Causes for increased incidence of heart disease Among African American Community

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a worldwide phenomenon. While it is found in men and women almost equally, it is found in almost disproportionately high rates in African-Americans. African-Americans compromise a smaller portion of the population yet, they have higher risk of suffering from heart disease than most minority groups. The increased probability of suffering for heart disease is based on commonly known factors such as stress, lifestyle choice, and biochemistry levels. But the possibility of developing cardiovascular disease also relies on less thought of factors such as direct environment, socioeconomic status, and even perceived racism. This review sought to understand why African- Americans have such a high prevalence of heart disease, and even heart attack and death. We hope that in the future researchers can find more effective ways to minimize both traditional and non-traditional risk factors, which cause elevated frequency of heart disease in African-Americans. By minimizing the risk factors, improvements can be made to overall health and hopefully decreased incidence of heart disease.