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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. — but it takes an even greater toll on the African-American community, says Emory Heart & Vascular Center Cardiothoracic Surgeon William Cooper, MD. For example, while the death rate for coronary heart disease declined by about 20 for whites in the U.S. over recent years, the overall decrease for African-Americans has been only 13 percent. In addition, coronary artery disease mortality for African Americans is 40 percent higher than the death rate from heart disease for Caucasians.
We also tend to develop cardiovascular disease and renal disease as a result of having hypertension more often than our white counterparts. We also frequently develop more end-organ damage from diabetes, including coronary atherosclerosis, says Dr. Cooper, who treats heart patients in the Carlyle Fraser Heart Center at Emory Crawford Long Hospital.
The major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking, excessive body weight, and physical inactivity. These are problems in any community and probably more so in the African-American community in part because of the large number of African-Americans who live in lower socioeconomic settings, says Dr. Cooper, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory. If you are economically disadvantaged, you tend to eat the cheapest, most unhealthy food and health takes a back seat to basic subsistence.
Dr. Cooper encourages black Americans to develop a proactive attitude about their health. We need to get away from the idea that heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are just a way of life in the African-American community. Perhaps your mom and dad had high blood pressure and died young, or everyone in your family has diabetes — but you don't need to accept that you will have those problems, too, he says. You need to realize maybe mom was obese and never exercised and dad ate an unhealthy, high fat diet.
The good news for African-Americans concerned about their heart health is that making simple choices and lifestyles changes can often make a huge difference in lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease and diabetes. The African-American community needs to accept the reality that we have significant risk factors for these problems and we need to get the word out at churches, schools, on TV and radio so that we start thinking and acting in different, healthier ways, Dr. Cooper emphasizes.
If you are African-American and know you are at an elevated risk, go to the doctor at least once a year and have your blood pressure taken. Pay close attention to your diet and stay away from a diet filled with high fat, low fiber, high salt and fried food. Be more active. Watch your weight and minimize stress. Educate yourself by reading books, getting information from the internet, going to the library. These are things that can have a tremendous impact on your health, Dr. Cooper says.
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