The Facts about Cardiovascular Disease and African Americans
Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, includes heart attack, stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, and diseases of the arteries, veins, and circulatory system. African Americans have the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease of all racial and ethnic groups. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke include those you can't change and those you can. Risk factors you can't change include male gender, family history and advancing age. Risk factors you can change include smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, and diabetes. Research shows that blacks have the highest prevalence of many of the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. One in every three African Americans has high blood pressure; one out of every two over the age of 65. The best ways to cut your risk for cardiovascular disease are to not smoke, to exercise every day, eat fruits and vegetables, and check your blood pressure often.