ATTR-CM, or transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, is a serious heart disease caused by a buildup of abnormal protein deposits in the heart muscle. I truly appreciated the entire conversation around ATTR-CM and Black heart health hosted by BridgeBio and Hip Hop Public Health because, as an individual living with heart disease, this was personal for me.
I live with congestive heart failure and have both a defibrillator and loop recorder, so I thought I had heard of just about every cardiac condition there was. Then ATTR-CM came into the conversation, along with the severe effects it can have, and I quickly realized there was still much more for me to learn.
Why ATTR-CM and Black Heart Health Deserve More Attention
During the panel, I learned that while ATTR-CM affects Black men at an alarming rate, women are affected as well and can often go undiagnosed. That reality alone should make more of us pay attention. When a disease can be mistaken for other heart conditions, knowing what questions to ask your doctor becomes just as important as knowing the symptoms.
What concerned me most was discovering that several symptoms associated with ATTR-CM are symptoms I have personally experienced, including shortness of breath, fluid retention, and arrhythmias. I learned that when ATTR-CM is suspected, a cardiologist may use a cardiac PYP, or pyrophosphate, scan as part of the diagnostic process. It is a noninvasive nuclear imaging test that can help doctors identify transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.
For me, hearing that immediately became actionable information. It gave me another conversation to have with my own cardiologist and another opportunity to advocate for my health.
Doug E. Fresh, Howard White and Hip Hop Public Health
I want to thank Howard “H” White for using his influence and experience to shed light on such an important issue. He was entertaining, honest, and impactful. I also appreciate the legend Doug E. Fresh and Dr. Olajide Williams, who have joined forces through Hip Hop Public Health to bring life-saving information directly to the Hip Hop community.
And yes, the happy birthday tribute to Mr. White was amazing. Go Doug E.!
I am equally grateful to cardiologist Dr. Albert J. Hicks, whose knowledge of the cardiovascular system was impressive and thought-provoking. His discussion of the PYP scan gave me something specific to bring back to my own care team.
Sway Calloway, you rock! Your insightful questions brought incredible stories out of Mr. White while giving the doctors space to share clear and informative statistics. That combination made the conversation feel real, accessible, and relevant rather than like another medical lecture we might tune out.
Why These Heart Health Conversations Matter
Heart health conversations cannot only happen when someone is already in crisis. It is imperative that we understand our bodies, know our family histories, pay attention to changes, and understand what resources are available to us. Educate yourself now instead of waiting until something feels seriously wrong.
ATTR-CM is particularly important for Black families to understand because a TTR gene variant associated with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis is more common among people of African ancestry. Because the symptoms can resemble other cardiovascular conditions, raising awareness about ATTR-CM and Black heart health can help people recognize when a deeper conversation with their cardiologist may be necessary.
Open communication with your cardiologist and care team is vital. Ask questions. Understand what your echocardiogram is showing and learn what your numbers mean. If symptoms continue or something does not feel right, speak up and make sure you understand the options available to you.
Most importantly, support the Black men and women in your life and advocate for their longevity. Share information about ATTR-CM and encourage the people you love to take their heart health seriously. Sometimes knowing the right question to ask can be the beginning of getting the answer that changes everything.
With love and longevity,
DeeDee M. Blue
