Black women are more likely to die from heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, and several cancers than any other racial or ethnic group. One of the reasons for this racial health disparity exists outside of genetics, individual health behaviors, and personal responsibility.
Weathering is the term coined by Dr. Arline T. Geronimus , a public health researcher, to explain this health gap. While she was studying maternal and infant outcomes for black women, she found that black women in their twenties had worse outcomes than black teen mothers. Her theory was that older women had spent more time living with stress in their bodies, making them much “older” physically and more prone to complications. Since her hypothesis in the 1990s, Dr. Geronimus’ work has gained more and more recognition. Weathering is a physiological process, meaning that what happens externally to you in society causes your body to respond physically.
In the case of systemic discrimination, racialization, and oppression, there is a cascade of biological changes in the body, leading to an increase in chronic disease, suppressed immune function, and cancer. So, black women experience the –Live sicker, die quicker–phenomenon. If you are not a black woman, you should still care because health equity improves the entire nation’s health and prosperity.
Weathering effects persist regardless of socioeconomic class, education, or neighborhood, which I know from personal experience. A few years ago, I found out my blood pressure was off the chart high, which matched my very high cholesterol. So, I was on the fast train to an early death from heart disease. I was shocked– because I did everything like exercise, sleep, manage stress, eat well, etc. However, using the weathering framework, I began to understand how my health numbers could still be way off and to search for ways to weatherproof myself.
exists to share my strategies to minimize the effects of weathering. Every week, I will share something you can do.
I can’t help thinking about a house as a metaphor for my body. Rain, snow, cold, and heat all combine to produce wear and tear on my home. I thought of three ways I keep water out of my adobe. Inside–I seal up cracks around windows and doors to keep moisture out. Outside–I paint and keep the gutters clean. Beyond–street tunnels keep water away from my foundation. So, I think of fighting the effects of weathering from the inside, outside, and beyond.
Inside
Health starts in the mind. Know your value and worth as a person. Find your purpose and stay true to it. Remember and draw strength from the ancestors. Train yourself to reset with breathwork, meditation, and/or prayer.
Take care of your body the best way you can by exercising, eating well, and resting.
Outside
Connection to others is a fundamental way to combat weathering—meaningful, positive social interactions cause our bodies to release oxytocin, a bonding hormone with anti-stress effects. See last week’s post for more ways to connect with others.
Beyond–Nationwide Policies
I know, I know this can seem too big, and right now in this country, too discouraging. But do what you can to effect change in public health policy–vote, stay informed, and speak out! Health research can fuel health policy, so consider participating in the American Cancer Society's research focused on black women. And yes, this study has considered the history of abuse and mistreatment of black women in health research.
Odds & Ends
Staying informed means being aware of the new administration's restrictions on the CDC and the non-evidenced-based, non-scientific views of the new Secretary for Health and Human Services.
With each day giving me more and more reasons to worry about the fate and health of our country, I was looking for something to restore my belief in humanity. I found it in the Netflix series Street Food. So many beautiful stories highlight family, hard work, and resilience. It definitely will lift your spirits. Generations pass down recipes, overcoming impossible odds to serve delicious, accessible food and maintain cultural heritage. Food is history and memoir. Just the thought of my Grandmom's fried whiting and grits brings her back to me.
Book of the week: Under the Skin by Linda Villarosa. This finalist for the Pulitzer Prize delves deep into the hidden toll of racism on health in our country.
EGGS are expensive! This week, I paid 10.49 for 18 eggs. I have a growing boy at home who loves his eggs. The reason for this is bird flu. There are widespread outbreaks in poultry, also affecting some cattle and domestic animals like cats. Human risk is low, according to the CDC.
Question for the week:
What inside practice can you cultivate to weatherproof yourself?
References and further reading:
Geronimus AT. The weathering hypothesis and the health of African-American women and infants: evidence and speculations. Ethn Dis. 1992 Summer;2(3):207-21. PMID: 1467758.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/well/live/weathering-health-racism-discrimination.html
https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/building-your-resilience
https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/black-women-excluded-from-critical-studies-due-to-weathering/
Such important information here. The facts are infuriating, but your efforts to respond in a positive way are heartening (maybe pun intended?)