< Previous28 | TALK MAGAZINE • FALL 2020 “The Postal Service is fully committed and actively working to handle the increase in election mail volume across the country over the next two weeks,” Partenheimer said. Mail-in ballots arriving past the deadline is a main reason many of them get rejected. That has led election officials nationwide to urge voters to return ballots as soon as possible or take advantage of ballot drop boxes or early in-person voting. Battleground Postal Delays continued from page 9 30% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Many people of color also depend on public transportation to get to work. These factors can result in exposure to the virus. Your access to health care also affects your health risks. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to encounter barriers to getting care, such as a lack of health insurance or not being paid when missing work to get care. In 2017, according to the CDC only about 6% of non-Hispanic white people were uninsured, while the rate was nearly 18% for Hispanics and 10% for non-Hispanic Black people. Racism may also play a role in health risks. The stress of dealing with racial discrimination can take a toll on your body, causing early aging. This has been linked to underlying conditions, which can increase the risk of severe illness with COVID-19. All of these factors — underlying health conditions, dense living conditions, employment in the service industry or as an essential worker, access to health care and racism — contribute to the impact of COVID-19 on people of color. But these are long-standing issues. Research shows that people of color are often more greatly affected by public health emergencies, such as Hurricane Katrina. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to promote the health and well-being of racial and ethnic minorities. coronavirus complications continued from page 21 impressive educational program known as ‘Make Music Count,’ created by Marcus Blackwell which aims to eliminate the fear of math and simultaneously teach children between the 3rd grade and 12th grade how to perform better mathematically while enjoying culturally relevant lessons through music. Explore the insightful exploration of incredible thinkers like Elijah McCoy, Granville T. Woods, Patricia E. Bath, Frederick McKinley Jones, Jessica O. Matthews, Jasmine Crowe, Diishan Imira and countless others. Then, imagine what could be accomplished if people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds throughout America and around the world were to put our heads together and entertain the thought of what has yet to be discovered? Quite possibly, that could include creating a cure for most (if not all) chronic diseases and health ailments. Maybe finding the answer to eradicate poverty, homelessness, and world hunger. Perhaps devise better public policy solutions focused on bringing people together instead of fanning insignificant flames which have only kept us apart. Whatever the case and despite our achievements as segmented human beings, it’s not difficult to debate that we have only scratched the surface of everything that can be accomplished – if we will commit our hearts and minds to doing it together. Why Diversity Matters continued from page 11 supplements you’ve been taking factor into your risk level, as well. 2 Eat a heart-healthy diet. From a dietary standpoint, one of the best ways to lower your cholesterol is to avoid foods with saturated fat and trans-fat. Limit saturated fat to 5-6% of your daily calories and avoid trans-fat, which means limiting intake of processed or fatty meats and full-fat dairy products. Choose low-fat dairy products and lean proteins instead. A heart-healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, lean vegetable or animal proteins and fish while limiting things like trans fats, sodium, processed meats, refined carbohydrates and sugary foods and beverages. Eating this way may also help increase your fiber intake, which can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10%. 3 Be physically active. A sedentary lifestyle lowers HDL cholesterol. Just 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week is enough to help lower both LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure. Consider mixing up the options to keep your exercise routine engaging and prevent boredom. Try activities like brisk walking, swimming, bicycling or dancing. 4 Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol. What’s more, when a person with unhealthy cholesterol levels also smokes, his or her risk of coronary heart disease increases more than it would otherwise. Smoking also compounds other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. By quitting, smokers can lower their cholesterol levels and help protect their arteries. Nonsmokers should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke as much as possible. 5 Lose weight. Being overweight or obese tends to raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol. A weight loss of as little as 10% can help improve your cholesterol numbers. Managing High Cholesterol continued from page 16 Talk Magazine is Pennsylvania’s only statewide publication produced by African-Americans and our mission is to bring timely, informative, and educational articles on events and issues that effect and influence Pennsylvanian’s everyday lives. Talk Magazine is obtained through subscription only. Talk Magazine’s Partner TMAG hosts four events each year: The Black History Month Celebration, Merit Award & Recognition Reception The Annual Pennsylvania African-American Network Convention The Annual African American/Latino Roundtable Help Talk Magazine with TMAG uplift, inform and empower the Minority Communities Across PA Subscription Form - Please type or print all information 1 year (4 issues for $12.00) Name ( PLEASE PRINT ) Address City State Zip Phone: Email address Talk is published quarterly—4 issues/year by The LJS Group an African-American owned company. Payment must accompany subscription form. Make check payable and mail with form to: The LJS Group ~ PO Box 143 ~ Monroeville, PA 15146-0143 Contact us at ~ Phone: 412.823.4007 ~ Email: info@talkmagazineonline.com Luther J. Sewell, Jr. ~ Publisher Roxanne N. 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