Latest news with #Curry-Winchell
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
She's a doctor with access to the best prenatal care. Why did childbirth nearly kill her?
She's a doctor with access to the best prenatal care. Why did childbirth nearly kill her? Show Caption Hide Caption Mother's Day: Easy ways to make your mom feel special Here are some easy ways to celebrate your mom this Mother's Day. Problem Solved Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell wasn't feeling right. The physician from Reno, Nevada, knew what to expect after giving birth to her second daughter via cesarean section in 2016. Then she felt dizzy and had a dull pain in her stomach. Curry-Winchell relayed her concerns to the nurse who had wheeled her into the delivery room. 'Bayo, you look fine. Everything looks fine,' the nurse told her. But everything was not fine. Curry-Winchell called her obstetrician, who rushed to the hospital and took her back into the operating room. Doctors discovered she was bleeding internally. 'I had the most access in the world. I'm a medical director; I have a badge to the hospital and it didn't save my life. It allowed the dismissal to happen,' she said. Maternal mortality rates are 3.5 times higher for Black women than their white counterparts. These disparities are partly due to limited access to quality prenatal care, comprehensive insurance and nutritious foods that would sustain a healthy pregnancy. However, researchers found these disparities still exist regardless of income and education, according to a 2023 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research looking at childbirths in California. Unconscious bias among healthcare providers 'plays a big role' in this medical paradox, said Dr. Kisha Davis, chief health officer for Montgomery County, Maryland, and a board director for the American Academy of Family Physicians. 'Many women feel like their pain wasn't listened to, their symptoms were ignored, they had a concern or question and didn't feel comfortable,' she said. 'It's really critical to make sure we check these biases at the door.' Research suggests the remnants of the medical community's long history of racial bias persist in modern day. A 2016 study found that nearly half of first- and second-year medical students believed that Black people have a greater pain tolerance, thicker skin and feel less pain than white patients. These medical biases may also impact mental health treatment. Forty percent of Black women experience maternal mental health symptoms and up to half of these women don't receive support for it, according to the March of Dimes, a nonprofit aimed at improving the health of mothers and babies. Davis said this is especially important as studies show mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S. 'Doctors need to do a better job of listening to our patients and helping them feel safe. Our patients need to push us to make sure that we are respecting them and respecting their care,' Davis said. 'It's a systemic issue… The challenge is on us to make the system better.' One way to improve the system is to hire more Black doctors as research has shown patient outcomes are better when providers look like them, said Katherine Sacks, associate director of health economics at the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank based in Santa Monica, California. 'Having someone who listens and understands and has a good relationship with you is extremely important – not just for maternal mortality,' she said. 'We want people to have a good (birthing) experience. Birth trauma is very real for a lot of people who survive.' Curry-Winchell's birth trauma inspired her to pursue healthcare advocacy. Her goal is to empower patients with information, tools and tips to advocate for themselves, such as preparing questions ahead of a doctor's visit or bringing a trusted friend who can speak up during the appointment. She hopes her work can help other women avoid the trauma that she experienced nearly 10 years ago. 'That's what really fuels my desire to continue to help as many people as possible,' she said. 'Your health is truly your most prized possession.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Reveal The Unexpected Cough Remedy That Kicks In ASAP
A lot of us have a cough now, right? Maybe you were sick a couple of weeks ago and are better, but the coughing just won't go away. You may be popping cough drops like it's your job, or maybe you've just accepted that the symptom is your way of life for now. Maybe you're googling at-home treatments in the middle of the night, ready to try just about anything. There's an option you probably haven't tried or wouldn't think to: marshmallows. (Well, sort of.) Ahead, doctors give more details about a helpful ingredient, what it does and other surprising options that may do the trick. Here's the deal. A store-bought marshmallow won't fit the bill, unfortunately, because it's not made with the key ingredient for relieving a cough: marshmallow root extract, or Althaea officinalis, an herb used as medicine for over 2,000 years. 'The natural marshmallow root or plant has been shown to decrease throat irritation and coughing,' explained Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, a family medicine physician, nationally recognized health equity advocate and TED Talk speaker. 'The soothing effect comes from the plant's natural coating, called mucilaginous, which is a sticky gelatin substance that might help reduce a cough.' Multiple studies back this up: For example, surveys published in Complementary Medicine Research in 2018 justified marshmallow root extract for the symptomatic treatment of a dry cough. And a 2020 review in the same publication said it could help with a cough, sore throat and other respiratory ailments. Additionally, a 2021 study in a German journal found that adding honey to the marshmallow root extract helped prolong the extract's coating on the throat. Last but not least, a 2013 article in the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences supported lozenges as a delivery form for marshmallow root extract when treating irritated oropharyngeal mucosa (a type of inflammation) and the dry cough associated with it. You can consume the root in various ways: drinking several cups of the tea, drinking a glass of water with 30 to 40 drops of the tincture or swallowing capsules that contain the equivalent of 6 grams of the powdered root, in divided doses. You can typically buy these products (and more versions) at local grocery stores or retailers like Amazon or Walmart. But don't just run out and buy it right this second; while Mount Sinai medical system states the root is generally safe to take, you should make sure you talk to a doctor before using it (or any other medication or supplement) since interactions can occur. So is it time to throw away the cough syrup? Not quite, doctors say. Marshmallow root extract is best when a cough or sore throat is minor and not accompanied by other major symptoms. One of the great benefits of the product is that kicks in and reduces irritation fairly quickly. Curry-Winchell pointed to the 2018 study, which found most participants felt the results in roughly 10 minutes. So, it may be a great option before you head into a class or meeting, hoping to keep coughing to a minimum. However, the effect doesn't last super long. Dr. Michael Chichak, the medical director at MEDvidi and a general practitioner with 13 years of experience, estimated around 10 to 20 minutes, though it can vary. If you need to suppress your cough for longer, he said, your best option is consuming it as a lozenge or tea. And don't ignore your cough if it continues. 'As more complex medical problems arise, more thorough treatment options become necessary, particularly when more severe coughing is present,' Chichak said. See a doctor about a cough if it lasts longer than three weeks, you're losing weight for no reason, you have a weakened immune system or you're also experiencing chest pain. The following may also ease this symptom, according to Curry-Winchell and Chichak: Honey (It coats the throat and fights germs.) Pineapple juice (It has bromelain, which lessens mucus production.) Warm salt water (Gargling it can reduce throat inflammation.) Licorice root tea (It's anti-inflammatory.) Warm water with honey or bone broth (It contains natural ingredients that can soothe your throat and calm your cough.) Even if the marshmallow root extract or honey or pineapple juice or other options don't fully solve your problem, they taste good, right? That counts for something. Dietitians Share A Surprising Food That Can Help When You're Sick 5 Things Doctors Never, Ever Do During Cold And Flu Season Worried About Getting Norovirus? Do These 7 Things To Prevent It From Spreading.
