Heart disease remains one of the biggest scourges on Americans of all backgrounds today, with more than 600,000 Americans dying from some form of heart complications every year. While those figures are truly staggering, some groups remain more at risk than others, and certain ethnic and racial minorities in particular seem to be singled out when it comes to the debilitating effects of coronary collapses. So, what’s the truth behind race, ethnicity and the intricacies of heart disease?

Be sure of your data

The first thing that needs to be established when discussing any health-related issue is the validity of the data in question. Luckily for use, a myriad of authoritative sources can be relied upon to deliver the truth, including the CDC, which regularly post an incredible amount of information about heart risks and how they differ from group to group. For instance, the CDC helpfully points out that while more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes are suffered by Americans each year, it seems a disproportionately large number of heart problems are concentrated amongst African Americans.

Why do black Americans in particular suffer from this disease in large numbers? Largely, there are a series of dietary and health concerns that seem to be impacting black Americans the most, particularly when it comes to acquiring adequate healthcare. For instance, relatively minor problems like high-sodium diets are compounded by the fact that minorities of all backgrounds seriously lag behind whites on virtually every measure of healthcare in the US. Such dismal statistics can be grim to take in, but are important to consider if meaningful progress is going to be made when it comes to combating heart risks as it pertains to difference races and ethnicities.

Until existing inequalities in the American healthcare system are fixed through governmental action and broader social awareness of those inequalities, Americans who come from the backgrounds most at-risk for heart problems will likely need to take things into their own hands and follow some helpful tips that may help them cut down on their risk of heart complications. For instance, wearing the right running shoes, which you can see here, modifying your day-to-day diet to mitigate the amount of cholesterol and sodium you’re intaking is a sure-fire way to better your ticker’s health.

Other common health conditions, like severe obesity and diabetes, can also compound minority’s risks of heart problems. Given that people of color throughout the United States often lack the extra cash needed to sign up for expensive gym memberships, or come from communities that public health efforts traditionally shun, it should be of no surprise that these groups are disadvantaged when it comes to maintain the wellbeing of their hearts.

Keeping your body healthy

You should seriously brush up on the basic facts behind heart disease in general if you’re trying to commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle. After all, certain tips and tidbits of information are more relevant to others; men in particular stand a higher chance of being killed from a heart-related illness, so African American men in particular should be on the lookout when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet and a consistent level of exercise.

One of the reasons hypertension continues to haunt so many black Americans today, for instance, is that many of them don’t understand the unique risks they’re facing, and thus fail to take the adequate number of steps needed to ensure their longevity. For instance, the heritability of salt-sensitivity in African Americans is still woefully under-discussed in public education campaigns today, and many people of color throughout the US don’t even understand that they often have a genetic predisposition towards heart complications.

Public health campaigns likely won’t suffice by themselves; as recent developments in Congress since the 2016 presidential election have shown, legislators aren’t too concerned about bolstering up the remnants of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and indeed, public health efforts could actually face future funding perils sooner rather than later. This means that Americans who are seriously concerned about the health of their heart need to get proactive, and contact their medical professionals for specific advice while generally fostering a healthier lifestyle on their own time.

If you’ve yet to iron out a workout regime, or consider your diet to see where you may cut down on things like sodium consumption, you need to get started immediately. It’s never too late to begin to fight against heart disease, and countless Americans who have put off living healthy for too long have suffered the consequences. Small steps like taking Aspirin everyday are a great way to begin, but future workout sessions and a comprehensive appraisal of your consumption habits will be needed for continued success. Start informing yourself now, and you’ll avoid the perils of heart disease suffered by so many racial and ethnic minorities in the United States today.

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