Health Rewind: How Dangerous Is Ricin?
Graphic novels to teach youth about HIV, plus more.
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Toxic Letter Sent to Obama: How Dangerous Is It? - A letter intended for President Obama was intercepted and tested positive for a toxin called ricin. But what exactly is ricin and just how harmful is it? In a new article, Time.com gives us the 411 on the chemical ricin, how it’s made, how the body ingests it and how lethal it can be to our health. —Kellee Terrell (Photo: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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The Alarming Childbirth Deaths in NYC - A recent report from the New York Women’s Foundation found that expecting mothers in New York City are 30 percent more likely to die during childbirth than they were a decade ago. This surge in deaths are more likely to happen to Black mothers and are believed to be a result of poor pre- and post-natal care, obesity and higher rates of C-sections, reported the Gothamist. (Photo: Monika Bender/Getty Images)
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Petition Filed to Ban Menthol Cigarettes - Recently, a petition on the behalf of 19 organizations, including the African-American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, was sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding a ban on menthol cigarettes. The petition stated that young smokers and smokers of color have greater access to these types of cigarettes. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Lead Poisoning Among African-American Children on the Rise - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that found that 1 in 38 kids around the U.S. has lead poisoning. But if you are “Black, poor or live in old housing,” your chances of lead poisoning was much higher, wrote Mother Jones. Lead poisoning can negatively impact a child’s mental and physical development and in some cases can cause death. (Photo: Inti St Clair/Getty Images)
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Alicia Keys Wants You to Be Empowered About HIV - With the help of the Kaiser Family Foundation, Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys recently launched EMPOWERED, a new HIV/AIDS campaign. In a panel discussion, Keys joined White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, Rep. Barbara Lee, co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, and other experts to discuss the impact of HIV on women. Listen to a podcast of the panel at kff.org. (Photo: Greater Than Aids Foundation)
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Comic Books Teach Black Youth About HIV/AIDS - South Carolina teens are learning about HIV prevention with the help of graphic novel AIDS in the End Zone. The 32-page story about sports, jealousy and HIV is being used in classrooms across the state to spark a frank discussion the epidemic. Even better: The storyline was created by young people from grades 4-12, reported Herald Online. (Photo: Courtesy University of South Carolina)
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Sleep Apnea and African-American Men - A recent study found that African-American men, especially younger men, are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea — abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep. Researchers found that Black men under 40 experienced 3.21 breathing pauses per hour of a sleep, a rate significantly higher than their white counterparts, reported Science World Report. (Photo: GettyImages)
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Black Women on Birth Control Gain More Weight - While being on hormonal contraception such as IUDs and birth control pills are safe and effective in preventing pregnancy, a new study found that Black women are more likely to gain weight while using them. But the study’s authors believe this may be due to our eating habits and lack of exercise rather than a reaction to the medication, says Reuters. (Photo: Kelsey Snell/MCT /Landov)