Black Americans Born In The U.S. Are At Higher Risk For Heart Disease
A new study reveals some startling numbers about Black Americans and heart disease.
According to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, Black people had a lower rate of heart disease if they were born in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. Cardiovascular disease-related deaths also dropped about 40 percent for Black people not born in the U.S.
However, the rate for strokes were basically the same for Black people born in or out of the U.S.
Dr. Alain Lekoubou Looti, the study’s author and an assistant professor of neurology and public health sciences at Penn State, also said that Black people who moved to the United States either less than 5 years ago or more than 15 years ago died at a lower rate than Black Americans born in the United States, which he called “surprising.”
Sarah Marikos, executive director of the ACE Resource Network, said in a statement, “There has been significant research on disparities between immigrants and U.S.-born adults in the United States, and research like this looking at the heterogeneity within groups is important as it can inform healthcare and public health practice, as well as policy and community response.”
Donna A. Patterson, PhD, chair and professor in the department of history, political science, and philosophy, and director of Africana studies at Delaware State University, is calling for policy to improve the gaps in social determinants of health, like education, housing, and economics.
Some tips to prevent heart disease include eating a balanced diet, not smoking and to exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week to keep your heart healthy and your weight down. Additionally, make an appointment with your doctor for a physical exam. Be sure to ask for screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels and your risk of developing heart disease.
