When you think of February, what comes to your mind first? Do you think of Valentine’s Day and all the chocolates, roses, and love the day brings? Or are you thinking of Black History Month? Many people typically think of both, especially Black History Month, which is held every February in tribute to the generations of African-Americans who struggled with adversity throughout American history while celebrating the significant achievements and contributions African American men and women have made to America and the rest of the world.
However, did you know that February is also known as American Heart Month? If this is your first time hearing about it, American Heart Month is meant to bring awareness to heart health and healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. This year, the U.S. commemorates the 57th consecutive American Heart Month in February after it was first started by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Heart disease differs from cardiovascular disease, which is the term for all types of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral artery disease. It is also the catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function.
Black History Month and American Heart Month may not correlate with each other at first glance, but if you look into it, these two are more related than you may realize. As mentioned earlier, heart disease is the leading cause of death for all Americans, but certain minority groups face a greater risk for it than others. Statistics show that deaths from heart disease are higher in Black Americans than in non-Hispanic white Americans and other ethnic groups, and they develop the disease at a younger age. Nearly 48% of African-American women and 44% of African-American men develop some sort of heart disease. Even among the middle- and the upper-class Black community, the rate of heart disease among Black Americans is still greater than that of white Americans who have a similar socioeconomic status. High blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes increase the risk of heart disease and are common conditions among Black Americans.
As it goes for most health conditions, to prevent heart failure and other diseases, it’s important to track and treat risk factors. However, compared to their white peers, African Americans often have less access to health care—thus, they are less likely to visit a doctor and get routine screenings, and are much less likely to be referred to specialists. As for their risk factors, it’s difficult to determine the reason why they exist. Is it because of genetics? Well, genetics do play a role. For example, some studies suggest that African Americans are particularly sensitive to salt, which can lead to high blood pressure. However, it seems like the largest influence on these risk factors is most likely lifestyle, which in turn is affected by a variety of elements such as socioeconomic status, education, environment, stress levels, culture and history. Yes, history affects health, probably much more than one may expect.
One’s socioeconomic status has a huge influence on one’s lifestyle. Fresh fruits and vegetables may not be readily available to those with limited access, whether it may be because they do not live within distance of a quality grocery store or they simply cannot afford fresh food. Additionally, prepackaged foods and fast food are filled with excessive salt, which only adds to the difficulty of controlling blood pressure. Unfortunately, this may also mean it will take multiple medications to achieve adequate control over blood pressure. Without health insurance, prescriptions may not be discounted, and one may be forced to pay for the full expenses. It takes time, money and resources to lead a healthy lifestyle, yet Black Americans are more than twice as likely as white Americans to live in poverty. Additionally, Black people are twice as likely as white people to be unemployed, which would prevent them from receiving adequate income for even basic living necessities.
So, what can we do to support Black and African-American people who may be suffering from heart disease? In addition to continuous advocacy for change and equity in hopes to improve their quality of life and provide them with more opportunities, we can also educate them about heart health and how to reduce their risk for heart disease. Education is crucial to reducing the risk of developing heart disease because people are better informed on the topic than if they weren’t educated. In 2019, the percentage of blacks age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose from 19.8% to 26.1% but remain the second to last racial group to have a college education, the very last being Hispanics.
This year, Black History Month and American Heart Month are even more important due to the recent historical events for racial equality and the coronavirus pandemic, which is relevant because recent research shows that there are potentially harmful effects on the heart and vascular system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have delayed or avoided going to hospitals for heart attacks and strokes and during quarantine, more and more people have engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that may contribute to heart disease. It is important that in February and beyond, we remain vigilant in not just the pursuit of racial equity and equality, but for good health and well-being for all.