When James Brown died on Christmas Day 2006 at age 73, officials at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital Midtown cited congestive heart failure as the cause of death. Nearly a decade later, the medical team that signed Brown’s death certificate says that prognosis has changed.
For many years, the famed entertainer was coined the hardest working man in entertainment, so his death caused a ripple effect in the music business. It also raised some hard questions.
People close to the “It’s a Man’s World” singer theorized he was actually killed and his heart was in normal condition shortly before his passing. Although the cause is still being debated, we do know that heart failure is one of the leading causes of death in the Black community.
Per the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.
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Although African American adults are 40 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, they are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have their blood pressure under control; African American women are 60 percent more likely to have high blood pressure, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
What is congestive heart failure?
According to the American Heart Association, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscle.
While often referred to simply as heart failure, CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up within the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently.
You have four heart chambers. The upper half of your heart is made up of two atria, and the lower half of your heart is made up of two ventricles.
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The ventricles pump blood to your body’s organs and tissues, and the atria receive blood from your body as it circulates back from the rest of your body.
CHF develops when your ventricles can’t pump enough blood volume to the body. Eventually, blood and other fluids can back up inside your lungs, abdomen, liver and lower body.
CHF can be life-threatening. If you suspect you or someone you know has CHF, seek immediate medical treatment.
What are the symptoms of congestive heart failure?
In the early stages of CHF, you most likely won’t notice any changes in your health. If your condition progresses, you’ll experience gradual changes in your body.
Symptoms that indicate a severe heart condition
- fatigue irregular heartbeat
- chest pain that radiates through the upper body
- swelling in your ankles, feet, and legs
- a cough that develops from congested lungs rapid breathing
- weight gain
- wheezing
- skin that appears blue, which is due to lack of oxygen in your lungs
- increased need to urinate, especially at night
- shortness of breath, which may indicate
- pulmonary edema
- fainting
- chest pain that radiates through the upper body can also be a sign of a heart attack.
What are the treatments?
You and your doctor may consider different treatments depending on your overall health and how far your condition has progressed.
There are several things you can do to lower your risk of heart failure, or at least delay onset.
Avoid or quit smoking
If you do smoke and haven’t been able to quit, ask your doctor to recommend products and services that can help. Secondhand smoke is also a health hazard. If you live with a smoker, ask them to smoke outdoors.
Maintain a well-balanced diet
A heart-healthy diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. You also need protein in your diet.
Things to avoid include:
- salt (sodium)
- added sugars
- solid fats
- refined grains
Exercise
As little as 1 hour of moderate aerobic exercise per week can improve your heart health. Walking, bicycling, and swimming are good forms of exercise. If you haven’t exercised in a while, start with just 15 minutes a day and work your way up. If you feel unmotivated to work out alone, consider taking a class — it can even be online — or sign up for personal training at a local gym.
