HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEWS: HEART DISEASE NEWS!
DATE: 2/25/09
DOCTOR
IS IN: African-Americans, thy enemy is heart disease
By William A. Cooper, MD
You may know this already: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
For the African-American community, heart disease takes an even greater toll, more so than any other
racial and ethnic group. Did you know that while the mortality rate for white Americans has declined by
20 percent in recent years, the decrease has been only 13 percent for African Americans? In addition,
African Americans have a 40 percent higher chance of dying from coronary artery disease than whites.
You may know this too: the major risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease are high blood
pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking, excessive body weight and physical inactivity.
Some people have already accepted that heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are just a way
of life in the African-American community. Perhaps your parents had high blood pressure and died young.
Or everyone in the family has diabetes. Maybe mom was obese and never exercised and dad ate fried
dishes all his life. You do not need to believe that you’ll automatically have those problems too. You need
to realize that.
Heart disease is a problem for both women and men. However, some women may not think they will have a heart
attack and can be more likely to delay seeking emergency treatment. African-American and Hispanic American/Latina
women tend to have more risk factors than white women. Risk factors for women of color include obesity, lack of
physical activity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Here’s the good news: Make simple choices and lifestyles changes.
That makes a huge difference in lowering blood pressure, preventing diabetes and, yes, heart disease. If you’re African
American and feel you’re at risk, go see the doctor at least once a year. Check your blood pressure. Pay close attention
to what you eat. Stay away from the food you know is dangerous: High fat, low fiber, high salt and fried food. Be more
active. And, please, please, watch your weight.
· William A. Cooper, MD,
is an assistant professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University School
of Medicine, and also Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at WellStar
Kennestone Hospital.
· For more information on
cardiovascular health, please visit Emory’s Heart Stories or on African American health.
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