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My Hair My Health PDX

MHMH PDX Health Corner: February 2026

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

HEALTH CORNER:

FEBRUARY 2026

Hey girl, Hey— It’s February, which is American Heart Month.​
​
This month, we want to focus on being heart-healthy. Heart Disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is the buildup of plaque within the blood vessels of the coronary arteries that supply your heart with oxygen. Plaque buildup in the coronary arteries could lead to heart attacks and complications.
​
Did you know that heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States? More alarmingly, nearly 60% of Black adults in the U.S. (approx. 60.1% of Black men, 58.8% of Black women) live with some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a rate significantly higher than the national average of 49% of all U.S. adults. This is alarming because Black Americans only make up 13% of the population.
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This American Heart Month, let’s take steps to reduce our risk of heart disease by minimizing risk factors such as:
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  • Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol- by eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (e.g., beans, lentils), nuts, fish. Limiting red meats and dairy
  • Elevating HDL (good) cholesterol- exercising, eating more fiber, eating healthy fats (e.g., olive oil, avocado, nuts)
  • Getting your blood pressure checked and treating high blood pressure
  • Knowing your A1c number and controlling diabetes
  • Quitting smoking
  • Managing weight
  • Reducing stress level

Check out the visual from the American Heart Association attached with tips on lowering Blood Pressure:

With love from the heart,
​Gina Guillaume, MD​​

Co-founded by Executive Director Adejoke Babatunde and Deputy Director Dr. Joyce Senior. My Hair My Health PDX has been doing community programs since 2017, and was established as a 501(c)(3) organization in May 2021.

The guiding principles of My Hair My Health PDX:

  • Centering Black Women and their families
  • Generational Healing
  • Cultural Food Traditions
  • Movement for Body and Soul

Our mission is to create a safe space of healing and celebration that inspires Black women and their families to live their best lives.

Rooted in our four principles, our vision is to build a collaborative village through events, resources, networking opportunities, workshops and classes that uplift our mind, body and soul while connecting us to ourselves and to one another.

We are a movement redefining beauty on our own terms—celebrating it from the inside out and inspiring self-love, wellness, and empowerment. Join our village and help us continue to uplift, inform, and celebrate Black women and their families by subscribing to our newsletter.

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My Hair My Health PDX is a registered 501(c)3

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