How does Heart Health affect communities of color?
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for all Americans, and the burden on Black communities is significant. Research shows that Black women have a 2.4-times higher risk for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) than white women do and that Black men have a 1.6-times higher risk for CVD than white men do. In 2018 alone, CVD was the cause of death for more than 53,000 Black women and more than 56,000 Black men.
Because CVD has a major impact on the health of Black communities, it’s important to know what conditions CVD includes and what characteristics or behaviors could increase — or decrease! — your risk of CVD.
Here’s the truth. When it comes to medical research, we aren’t all included – not the way we should be, and not the way we can be.
People of Color make up 40 percent of the U.S. population, but there’s a real lack of diversity when it comes to people participating in clinical research. We’re underrepresented, which has only widened the number of healthcare disparities for us. That’s a problem, so let’s fix it.
Regardless of your own individual risk, chances are that at least one of your loved ones has experienced a heart-related condition. There’s a need to better engage People of Color, and empower us to make informed decisions about our health, including those related to clinical research participation. This will inform development of novel therapies and improve overall health outcomes.
About the Heart Health Community
We are a community that shares stories and supports those suffering from heart-related conditions or anyone interested in heart health. We are here to be informative, relational, helpful, and supportive. By joining this community, you will find engaging informational content and also have the opportunity to hear from experts and connect with people like you.
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- Community Engagement
- Clinical Research Opportunities
- Educational Forums
- Shared Perspectives
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