According to the American Heart Association, over 121 million Americans are dealing with heart problems. Additionally, more than 800,000 people have heart attacks every year. As startling as those numbers are, though, the statistics about heart disease are even more troubling for Black people. Here are a few of them you need to know.
5 Important Heart Facts For Black People
1. Black Americans are 30% more likely to have high blood pressure.
To make matters worse, Black women are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than other ethnicities. This information is important to note because high blood pressure is linked to heart disease and angina.
High blood pressure can damage your arteries and affect how well blood flows through your body. As arteries become less elastic, heart problems become more likely.
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2. Only 40% of Americans have their diagnosed hypertension under control.
Studies show that many Black Americans don’t see a doctor when they have signs of high blood pressure. Even when they have been diagnosed, less than half of them actually have it under control. This mismanagement of their high blood pressure increases their risk of heart disease.
Though different factors can affect why people don’t take their medications, affordability is a common one. It’s important, therefore, to discuss medical assistance options with your doctor.
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3. Approximately 15% of Black Americans smoke.
This number may seem small but consider that the percentage is lower for other ethnicities.
Research shows that the chemicals in cigarettes can cause your blood to thicken and clot. These clots then lead to heart attacks and other cardiac events. It’s best to stop smoking as your risk of having heart problems starts to decrease as soon as you step away from the cigarettes.
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4. Black Americans are almost 1.5 times more likely to be classified as being overweight or obese.
The numbers are even worse when gender is considered. It’s estimated that four out of five Black women are considered to be overweight or obese. These statistics are significant because of the conclusive link between being overweight and having heart problems.
Additionally, obesity can lead to other illnesses that are associated with heart disease such as