HEALTH
Dr. Jerry Goodwin
Featured Image. Provided
The National Newspaper Publishers Association and Pfizer in partnership with the Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease are hosting a webinar on Dec. 2 at 11:20 a.m. (CST). The webinar will address a heart disease that disproportionately affects the Black, African American, and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Voices for the Heart will share information about a heart condition that often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The hereditary condition is called transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy or ATTR-CM. About three to four percent of African Americans carry a mutation in the TTR gene (V122l) that makes it more likely that they may develop ATTR-CM.
The guest speakers on the webinar will be the following: Rhea Sancassani, M.D, F.A.C.C., medical director for the Jackson Medical Group Cardiology, and William “Bill” Pickard, a patient living with ATTR-CM. The program will be moderated by Zanade Edmondson, a community health worker.
Some carry the ATTR-CM disease only and for others with the disease, then it can get worse over time. It is very important to receive an early diagnosis for treatment and management of the disease. Family and friends should be included in helping an individual to be aware of conditions that an individual may overlook.
According to a press release from the Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease, individuals getting diagnosed with ATTR-CM can often take years. Some signs of ATTR-CM are the following: carpal tunnel syndrome, extreme tiredness, and swelling in the lower legs and feet, and can mimic other conditions.
Tulsa will join 17 other cities on this nationwide webinar. The Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease can be reached at (918) 619-6174 or swithsicklecell@att.net.
To register to participate in the webinar, visit Registration for Voices for the Heart webinar
