Dr. Teresa Byrd, a Wellstar OB/GYN, emphasized the critical impact of heart disease, stating, “It is the number one killer of people in America—men and women.”
She also highlighted the specific risks hypertension poses for pregnant women and their babies, noting, “Just being pregnant is a stress on your heart. It is the biggest stress test you could possibly have.”
Dr. Alicia Shelly, a primary care physician and obesity specialist at Wellstar, shared alarming statistics: “According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 56 percent of African Americans have been diagnosed with hypertension, and I see that in my clinic all the time.”
Elise Lockamy-Kassim, assistant vice president for Wellstar Community Health and the Wellstar Center for Health Equity, encouraged attendees to make small, manageable changes in their lives to improve health outcomes.
“We all live with circumstances that may be outside of our control,” she said, “but there are small changes we can make in our lifestyle, in our community connections, that can help us live healthy lives. There is hope.”
The event successfully brought together healthcare professionals and community leaders to empower individuals with knowledge and strategies to manage hypertension, fostering a healthier future for Atlanta’s minority populations.
