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African Americans should be concerned about heart disease. Combined, heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death for African Americans, says Laxmi Mehta, MD, clinical director of Ohio State’s Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program.

A few facts to consider:

•    African Americans lead in 24.5 percent of heart disease related deaths and complications.

•    One in two African American women will develop heart disease in their lifetime.

•    A woman with diabetes is at least three times more likely to have a heart attack.

•     High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease.

•    About half of Americans (49 percent) have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including:

•    Diabetes

•    Obesity and being overweight

•    Poor diet

•    Physical inactivity

•    Excessive alcohol use

The Facts About Blacks and Heart Disease  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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