Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the Black community
February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the main reason for demise in the U.S. African Americans are considerably affected by heart disease, ensuing in increased mortality charges in comparison with white Americans.
One of the causes for the disparity is because of high hypertension charges in the Black community. Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, can enhance your danger of creating coronary heart disease.
Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, a Mayo Clinic heart specialist, discusses cardiovascular disease and reversing the disturbing development.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:05) is in the downloads at the finish of this publish. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script.
The statistics are startling. One person dies each 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease in the United States. High ldl cholesterol, weight problems, diabetes and hypertension could cause coronary heart issues.
“African Americans, unfortunately, have the highest rates of uncontrolled hypertension in the world, which dramatically increases their risk for developing heart disease,” says Dr. Brewer.
Black Americans disproportionately impacted by cardiovascular disease
She says elevated hypertension charges in the Black community will be attributed to numerous components, together with persistent stress, systemic racism and socioeconomic points.
“That includes food insecurity, housing insecurity, redlining, which really limits certain individuals from receiving opportunities and resources to better their health,” explains Dr. Brewer.
Dr. Brewer says easy life-style adjustments can scale back high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, like eating more healthy, getting common bodily exercise and enough sleep to scale back stress.
