Afro-Americans and Cardiovascular Disease

Includes disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is caused by smoking, an inactive lifestyle, obesity and too much consumption of alcohol or illegal substances. Disorders include heart disease, stroke, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure.  Afro-Americans have a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders and disease than white Americans. The risk of a first-ever stroke is twice as high for blacks as it is for whites. The prevalence of hypertension among Afro-Americans is among the world’s highest (Barksdale 2012). Cardiovascular disease is the major reason life expectancy for blacks is lower than for whites (Yang et al, 2011).

(Full PowerPoint Presentation and references omitted for preview. Available via download)