation that's there and you get used to that being a part of your life.” 

The irony no one asked for is that this health anxiety further impacts Black women's mental and physical health, as well as the health care decisions they make. Until there are major changes and a systemic overhaul to bring more equity, here’s what you can do, now, to advocate for yourself and protect your health.

The physical cost of health anxiety

Health anxiety — and the chronic stress that comes with it —  can manifest as conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, says Perkins. Some of which Black women are already more at risk for. Studies show that it may even speed up biological aging.

That, plus institutional untrustworthiness, medical gaslighting, and worrying about the outcome of procedures, may mean some Black women avoid health care altogether. Screenings can be put off and health concerns may go unchecked. But “not going to the doctor will only further the health disparities that exist, and inaction can worsen the problem,” says Perkins. 

Your move

It's not on you to fix centuries of institutional racism in health care. But there are ways you can take back power over your health. 

1. Meet your basic needs. Like getting good sleep and eating nutritious foods. That may be easier said than done, so, “start with bite-sized changes and go one hour, one day, one step at a time,” says Perkins. If you can only find a spare 10 minutes in the day, give it back to yourself with a nap.

2. Prepare for doctor’s visits. Bringing a list of symptoms and questions (plus our scripts to combat medical gaslighting) to your appointments can help ensure you’re heard. 

3. Monitor your self-talk. Be mindful of the ‘strong Black woman’ mindset, and remind yourself that you’re worthy of being heard and having concerns addressed, says Rheeda Walker, PhD.  

4. Know you can fire your doctor. It may not always be possible to find a Black doctor near you, but organizations like Find a Black Doctor, the Association of Black Women Physicians, or Health in Her Hue can help. 

Read more on how to navigate health care as a Black woman.

We asked you to vote on a question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Is “clean” makeup better for you than regular makeup?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Sophia Reid, MD, FAAD

A board-certified dermatologist

“This clean beauty trend…we love and hate it at the same time,” says Reid. “The idea is to remove some of the more harmful chemicals and ingredients that we expose our skin to,” like parabens and phthalates. These chemicals could potentially disrupt hormone levels and increase the risk of certain cancers, she says. 

However, “there [is] no criteria to be labeled clean,” Reid says. “We would like to think products that use the term clean are being honest about the production and ingredients in their products, but that’s not always the case.” So it’s up to consumers to “read the labels and decide if the ingredients meet their expectations of a clean product.”

Read our full interview with Reid here.

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PS: Your feedback makes a big impact. Let us know what you like, what could be improved, and most importantly, if we helped you get sh*t done. Share your thoughts.

We recently sat down with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley to talk about abortion rights, climate change, presidential age limits, and more.

A major topic we covered: the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created via IVF are children under state law, and the concerns about its impact on the fertility treatment.

Listen here to find out what she had to say.

We’re here to fact-check health trends, wellness assumptions, and myths. Such as:

Do electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) bodysuits actually work?

Well, actually, EMS may help you “strengthen, tone, or firm” muscles, according to the FDA. But don’t expect magical results. 

Quick background: full-body workout suits that use electric pulses to engage muscles have recently gained popularity on social media. Some studies say this technology can make your workout more efficient. “In conventional training … we're talking about 40—50% of the muscle fibers in one muscle getting recruited,” but EMS can stimulate up to 90%, says Max Graeber, head trainer at Katalyst. That also means it can be easier to overwork your muscles — which can prevent you from building strength.

"Why would you only be nice to other people and not yourself?"

— Maisie Williams giving us some mental health advice. Arya feeling better?