HANOVER, Pa. — February is not only Black History Month but also American Heart Month.
With the increasing rates of the Black population becoming more susceptible to heart disease, experts are hoping more people will focus on their heart health. According to Dr. Bertrand Mukete, an interventional cardiologist at UPMC, there’s a specific gene in Black individuals that puts them a higher risk of of hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
“We know that salt is high in the diet for African Americans, which is a protective mechanism to retain water in hot conditions,” said Dr. Mukete. “Those genes contribute to high blood pressure, which could lead to cardiovascular disease.”
The Office of Minority Health states that in 2019, African Americans were 30% more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic white people. Research also shows that African American women's leading cause of death is strokes, killing more than 50,000 women each year.
“Some of the symptoms that can be concerning for cardiovascular disease can be as small as having tightness or pressure in your chest or jaw,” said Dr. Mukete. “It’s important to make your health care provider aware of those issues.”
Here are some risk factors in African American individuals that increase the chances of heart disease:
- Family history: A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it at an early age (before age 55 for a male relative, such as your brother or father, and 65 for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).
- Smoking: Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining, making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than in nonsmokers.
- Poor diet: A diet that's high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol can contribute to the development of heart disease.
- High blood pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows.
- High blood cholesterol levels: High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of formation of plaques and atherosclerosis.
- Diabetes: Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure.
- Obesity: Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors.
- Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise also is associated with many forms of heart disease and some of its other risk factors, as well.
- Stress: Unrelieved stress may damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease.
Research also shows that the disparities aren’t just in the patients, but in the health care industry, too. According to the journal of JAMA Cardiology, Black cardiologists make up 3% of doctors, with 51% of cardiologists white and 19% Asian.
“I think that if we have more Black cardiologists, that Black patients themselves will feel more comfortable and preventing cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Mukete.