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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for all adults in the United States. For the Black community, the risk of heart disease (a term that refers to several different conditions) is higher than for other races and ethnicities.

Not only are Black Americans more likely to be diagnosed with and die from heart disease, they are also disproportionately affected by chronic conditions that increase their chances of developing heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Genetics is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to who develops heart disease. The communities we belong to, the environment we live in, and the resources available to us also make a difference.

These factors are called social determinants of health (SDOH) and play a major role in the health inequities that people of color often face. Conditions that people of color disproportionately experience, such as facing racial discrimination, living in areas with high levels of pollution, and having limited access to health care and nutritious food, result in ongoing physical damage. This causes stress and increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and heart disease.

For example, consider peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common cardiovascular disease that affects more than 12 million Americans. Black Americans are twice as likely to develop PAD than white Americans, in part because of SDOH, which increases the likelihood of developing risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and smoking, and diabetes. Despite the high prevalence of PAD, most people in the Black community (and the United States as a whole) have never heard of the disease.

Below, we explore the relationship between racial inequality and cardiovascular disease risk. From how lifestyle and environment influence risk factors and disease outcomes, to details about heart diseases and the people they most affect.

Over the past year, disparities in heart health have been evident in professional sports. Two high-level athletes, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and USC Trojans guard Bronny James, suffered cardiac arrest during their respective competitions. These events are part of a larger issue: Black male athletes and their increased risk of cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden death among young athletes in the United States, with young black male athletes bearing the lion’s share of the burden. At the Division I collegiate level, the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest or death among black male basketball players is 21 times higher than the average for high school male athletes of all races.

omar carter


Omar Carter, 36, knows this firsthand. At age 25, Carter went into cardiac arrest on the basketball court. His heart stopped for 13 minutes and it took him three electric shocks from an automated external defibrillator (AED) before he regained his beating again. Now, more than a decade later, Mr. Carter, through his own non-profit organization, Omar’s Carter Foundation, is educating others about the importance of his CPR and his AED use by bystanders. teaching people.

health Reporter Julia Landwehr spoke to Carter about what happened the day of his cardiac arrest and his subsequent physical and mental recovery. To learn more about his foundation, what he’s up to now, and what we know about the increased risk of cardiac arrest in young Black male athletes, read his story below.

Access to healthy, nutritious foods is another social determinant of health that is directly related to heart disease risk. Eat your fill of fresh, natural foods. By moving your body weekly and maintaining a healthy weight, you can significantly reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

However, a 2021 study found that one in five Black families lives in a food desert with an abundance of convenience stores but few or no fresh food options. On the other hand, a diet consisting of foods high in sodium, like many foods sold at convenience stores, is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Sticking to a “healthy” diet can be difficult if you don’t have the tools and resources to do so. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, following a specific heart-healthy diet can give you guidelines and structure.

In the article below, health Author and nutritionist Dr. Jonah Burdeos outlines three types of diets that are scientifically proven to promote heart health. All three diets limit foods high in sodium and saturated fat, highly processed foods, and added sugars, and emphasize fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Following these diets is a great starting point for improving blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and excess weight.

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