AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WORKS TO
EDUCATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ON IMPORTANCE OF HEART-HEALTHY LIFESTYLES,
STROKE PREVENTION
(AHA News Release No.10030—West Springfield,
Mass.—9/28/03)
African-Americans
are at greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke than any
other ethnic group. Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading
cause of death for African-American men and women – claiming the lives of more
than 100,000 annually. Overall,
cardiovascular disease, including stroke, results in the death of about 960,000
Americans annually – more than any other disease.
In 2000, cardiovascular disease
accounted for 37 percent of all African-American deaths. It’s estimated that 40
percent of African-American women and 41 percent of African-American men have
cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention of the National Center for Health Statistics.
African-Americans are at a greater risk
for cardiovascular disease death than Caucasians due to an increased risk from
race, heredity and severe high blood pressure.
The prevalence of hypertension in African-Americans in the United
States is among the highest in the world. In 2000 the death rates per 100,000
population from high blood pressure were 13.2 for white males, 46.3
for black males, 13.1 for white females and 40.8 for black
females. High blood pressure
increases the heart’s workload, causing it to enlarge and weaken. A healthy
blood pressure level is below 140/90 mm Hg.
Cigarette and tobacco use are risk
factors that greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for the
African-American population. Statistics
show that 29 percent of African-American men and 21.3 percent of
African-American women smoke, increasing their risk of sudden death two to four
times that of a nonsmoker.
Diabetes, another risk factor, claims
almost twice as many African-American lives than Caucasians. Other risks factors for heart disease
include high blood cholesterol levels, obesity and physical inactivity.
The risks factors for stroke are also
a concern for the African-American population. Risk factors include age, gender, prior
stroke, coronary heart disease, race and heredity, high blood pressure,
cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, carotid artery, transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs), high red blood cell count, atrial fibrillation and sickle cell anemia.
The American Heart Association recommends
all Americans take charge of their own cardiovascular health by learning about
the risk factors and how to control them, know the warning signs of heart
attack and stroke, and call 911 if you see or have any of the symptoms. The heart attack warning signs are:
n Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing
or pain in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes, or goes
away and comes back
n Pain spreading to the shoulders, arms or
neck
n Chest discomfort with lightheadedness,
fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
n Not all these signals occur in every attack
The stroke warning
signs are:
n Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm
or leg, especially on one side of the body
n Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or
understanding
n Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
n Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of
balance or coordination
n Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Locally, the American Heart Association
is working with the African-American communities through the Search Your Heart
program. This program is a faith-based
program that teaches people how to reduce their risk of heart disease and
stroke through hands-on prevention education, including health screenings,
workshops, and fitness and nutrition activities. Traditionally, faith-based organizations have
been the nucleus of communities of color; therefore, faith-based organizations
are an ideal setting for a heart-health, educational program because it’s where
values and attitudes are shaped. This
program is specifically for African-Americans and Hispanics/Latinos. To date, more than 15,000 faith-based
organizations across the country participate in the program.
The program contains
six activity modules:
Activities for Life teaches the
importance of ongoing physical activity, weight management and total fitness as
part of heart-healthy living.
Bread of Life offers healthy
nutrition information, recipes and tips on eating out and eating on the run.
Check for Life shows participants
how to do screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, as well
as how to manage these diseases.
Lift Every Voice teaches at-risk
communities to empower themselves to lift their voices to become advocates of
good health and to take their issues to lawmakers to make change.
Stomp Out Stroke presents stroke warning
signs and risk factors and helps participants do stroke screenings.
Stress Reduction explains the
relationship between stress and cardiovascular disease and describes how to
identify and deal with stress.
Every Search Your Heart faith-based
organization has a designated program coordinator who facilitates all aspects
of the program. The coordinator plans and promotes events, recruits volunteers,
contacts coordinating agencies, and works with a local American Heart
Association representative to present the program to church members. Locally, in the Greater Springfield area, the
American Heart Association is able to provide this program free to interested
churches made possible through a grant.
For more information about Search Your Heart in your area, call Shannon Namislo at (413) 735-2104.
The American Heart Association has
created several free programs community members can participate in that will
help reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. These programs can be accessed via the Internet
at the AHA Web site americanheart.org or by calling (800) AHA-USA1.
It is never too late to take charge and change one’s behaviors to reduce risk of heart disease. n