By Katie Dukes, director of early childhood policy, EdNC When babies are born, their brains contain billions of neurons. But how those neurons interact — and what they can do as babies grow through childhood into adulthood — is largely shaped by their experiences in the first 1,000 days of life. The architecture of the…
By Steve Cain, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of California April is Financial Literacy Month, a good time to learn how your health plan can support your financial and health goals. Understanding your coverage can be a vital part of your family’s financial planning. Especially since 36% of adults report skipping care due to cost in the last…
By Ashleigh Fields, Special to the AFRO Black women in rural areas are facing the brunt of declining medical services, including access to obstetric care as new policies threaten clinic and hospital closures. Under the current White House administration’s summer spending package, federal reimbursement for services covered through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act severely…
Characterized as a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its healthy cells, autoimmune diseases can be both tricky to diagnose, as well as accompanied by a long list of rather dreadful symptoms. There are over 100 known autoimmune diseases. Common ones include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Autoimmune diseases can…
By Victoria Mejicanos AFRO Staff Writer After decades of facing various social, economic, racial and health disparities, it’s no surprise that some Black elderly patients are hesitant to visit the doctor for regular screenings or may not always know what to ask. This month the AFRO spoke with medical professionals to discuss the importance of…
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2026) — The National Medical Association (NMA), the nation’s largest and oldest organization representing African American physicians and their patients, is convening leading clinicians, researchers, and health advocates for its 2026 National Colloquium on African American Health, taking place at The Morrow Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event started on Thursday…
By Sunita Sohrabji Northern California and several states on the East Coast are experiencing a dramatic surge in human metapneumovirus. Antivirals are not yet available to fend off the illness. The US is experiencing a dramatic surge in human metapneumovirus — HMPV — a little-known respiratory illness, which currently has no vaccine or antiviral treatment….
By Payton Aldridge Navigating the special education system can be overwhelming for many families. There’s a lot of unfamiliar terminology, meetings filled with professionals and decisions that directly affect your child’s education. It can sometimes feel like everyone else in the room understands what’s happening – except you. But it’s important to remember that you…
Maintaining health coverage plays a critical role in protecting your long-term health and your family’s well-being. Preventive care — including routine screenings, wellness visits, and age-appropriate checkups — can detect health issues early, support chronic disease management, and help you stay healthier year-round. Covered California health plans include preventive services that are available at no…
ARMC is now an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Center Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) recently announced that it has received accreditation from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program (ACAD). Each CoC program is designated a specific category based on the type of facility, program structure, services…
FARSB, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Feeding America highlight how nutritious food supports better health during National Nutrition Month® Riverside, CA – March 17th, 2026 – Food is a powerful tool for better health, especially as people facing hunger experience higher rates of chronic illness and higher health care costs. During National Nutrition Month in…
By Black PR Wire (Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES, CA – As Black Maternal Health Week approaches (April 11-17), a new public service announcement campaign is launching to address the alarming rates of Black maternal and infant mortality in Los Angeles County by mobilizing the people closest to Black mothers-their families and friends. Created by…
If you get insurance through your work, you may have access to doula support By Dr. Lisa Saul, Chief Medical Officer of Women’s Health for UnitedHealthcare Pregnancy comes with plenty of checklists. Appointments, registries, leave planning. It also comes with a lot of questions people don’t always talk about. Is this normal? Should I be…
by Victoria Mejicanos When discussing how to best serve older residents, it can be easy to get lost in statistics and policies. Experts and seniors alike say what’s most important when considering the aging Black population is communication. “When we think about seniors and look at the social determinants of health, I think that we…
By Sunita Sohrabji There are major efforts taking place around the country to remove vaccination requirements for children going to school. To me, that is one of the most frightening ideas that I’ve seen in my lifetime. — Dr. Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Vaccines The Centers for Disease Control and…
Americans Are Getting Sick More Often And Earlier in Life By Patty Starr, President & CEO, Health Action Council, and Craig Kurtzweil, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual Employer health benefits costs are rising faster than inflation and wage growth, putting continued pressure on employer‑sponsored plans. According to KFF’s 2025 Employer Health…
By Jessica Daniels Although diet and lifestyle changes won’t cure your Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), they can help you manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of it progressing to advanced congestive heart failure Frederick L. Ruberg, MD, associate chief for academic affairs and director of the advanced cardiac imaging program, section of cardiovascular medicine…
by Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer “I don’t know about you, but I cannot even begin to count how many sisters and friends have experienced these conditions that so often go untalked about,” said Tiffany Robinson, vice president for state government affairs at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. “We know that pain is often minimized, care is…
Canned foods can get a bad rap sometimes when it comes to health. While they’re convenient, doctors often have concerns about how they’ve been prepared and the effect they can have on your body. The truth is that not all canned foods are on the same level. If you know which ones to choose and…
RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. “Think of this book as your portable support group, featuring real stories from breast cancer survivors and thrivers. Handle with Care shares insights on everything from chemotherapy and reconstruction to the emotional toll, newfound strengths, sources of resilience and…
By BlackPressUSA Chronic back problems affect Black communities differently through factors like elevated prevalence rates of high-impact chronic pain and increased severity. Black people also appear to have worse functional outcomes than their White counterparts. A study on chronic low back pain published in ScienceDirect, for instance, noted that Black participants had higher pain intensity…
By: Rhonda Smith, Executive Director, California Black Health Network Black History Month is a time to honor the brilliance and contributions of Black people across generations. It’s also a moment to reflect on how we carry that legacy forward through the everyday choices we make to protect our health, families, and communities. As Executive Director…
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health has confirmed a positive case of measles, the first confirmed case in the county since 2023. The case involves an unvaccinated minor who was visiting California from another state. This case is unrelated to the recently reported Disneyland exposure. During the infectious period of Jan. 26 through…
LOS ANGELES – Today, thousands of Kaiser workers and supporters showed up and showed out, walking off the job at Kaiser locations throughout Southern California to protest the company’s unlawful actions that have prevented frontline healthcare workers from getting the fair contract they deserve. Picketing is taking place at select Kaiser medical centers throughout the…
By Anna Jones | UAB News Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease can develop and present differently in women compared to men, and studies show that women may downplay their symptoms or delay seeking treatment. In women, the risk…
