The truth about our hearts
Dear ZORA family,
When I was younger, I had an irregular heartbeat. I vividly remember how I had to wear a pacemaker at night and my mother always kept a bottle of Mylanta in the bathroom cabinet for when I’d have associative heartburn. I didn’t have to wear my device for long, but even as a child I realized how delicate of an organ the heart was. During this pandemic, I’ve noticed that if I feel emotionally hurt, I will rub my chest because I can feel some kind of pain or I pay attention to my heartbeat when I’m performing high-intensity workouts. All of this is to say that I try not to underestimate how hard my heart is working and how important it is to nurture and protect it.
READ: What No One Tells Black Women About Heart Disease
This week on ZORA, Bitch Media’s Editor-in-Chief writes about a doctor’s visit that changed her life. Overworked from her job and book commitments, contributor Evette Dionne thought that she was having an asthma attack when really her heart was failing. She was only 29. In this important feature, Dionne speaks with other Black women of various ages, as well as researchers, to explore the signs of serious heart issues and how to advocate for yourself within our racist healthcare system.
READ: How Can Immigrants Die With Dignity During a Pandemic?
And while we are on the subject of serious issues, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it virtually impossible for people to bury their loved ones and hold a service. Contributor Biba Adams addressed this problem amongst African-American communities but what about Latinx immigrant ones? Katie Acosta writes of the disruption of these particular cultural traditions, and how we can continue to be gentle and compassionate towards one another, coping and adapting however we see fit.
Until next time,
Morgan Jerkins, Senior Editor
