Black Doctor’s Head-to-Toe Health Book Empowers African American Women

Nationwide — If anyone wonders why today’s Black women need a health book geared specifically to them, look no further than BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS: Your “I’ve Got This!” Guide to Health, Sex & Phenomenal Living (Sounds True; $26.99). The author, Dr. Melody T. McCloud, is an obstetrician-gynecologist, public speaker, and experienced all-media consultant. Notably endorsed by musician, Pauletta Washington (yes, Denzel’s wife); ABC News/Good Morning America’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jen Ashton; and “America’s Psychologist,” Dr. Jeff Gardere, the book includes comparative data for all women, but focuses on Black women given current healthcare outcomes. Importantly, the author addresses what other authors often omit: The effect racism and microaggressions—psychosocial stressors—have on Black women’s physical and mental health. McCloud’s exclusive “Societal Stress & Black Women’s Health: The ‘Rejection Connection’” flowchart demonstrates how psychosocial stress can also affect physical health and can even lead to death. “Stress increases your cortisol and other stress hormones,” she says, “that can lead to hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes…all potential killer diseases.” The easy-to-read book presents clinical data, motivating anecdotes, and tools to enable readers to overcome long-standing health inequities and improve their physical, psychological, and social well-being. It is a “keep handy” resource for...