Black women's health in Arkansas and beyond is in a dire situation, according to a new report, which showed more collaboration is needed to address health care disparities and barriers.

The report by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families gave an overview not only of the racial health disparities Black women face, but social determinants of health playing a role, such as environment and education.

CaSandra Glover, health policy analyst for the group and the report's author, said it is important to recognize how policy decisions, from discriminatory housing practices like redlining to hospital closures, have affected Black women's health.

"It results in a lot of people maybe not receiving the specialty or quality care regarding a specific health condition," Glover observed. "Or people may even choose to forgo treatment because they may not have transportation to actually get to the closest medical facility that could actually treat the condition in the best manner."

An Arkansas Minority Health Commission study found significantly higher percentages of Black and Hispanic people reported being victims of discrimination in health care compared to their white counterparts.

The report included policy solutions and recommendations, with a focus on viewing them through a racial equity lens. Glover added expanding Medicaid coverage for pregnant people from 60 days after birth to 12 months could help address the Black maternal mortality crisis.

"There's a lot of health conditions that could take place during that entire year, post having a baby," Glover pointed out. "And we need to make sure that mothers have access to care, especially mothers who may not also have financial resources. We want to make sure that the mother and the baby is going to be taken care of within that first year."

Currently, Arkansas ranks fifth-worst in the nation for its maternal mortality rate. The report stressed the importance of increasing the number of Black medical professionals.

The Arkansas Minority Health Commission said it is actively working to help increase the number of Black physicians in the state.

February is National Heart Month, and doctors want Virginians to understand heart health a bit better - specifically, heart attacks and cardiac arrest.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800,000 people have heart attacks every year, and the majority are first-time heart attacks. Cardiac arrest can involve numerous factors, and heart attack is the most common.

Dr. Benjamin Galper, assistant chief of cardiology at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in northern Virginia, said this is partly why the two get mixed up. He said typically, signs of a heart attack can be chest pressure, nausea or sweating - but the signs of cardiac arrest are more dire.

"Cardiac arrest, itself is not subtle," he said. "If you've gotten to the point of cardiac arrest, it means the person is unconscious, that they don't have a pulse when you take their pulse and they're not breathing. So, when someone's had cardiac arrest, it's usually obvious and usually quite concerning."

National Heart Month is a good time to commit to reducing those risks, with a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise. Galper also encouraged people to get CPR training, to be able to aid someone having a heart attack until first responders arrive - and possibly save a life.

Underlying diseases such as diabetes or prediabetes can make a person more susceptible to heart problems. Dr. Ravi Johar, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare, said genetics can be another risk factor.

"Things like Marfan Syndrome increases the risk of aneurysms and abnormal blood flow to the heart, and things of that sort, so there can be some genetic consequences," he said. "There can also be genetic history; if your parents had problems with their hearts, there's a higher likelihood that you may."

He added that heart disease can affect people at any age. CDC research has found it can start as early as 35, and the risks increase with age. Anyone experiencing new chest pains or shortness of breath is encouraged to talk with their doctor about their heart-health options.

With Black History Month underway, Wisconsin researchers and support groups are highlighting the disparities in cases of Alzheimer's disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said older Black Americans are about two times more likely than whites to have Alzheimer's and other dementias.

As drugs designed to treat conditions accelerate toward the market, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health noted Black adults are less likely to be included in the research. The school has made it a priority to focus on the Black population in an ongoing study.

Diane Beckley Milner, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter, said participation is important.

"Without us being involved in those clinical trials as Black Americans, then the research, it's not going to lend itself to giving accurate information," Milner pointed out.

The university acknowledged Black individuals can be reluctant to participate in studies, citing historical trauma from events such as the Tuskegee experiment. Officials say when it comes to the UW study, Black volunteers account for 27% of the people enrolled, which is much higher than the state's Black population, suggesting it provides hope in boosting research inclusivity.

Milner emphasized partnerships her group has with organizations such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church can help ease fears and create more awareness within the Black community.

"Having that partnership has proved to be very, very important and critical to making sure that people get information that they can trust," Milner explained.

She added a common challenge her group has found in outreach is many Black Americans view cognitive decline as simply a sign of aging, and not a disease. The association also works with nursing organizations in hopes of educating more people within the Black population.

Preventing maternal and infant mortality in Georgia is a top priority for health care providers in the state.

Georgia already has the nation's highest maternal mortality rate, with more than 46 deaths per 100,000 live births, and ranks 16th for infant mortality.

In Lawrenceville, Obria Medical Clinics has what it calls a Supportive Pregnancy Care program, where people meet monthly in two-hour group sessions during pregnancy.

Robin Mauck, executive director of Obria, said they ask questions, learn how to take their own vital signs, and also meet with their providers for checkups.

"And then, March of Dimes has provided a curriculum that our facilitator goes through that has been proven to reduce maternal mortality," Mauck explained. "The great thing we see in this program is, it creates community for these girls. A lot of them don't have support in the community, they don't have family close by."

Mauck pointed out the group discussions help the participants build confidence, and the clinic also offers resources to help ensure new parents can take the best care of themselves and their babies.

Shelmekia Hodo, maternal and infant health director for the March of Dimes, said her organization is also focused on reducing health inequities in Georgia, with programs to address postpartum care and preterm birth, plus maternal and infant mortality.

One is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Family Support program, to help improve the experience for new parents. Hodo noted the program has been around for more than 20 years, with more than 70 sites across the country.

"March of Dimes provides an in-house coordinator that is on-site in the NICU, that does patient education with the actual moms, as well as staff education," Hodo outlined. "We know that so many moms are facing so many challenges and barriers having to be away from their babies, with their babies being in the NICU."

She added Georgia took a big step last year to address the maternal mortality rate, by extending Medicaid coverage to low-income mothers to a full year after giving birth, instead of only six months.