We know that COVID-19 is disproportionately killing black people in Louisiana, and the prevailing theory is that it is because African-Americans have higher rates of risk factors such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. It also has some doctors calling for changes in society.
The inequalities in health care run deep, said New Orleans physician Dr. Corey Hebert.
"Racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive preventive medical treatments than whites," said Dr. Hebert.
He said says inequalities in health care are problems that need to be addressed, but for now, he's urging his fellow African-Americans to address their health.
"It may rear it's ugly head again and if it does, we need to be ready. African-Americans, listen: we need to be ready," Dr. Hebert warned. "We need to eat better. We need to decrease our salt, we need to decrease our sugar intake, we need to quit smoking, we need to exercise 30 minutes a day, decrease our stress."
The doctor said reducing stress in particular is important.
"The reason why you must decrease your stress is because when you have a stress syndrome, your cortisol level goes up, your epinephrine goes up, which makes your immune system go down," he explained.
Dr. Hebert said this advice applies to everyone in a high-risk group, not just African-Americans.
