This February is not only African American History Month, but also American Hearth Month. Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks each year with nearly 800,000 heart-related deaths. This means that about 1 in 3 deaths are due to cardiovascular disease. Being properly informed about this great danger is now more important than ever.
Although these numbers are sobering on their own, the Center for Disease Control shows that nearly 44% of African American men and 48% of African American women have some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. This makes heart disease one of the leading causes of death among African Americans. The good news is that anyone can reduce their chances of heart disease by understanding the risks and taking the right steps to live a healthier life.
Preventative Measures
High blood pressure is the number one cause of heart attacks and stroke, so being able to keep your blood pressure under control greatly reduces the likelihood of heart problems in the future. However, according to the American Heart Association, African Americans may carry a gene that increases their risk of high blood pressure by making them more sensitive to salt. This makes it even harder for African Americans to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Although no one can do anything about family history, with the right medication and lifestyle change can have a huge impact on getting high blood pressure under control. To learn more about how to keep your blood pressure under control, take a look at our previous article with 5 Tips to Combat High Blood Pressure & AFib.
The Power of Information
Make sure you have all the information you need to live a long and healthy life. If you are concerned about your heart health, or if your primary care doctor recommends seeing a cardiac specialist, make an appointment with West Florida’s leading heart doctor. Dr. Mathew, the premier electrophysiologist in Sarasota, has been performing AF ablation in Tampa Bay area since 2004, and specializes in lead extraction and implanting pacemakers and defibrillators. Contact us today to learn more about how you can have a healthy heart.
