Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States. Stroke is the number five killer and one of the leading causes of disability. Black people are even more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.1
Black women with decreased access to healthcare, healthy foods, poor quality housing, few gyms, community centers or walking paths increase the chances of heart disease.2
High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity significantly increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If you’re a Black person in the United States, you have an increased risk of developing one of these diseases. One of the primary ways you can prevent cardiovascular disease is by preventing and managing your risks by focusing on your blood pressure, blood sugar, and body weight. Find resources here.
Signs and Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease3
One of the characteristics of cardiovascular diseases that makes them so dangerous is they often lack symptoms. Please see the table below for a list of symptoms that may be seen with some cardiovascular diseases.
FAQs
Is cardiovascular disease the same as heart disease?
Cardiovascular disease is the broad name for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. These diseases include congestive heart disease, heart valve disease, peripheral artery disease, and arrhythmias that lead to conditions like heart attacks, and strokes.
Can you have more than one heart attack or more than one stroke?
Heart attacks and strokes are the result of weakened or blocked blood vessels that lead to the heart or brain. The vessels affected determine the severity of the heart attack or stroke. If you have multiple vessels that are blocked or weakened, you have a risk of having more than one heart attack or stroke.
Does having high blood pressure increase my chances of developing heart disease?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels. Damaged blood vessels within the heart and body can lead to heart diseases including heart failure or stroke. Preventing and managing high blood pressure is one of the ways you can decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
References
1. American Heart Association (2024) Black people, Heart Disease, and Stroke https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/african-americans-and-heart-disease-stroke
2. National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute (2023) The Truth About African American Women and Heart Disease https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/truth-about-african-american-women-and-heart-disease-fact-sheet
3. American Heart Association (2024) Stroke Symptoms https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms
