Sunday, February 12, 2017

Harvard Study found Vitamin-D deficiency overdiagnosed in African-Americans

   Harvard University Researcher, Dr. Thadhani and his colleagues found that African Americans had significantly lower vitamin-D levels compared with white subjects in the study.

Photo taken from http://cdns.yournewswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/vitd1.jpg

    Despite having lower levels of vitamin d levels, Bone density levels and calcium levels were higher in African Americans compared with white individuals.   In a previous TovaCares blog, I also discuss that persons of darker skin complexion do not absorb vitamin D as well as persons of lighter skin complexion.  This may also attribute to the variation of vitamin D levels in African-Americans.  The findings suggest that treating African Americans for vitamin D deficiency solely based on vitamin D levels (250HD and D-binding protein levels) may not be warranted. 

   TOVA Healthy Tidbit, Remember to always discuss your concerns with a licensed Healthcare Provider. This can be easily done by writing or jotting down about three pertinent questions to discuss at your next appointment. 

  To Read more about this study,



Tova Community Health
Dr. Anderson
Executive Director/Founder
Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center
601 New Castle Ave.
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 655-6187 ext. 500
www.tovacommuinityhealth.org

Delaware State University launches Sickle Cell Anemia Pilot Project (SCAPP) in partnership with the TOVA.


         SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PILOT PROJECT (SCAPP) launched at Delaware State University

The Department of Social Work, College of Education, Health and Public Policy, is pleased to announce a new Sickle Cell Anemia Pilot Project (SCAPP) at Delaware State University. The project will serve DSU students and members from African American and Latino communities in Kent and Sussex counties. It will provide: 1) direct care coordination services to individuals with sickle cell anemia, 2) outreach and education workshops, and 3) counseling and support services. SCAPP will partner with the DSU Health Center, DSU Counseling Center, and the DE Center for Health Promotion.


Join the Delaware State University Foundation by making to donation to the 
TOVA Fund.  You contribution is Tax Deductible.

DSU Thanks for All you Do,
Dr. Anderson
Executive Director/Founder of Tova Community Health
Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center


Saturday, January 21, 2017

Breaking the silence of an Unspoken Disease-Sickle Cell


  
TOVA Portrait
Sickle Cell  Tears
All Rights Reserved

   A student at Howard High School in Wilmington, DE in the TOVA Volunteer program was asked by Dr. Anderson to draw a picture of her interpretation of Sickle Cell Disease Anemia.  Interestingly, the picture depicts three young ladies who appear to be talking about  the debilitating nature of sickle cell.  This causes the young (appears to be) Caucasian girl to cry sickle cell tears.  Oftentimes, people with sickle cell and especially teenagers do not talk about their disease with their peers.  Yearning to fit in and be normal is a great feat.  However, this young lady with her beautiful black hair (with scattered sickle cells) is educating her friend about sickle cell.  Her friend appears to be crying tears of sickle cell.  The other young girl is listening on with a compassionate heart.  That being said, I urge my patients to share with their peers and colleagues about Sickle Cell Disease and refrain from keeping silent.  If people with Sickle Cell Disease do not open up and share, then the campaign for more public awareness will be in vain.  You can make an Impact if you just open up-Don't be Afraid.

Copies of the portrait can be purchased for $20.00.  A portion of the proceeds will go to support the TOVA General Fund which provides medical and financial support to families living with Sickle Cell Disease.

TOVA COMMUNITY HEALTH
Sickle Cell Specialty Center
601 New Castle Ave.
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 655-6187 ext. 500
www.tovacommunityhealth.org 

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Can Anyone tell me how to get DOC to offer more healthy options for Inmate commissary packages?

                                         

Generated by Learn more
 TOVA Community, 

        I received this e-mail last week from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.  I have an uncle who is serving time in prison for a rap sheet to long to write in this blog.  Nevertheless,
my uncle suffers with Mental Illness (Alcohol and Drug Abuse) and also lives with Heart Disease, Diabetes. 
He asks me to pick out items for his care packages but these snacks are heavy in carbs and simple sugars!
For inmates who have chronic conditions, there is a limited supply or healthy option items to choose from.  If an inmate has a diagnosis of Diabetes, there should be at least 10-12 items on the list which should in include fresh fruits, vegetables and other  healthy snacks
         For now, I will continue to do my best to pick high carb and sugary snacks that are 'somewhat healthy' and hope for the best.    Dr. Nina

TOVA Community HealthSickle Cell Specialty Center(302) 655-6187 ext. 500www.tovacommunityhealth.org


Breaking the Culture of Silence with Mental Illness

  This was a comment that was sent from Facebook in response of our former Heisman Trophy winner  Rasaan Salaam who left this earth too early.  Please, Please, Please do not suffer with Depression in silence.

healthyblackmen.org/

  Seek help by making an appointment with your primary care provider or  a licensed health professional:  nurse, social worker, behavioral health specialist or psychologist, psychiatrist).  Fonda Bryant is testimony that one can break down the walls of Stigma and receive care that saved her life. Thanks Fonda for sharing your powerful testimony.  The TOVA Community is forever grateful!
   
Fonda Bryant
December 30 at 3:56am
As a culture and as a society, we have to start talking more about mental health and busting down the walls of stigma. Something people don't understand, a LOT of these athletes had a mental condition long before they came into the league, especially in the black culture. We have been taught to get help for a mental condition is a sign of weakness, we don't need help, and it's a white person thing. From the religious side, you have pray about it, don't claim it or give it to God. I was 35, when my depression finally got so bad, I almost took my own life. I didn't want to die, I just wanted the pain to go away. The sad thing, I didn't know until I went into a mental facility that depression ran on both sides of my family. We didn't talk about mental health much and when we did, it was always in a negative manner. I don't smoke, drink or have never done drugs, I was diagnosed with a chemical imbalance. Thank goodness, my aunt heard my cry and I got the help I needed. Today, I am a passionate advocate for mental health, speaking for those who are ashamed to get the help. I am not ashamed to tell my story if it will help others. 117 AMERICANS die DAILY to suicide, that 819 a WEEK, 3,270, a MONTH, and that's not including the 22 veterans that die daily. the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24, is SUICIDE, 2nd leading cause of death on college campuses is SUICIDE, with 1100 college students a year, 10th leading cause of death is the US, more people die by suicide in this country than car death and homicides combined, every 12.8 minutes. Where is the outcry?! The CDC released the suicide stats this year, suicide is at a 30 YEAR HIGH. It's called the "Silent Epidemic," with 90% of people who take their own life have a mental condition at the time of their death. STIGMA is the #1 reason why people don't get help for their mental condition. Society makes US feel ashamed of something we can't help. The brain is an organ just like our heart, kidneys and lungs. It's the most powerful organ and it can get sick too. To many of these athletes are suffering in silence as well. Football is a violent and brutal game. The saying, "Mentally TOUGH" is used all the time. For a player to let anyone know that they are dealing with a mental condition could end their career, or make them look weak even though the NFL is doing a little better with dealing with mental health. CTE is a growing problem but they need to make athletes comfortable enough to get help for their mental condition, so things like this won't keep happening. Also, society needs to get educated on mental health and the warning signs of suicide. The more educated you are the more you can spot the signs of suicide and save a life.

                                                           TOVA Community Health
                                             Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center
                                                        (302) 655-6187 ext. 500 
                                                 
                                                 www.tovacommunityhealth.org 

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Dr. Anderson Celebrates National Violin Day to raise Sickle Cell awareness


Photo Courtesy of the Delaware Music School

             Dr. Anderson Celebrates National Violin Day at the Delaware 87ers Basketball game this Tuesday, December 13th at the University of Delaware Bob Carpenter Center at 6:30pm to raise Sickle Cell Awareness.
Did You Know?  National Violin Day is celebrated annually on December 13th.   This holiday honors the bowed-string instrument which is also known by my beloved grandmother Lillie as the ‘fiddle’.  The violin is part of the string family which includes the viola, cello and bass and the highest pitched instrument of the family. 

I started out playing in Warner Elementary school when I was introduced to the violin through a robust arts and music programs.  Back then, taking up an instrument and active participation in the music and arts program was a required element as part of the student’s overall academic success.  A study at Northwestern University demonstrated that the exposure to music programs physically stimulated the brain and improved a child’s speech processing language skills.   Another benchmark study in Music City, Nashville Tennessee also confirms the biopsychosocial and academic benefits to students who are involved in music programs.  The results showed that students engaged in music programs outperformed their peers on every indicator-grade point average, graduation rate, school attendance and discipline and ACT scores.  In addition the above findings also found that students reported had a positive attitudes in their behavior, personal lives and in school.  Today, as public school budgets are being cut, crunched and stretched, the first programs to be considered for cuts are arts and music programs.  

Staying actively involved in the music community over the years has enriched my life tremendously.  This includes playing a variety of music genres that includes classical, baroque, folk, country, jazz and stretching to hip-hop has which has also expanded my appreciation of the cultural impact of the arts in our daily lives.  In the words of social justice advocate and folk singer Peter Seeger, “my job is to show folks there’s a lot of good music in this world, and if used the right it may help save the planet.”    Music has the power to unite people together who have an interest for a particular cause through song which can result in positive change.  It is also invaluable tool for education, mobilization, social cohesion.



The opportunity to play at an 87ers basketball game center stage to raise Sickle Cell Awareness brings  this cause for accessible high quality holistic comprehensive compassionate care to the forefront.

Join Dr. Nina Anderson as she plays the National Anthem on the violin on December 13 to support TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Center at the Bob Carpenter Center at 6:30 pm for pre-game ceremonies. 



Dr. Nina Anderson is a founding member of the Umoja Strings, Executive Director of TOVA Community Health Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center and an Affiliated Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware.  Portion of ticket proceeds benefit the TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Treatment Center.  To purchase tickets go to www.sevens.com/promo (Type in Promo Code:  TOVA)    #NationalViolinDay.   

                                                                   TOVA Community Health

                                                                Sickle Cell Specialty Center
                                                                          Wilmington, DE
                                                               www.tovacommunityhealth.org

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Join TOVA at Bowlerama for a Holiday Bowling Fundraiser

TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty Center
601 New Castle Ave
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 655-6187 ext. 500
www.tovacommunityhealth.org