Why are we seeing a rise in the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke as especially among certain groups?
Celina Gorre, CEO WomenHeart: Cardiovascular disease or C D, which does include heart disease and stroke makes up about one in four deaths making it the leading cause of death in the country. In addition, nearly half of all adults suffer from some form of C V D. Now, as you mentioned, certain communities are at a higher risk. For example, black Americans are 30% more likely to die from CD than other groups. Native Americans are more likely to die prematurely from CD – meaning they die before the age of 65. You know, in addition to that numerous groups struggle to get good healthcare, which means that their health takes an even greater hit, besides the risk factors connected to the background.
What can some people do in order to help be a better advocate for themselves?
Celina Gorre, CEO WomenHeart: Making your health a priority, you know, as we come into the holiday season work and family obligations are gonna feel like a big strain. That’s not a reason to put your health to the side. You need to make sure that you’re keeping your health sort of really at the top of mind. I wanna reiterate the fact that having a good relationship with a doctor will really make the difference. And if you don’t have one, find one, find a doctor that you trust. And if you don’t get along with a doctor, you have to find a different one, you know, that is all within your control. So that’s really important too. I would also say know your numbers, you know, your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels are really good strong tools to tell us how healthy our cardiovascular system is. So if you don’t know those, you know, there’s a really easy and, and inexpensive way to know those numbers, you can go to the pharmacy, and get those numbers looked at. So making sure you know those numbers, that’s really important. Here at women heart, the organization, that I lead, we are partnering with Novartis. What we are asking folks to do is to join a really cool campaign that we’re working on them with called the legacy we lead.com. If you go to that website and take the pledge, you’ll have access to a ton of information because we invite all of you to join this fight, to stop this number one killer of cardiovascular disease in our country.
Day one, you’re diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. What should someone do?
Shantaquillette Carter-Williams: Look at it as a new start at a new beginning, cuz again, you got a new chance. Start living and making sure you do what you need to do to make your health a priority. I listen to my doctors, I listen to myself, I make sure that I stay healthy and I make sure that I eat right and do all the things that are necessary, to stay alive. During the times before that, you know, I would slack off and slack on, but now I know I can’t do that because cuz my health is at risk.
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