The Heart Of Heart Disease

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Just as breast cancer is killing our African American women, heart disease is also one of the major diseases killing our women. Heart disease is one of the nation’s leading causes of death in both woman and men. About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States (Americas heart disease burden, 2013). Some facts about heart disease are every year about 935,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 610,000 are a first heart attack victim. 325,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Also coronary heart disease alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and loss of productivity. Deaths of heart disease in the United States back in 2008 killed about 24.5% of African Americans.
Some of the key factors of heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Half of Americans have one of these three risk factors. Center for Disease Control states that several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including; diabetes, overweight and obesity, poor diet, poor physical activity and, excessive alcohol abuse (Americas heart disease burden, 2013). Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system in the heart. Coronary heart disease is the most common type; it affects the blood vessels of the heart. African American women are more likely to die from heart disease than any other race because some say African-American women don’t get the same treatment as the white race will get.
Heart disease and obesity goes hand in hand. There is much more of a common occurrence for people who are overweight will more and li...

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...ntrol high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol
• Education on signs and symptoms and the importance of calling 9-1-1
• Improve emergency response Improve quality of care
• Eliminate health disparities
• Focusing on the health care and worksite settings

In conclusion, heart disease is killing our black woman more than cancer. Black woman need to take back control of their bodies, and should want to start living a healthier lifestyle. If black woman are getting the shorter end of the stick for treatment, they should take imitative to work on their health with the support of friends and loved ones. No one should go through pain and discomfort alone. Just like there is a support group for stand up to cancer, there needs to be a support group for woman with heart conditions; and that group that supports them is called the ladies in Red.

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