Heart disease affects all Americans, and it's currently the number one cause of death in the country. However, there is a disparity as to how detrimental it is between Black Americans and other demographics. Many Black women either have heart disease or are at a higher risk for heart disease and do not know it.
Talk to and build a relationship with your primary care doctor. They will know you best, can help determine which tests you might need to take, and provide resources to make lifestyle changes that make a difference.
D. Edmund Anstey, MD, MPH, is a cardiologist practicing in New York City.
References
American Heart Association. (n.d.). Heart Disease in African American Women.
American Heart Association. (2019). Why Are Young Black Women at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease?
Black Women's Health Imperative. (2017). Heart Disease In Black Women: The Big Issue You Might Not Know About.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Leading Causes of Death – Females – Non-Hispanic black – United States, 2017.
Scripps Health. (2023). Heart Disease in African-American Women: What To Look For.
UpToDate. (2022). Overview of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. (2023). Obesity and African Americans.
U.S. Department Health and Human Services National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2016). The Heart Truth® For African American Women: An Action Plan.
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