If anyone wonders why today’s Black women need a health book geared specifically to them, look no further than BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS: Your “I’ve Got This!” Guide to Health, Sex & Phenomenal Living (Sounds True; $26.99). The author, Dr. Melody T. McCloud, is an obstetrician-gynecologist, public speaker, and experienced all-media consultant.

Notably endorsed by musician, Pauletta Washington (yes, Denzel’s wife); ABC News/Good Morning America’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jen Ashton; and “America’s Psychologist,” Dr. Jeff Gardere, the book includes comparative data for all women, but focuses on Black women given current healthcare outcomes. Importantly, the author addresses what other authors often omit: The effect racism and microaggressions—psychosocial stressors—have on Black women’s physical and mental health.

McCloud’s exclusive “Societal Stress & Black Women’s Health: The ‘Rejection Connection’” flowchart demonstrates how psychosocial stress can also affect physical health and can even lead to death. “Stress increases your cortisol and other stress hormones,” she says, “that can lead to hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes…all potential killer diseases.”

The easy-to-read book presents clinical data, motivating anecdotes, and tools to enable readers to overcome long-standing health inequities and improve their physical, psychological, and social well-being. It is a “keep handy” resource for women to learn the signs, symptoms, treatments, and preventive measures for head-to-toe conditions including heart disease, diabetes, cancers, HIV, multiple sclerosis, eye, lung, and gyn conditions, as well as mental conditions dementia and personality disorders.

The book has intriguing chapters about sex and sexual health, “down-low risks,” love, relationships, also domestic abuse. It presents how gun violence is not only a public safety crisis but also a public health crisis that requires “all hands on deck” — especially Black parents—to save the community.

Pregnancy-related mortality is addressed at length. “We have such high rates of maternal, perinatal, and infant, mortality,” says McCloud; “and yes, implicit bias is real: Many times, Black women’s concerns are not ‘heard.’ But note: The number-one reason for pregnancy-related mortality is that Black women do not start prenatal care early—in the first trimester. Almost 90% of maternal morbidity and mortality cases are preventable.” Women should see an obstetrician even before becoming pregnant and should not delay prenatal care. “Women are usually the health stewards of the family. Changing the health of Black women can change that of her family, and all future generations. Get your babies off to a solid start.”

The book is written for the general public but also can be valuable to health professionals. There is a checklist for readers to review their family’s medical history, and also a self-inventory checklist for readers to complete and show their doctors.

McCloud urges, “As never before, you must be proactive about your health. This book can help educate and encourage readers to be savvy, empowered patients because we can and must chart a new path to successful healthcare outcomes.”

Of Black Women’s Wellness, endorsers wrote [just three comments]:

“Whether it’s fibroids, heart disease, cancers, maternal mortality, mental health, or life lessons, this book is a blueprint to help us ensure total health. I dedicate my voice to support Dr. McCloud in reaching our Black women.” — Pauletta Washington, musician, actress, and wife of Denzel Washington

“This book could not be more relevant! Black Women’s Wellness will improve women’s lives.” — Dr. Jen Ashton, ABC News/Good Morning America’s Chief Medical Correspondent

“Black Women’s Wellness is a must-have reference for physical, psychological, and sexual wellness. Finally, we have a book that specifically addresses the path toward health and happiness for our beautiful Black women.” — Dr. Jeff Gardere, psychologist and media consultant

Black Women’s Wellness is professional medical advice, sexology, sociology, psychology, dashes of pop culture, and relatable doses of personal responsibility for such a time as this.

About the Book
BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS: Your “I’ve Got This!”
Guide to Health, Sex & Phenomenal Living
By Dr. Melody T. McCloudISBN: 9781683648765
Available on Amazon