HEALTHIER YOU: Pregnancy & Coronavirus

Pregnancy & Coronavirus BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN There is still no specific information available about the impacts of coronavirus on pregnancy and breastfeeding. But I will draw from the information we do have around the worldwide impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes which might make them more susceptible […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Understanding diabetes

Understanding diabetes BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN November is American Diabetes Month, and it is important to understand how this sometimes fatal disease affects millions of people. More than two million African- Americans are estimated to have diabetes — a chronic disease with no cure. Nearly 6% of African-American men and 8% of African-American women have this disease. It disproportionately affects African-Americans at a rate nearly double that […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Knowing the facts about breast cancer

Knowing the facts about breast cancer BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN Many women feel apprehensive when getting their breasts checked by a physician or getting their recommended mammogram. As we acknowledge October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the primary word is “Awareness.” It is always better to be educated — and prepared to be proactive if you receive a positive finding of breast cancer. These are some healthy tips to take into […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Lupus and pregnancy

Lupus and pregnancy BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN May is Lupus Awareness Month, and many women wonder whether lupus may increase the risk for birth defects. Women with lupus can have healthy pregnancies — however, they also have a higher chance for complications. Lupus is formally known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is an […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Respect yourself, protect yourself

Respect yourself, protect yourself BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN We are all excited about the coming of spring, the season when we are awed by something that is inside virtually all living things: nature’s impulse to showcase its beauty and reproduce. It’s also a good time to think about your sexual health. April is STD […]

HEALTHIER YOU: After the baby comes, be aware of changes in the body

After the baby comes, be aware of changes in the body BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to a woman’s body, and they can really be felt after giving birth. New moms experience a wide range of changes — from breasts getting full with milk to profound emotional shifts. Many of the discomforts in a woman’s body after giving birth […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Every beat of your heart

Every beat of your heart BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of the most important muscle in our bodies. For the black community, the facts are plain: African-Americans are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke than White Americans. Between the ages of 45 […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Can you protect against birth defects?

Can you protect against birth defects? BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN Happy New Year! There is something to be said about getting the blessed news that you are expecting a bundle of joy. But even as we celebrate, it is important to be aware of birth defects and how they can be possibly prevented. January is Birth Defect Prevention Month, and empowering […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Black women, black men and HIV

Black women, black men and HIV BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN Media attention on the topic may have diminished over the last decade or more, but the reality is that the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS remains high within black communities. Blacks currently account for about 49% of the people diagnosed with the virus, despite comprising only 14% of the U.S. population. And because women are at a particularly high risk of […]

HEALTHIER YOU: Healthy for the holidays

Healthy for the holidays BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN Happy Thanksgiving month! November may be a time to begin feeling the holiday spirit, but it is also American Diabetes Month. As we plan our holiday meals, we must also be mindful of our health. Pregnant women, especially, may feel an urge to overeat and consume more sugar than normal. Mothers-to-be must watch their intake of certain […]

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