Get 'Heart-Smart' During African American History Month

As we celebrate Black History Month, we pay tribute to the visionaries, leaders, artists and trailblazers whose impact continues to inspire our world. We are grateful for the invaluable contributions that have shaped our organization and the communities we serve.

Every person matters. Every story matters. Every voice matters.

Black History Month also coincides with American Heart Month during February. This is an important time to look at certain inequities that exist today and what can be done to address them. 

• Black Americans are 54% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than white Americans.[1]
• Stroke is a leading cause of death among Black women. Among Black women ages 20 years and older, nearly 58% have high blood pressure and only around 20% of those women have their blood pressure under control.[2]
• Black men have a 70% higher risk of heart failure compared with white men.[3]
• Black Americans have the highest incidence of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital and are significantly less likely to survive.[4]

We know that risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. However, new study findings are starting to suggest that for Black Americans, social factors such as unemployment, family income, food security and access to healthcare may impact cardiovascular mortality more than the health-related risk factors alone.[1]

Through proactive health behaviors, individuals can still make a difference in their personal health journeys. There are several actions that can be taken to reduce the likelihood and severity of these conditions:

1. Know Your Numbers
   Know your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight and blood sugar levels. Reach out to your primary care provider (PCP) if you are uncertain or need help obtaining these numbers.
2. Review Your Diet
   Reduce high-sodium, sugary/sweetened and highly processed foods and drinks. Try to emphasize more vegetables, fruits, beans/legumes, lean meats and fish, low-fat/fat-free dairy products, whole-grain bread and pasta and healthy fats such as olive or avocado oil.
3. Move Your Body
   Exercise for 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activities or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activities.
4. Stop Smoking and Reduce Alcohol Intake
   For adults age 65 and older, it is recommended to consume no more than one drink per day and no more than seven drinks per week.
5. Manage Stress
   Reduce screen-time, journal, meditate or seek professional advice if you find yourself struggling.
6. Prioritize Quality Sleep
   Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
7. Learn CPR
   CPR often makes the difference between life and death while waiting on emergency services to arrive, even if only fast and hard chest compressions (120/per minute).

Sources

[1] Why are Black adults at greater risk of death from heart disease? Study blames social factors | Tulane University News
[2] Heart Disease and Stroke in Black Women | Go Red for Women
[3] Heart Disease Risk: How Race and Ethnicity Play a Role (clevelandclinic.org)
[4] Black, Hispanic adults less likely to receive CPR, especially in public | American Heart Association