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Cardiovascular Disease

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Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular Disease Information
Tomakio Robinson
February 7, 2012
Jessica Grippo
HCA/240

Cardiovascular disease is a killer of many African American women in the United States. Cardiovascular disease does affect men as well. Cardiovascular disease— affects hypertension, heart disease, and stroke many experts estimate that one in two women will die of a stroke or heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is a health condition that affects the blood vessels and heart. This includes stroke (brain attack), coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease (permanent heart valve damage from rheumatic fever) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and premature death among men and women of all ethnic and racial groups.
According to Philadelphia Black Women 's Health Project (1993), “Heart disease is proving to be the leading cause of death among Native American, African American, and Hispanic women. Heart disease in Asian American women is the second leading cause of death. African American women are at a greater risk of dying from heart disease compared with women of other major racial and ethnic groups because of limited access to healthcare, inadequate medical care delayed diagnosis. African American women are 30% more likely to die of heart attack and 78% more likely to die of a stroke than White women. Several factors increase the probability of developing cardiovascular disease including hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity (overweight), high cholesterol, and smoking” (para. 1).
According to Womenshealth.gov (2010), “Heart disease is the number one killer of African American women. Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system in the heart. Coronary heart disease, the most common type, affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can cause angina or a heart attack. Angina is a pain in the chest that happens when the heart does not get enough blood. It may



References: Philadelphia Black Women 's Health Project. (1993). Retrieved from http://www.blackwomenshealthproject.org/aacardio.htm Women Heart. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.womenheart.org/resources/upload/African-American-Women-FINAL-2011.pdf WomenHealth.Gov. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/minority-health/african-americans/heart-disease.cfm

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