Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most common cause of death globally. An estimated

17 million people die from CVD every year. Coronary heart disease or strokes were the

major causes of these deaths. A common misconception about CVD is that it impacts more

people in developed countries who are more reliant on technology and lead sedentary

lifestyles. But more than 80% of the deaths occur in middle-income and low-income

countries. 

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for all Americans, and stroke is also a leading cause of death.

As frightening as those statistics are the risks of getting those diseases are even higher for

African-Americans.

The good news is, African-Americans can improve their odds of preventing and beating

these diseases by understanding the risks and taking steps to address them. Many people

are not aware that systemic racism is one of the major causes of early death and mortality

among African Americans from heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. It is a

public health crisis that each African American must address. Read get more information

here and here. Espresso Talk Today has two important podcasts on racism as a public health

crisis and how systemic racism affects Black health.