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Welcome Message from Dr. Hendry Ton
Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.
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Welcome to the 12th Annual Black Physicians Forum. I want to start by thanking our partners from Sac Cultural Hub, whose leadership and vision makes this event possible. This year’s theme focuses on the intersection between race, aging, and care. I am delighted that Dr Jean Accius, the Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP International will kick us off with the keynote address, with Dr. Thomas Hopkins, the former chief medical correspondent for KCRA-3 and a medical internist himself. The COVID pandemic highlights longstanding inequities experienced by Black communities, including Black older adults who experienced greater rates of infection, hospitalization, and dying as a result of COVID. However, such inequities go far beyond COVID. A recent study by David Chae and colleagues found that Black people with greater accumulated experiences of racism experienced a faster rate of telomere shortening, pointing out that racism can literally accelerate aging. This underscores that racism is a pressing health and public health issue. Racism also impacts through its influence over such social determinants of health as socioeconomic status. Due to racist practices such as redlining that prevented home ownership and subsequently wealth building for many in minoritized communities, the wealth gap between white and Black communities is staggering—the median net worth of white households is $188K compared to $24K for Black families. Education and employment barriers further compound these inequities. These have significant implications on Black older adults and their family members seeking elder care services. At UC Davis, we are working to address these health inequities. Through our Anchor Institution Mission (AIM) for Community Health Initiative, we are using our economic leverage to support diverse businesses and employment for Sacramento’s most underserved communities with the ultimate goal of improving health. Our Family Caregiving Institute supports the well-being of diverse family caregivers through education and research, including examining caregiver stress experienced by Black families. We know that many of you are working hard to address such inequities as well. Thank you for joining us at this Forum as we deepen our commitment to the health of our diverse communities.
Hendry Ton, MD, MS Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (within ODEI) University of California, Davis Health
Quick tips for a smokefree life. SecondhandDangers.org
CIGARETTES MARIJUANA, , HOOKAHS VAPES, CIG , ARILLOS
More ways to smoke = more smoke Secondhand smoke is more common than you might think. In 2017 only 10% of Californians smoked cigarettes, but over half were exposed to the secondhand harm. And cigarette smoke is just the beginning. Californians face increasing levels of secondhand smoke from vape and marijuana. None of it is harmless. ALL SECONDHAND SMOKE IS HARMFUL
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS SECONDHAND SMOKE
1
Visit TobaccoFreeCA.com to learn about California smokefree laws.
2
Learn about your community’s smokefree policies
3
Contact your local health department to report being exposed or to get assistance on an issue you’re experiencing.
Just because it doesn’t smell like a cigarette doesn’t mean it’s not a health risk. There’s no such thing as safe secondhand smoke. Here are dangers specific to various smoking products.
Vape
At least 10 chemicals identified in vape aerosol are on California’s Proposition 65 list of cancer-causing and reproductive toxic chemicals. Cigarettes
Secondhand cigarette smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer and 33,950 deaths from heart disease each year in the US. Cigarillos
Secondhand smoke from cigarillos contain the same toxic chemicals as cigarette smoke.
Hookah
Secondhand hookah smoke contains carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals which can cause lung, bladder, and oral cancer. Marijuana
Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing substances and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke. In one study, 3 out of 4 kids whose parents smoked marijuana in the house had tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their bloodstream.
PROTECTING YOUR LOVED ONES IN PLACES & SPACES
Know Your Rights & How to Stand Up
Secondhand smoke exposure is rapidly increasing, and it’s up to you to educate yourself on the policies in your community that protect your family. Cities, counties, and tribes enact their own smokefree policies. Local policies can build on statewide smokefree laws, and expand to more places and spaces to protect you and your family. When you know what policies are in place, you can stand up and protect yourself and your loved ones. CA clean indoor air laws prohibit indoor smoking of: Vape Marijuana Cigarillos Cigars Hookah Cigarettes You can be exposed to secondhand smoke:
Indoors - your home, apartment, condo or some workplaces. Outdoors - sidewalks, entryways, parks, trails, restaurant dining patios, festivals, concerts, or other organized events and outdoor worksites.
PROTECT THE VULNERABLE
Children, Elderly People, and Pets
Secondhand smoke endangers the health of everyone in its reach, especially kids and pets who lack the ability to change their environments.
Kids face greater risk of:
Middle ear infections Respiratory infections Asthma Babies exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher rate of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Elderly people (as well as all adults) are at risk of:
Chronic respiratory symptoms Asthma Heart attacks Weakened health
following ways:
Dogs show more instances of lung and nasal cancer. Cats living in homes with smokers have about 3x the risk of developing lymphoma, a cancer with a poor prognosis for survival. Birds develop respiratory problems, such as pneumonia and lung cancer.
