Title: Health Disparities that Affect the African American Community | Ultius
Headings: Health Disparities that Affect the African American Community
Essay Writing Samples
Health Disparities that Affect the African American Community
African-American community health disparities
African-Americans and Heart disease
African-Americans and diabetes
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Content: When a person has high levels of cholesterol in the body, it decreases the amount of blood and oxygen that flow to the heart. Additionally, the American Heart Association (2013) explained that heart disease is also typically caused by high blood pressure, as it can “cause permanent damage to the heart.” As a result, when a heart becomes damaged and blood vessels to the heart are blocked, the person is at risk for having a heart attack. There are several risk factors for becoming inflicted with the health disparity, heart disease. These risk factors include smoking, having high cholesterol, and having high blood pressure. Interestingly, new research has revealed that a genetic mutation may also increase an African American’s risk for developing heart disease. Medline Plus (2013) explained that
“the mutation in the ApoE gene is linked to increased levels of triglycerides, and this gene mutation is common in Africans and people of African descent worldwide.” As a result, African Americans have an increased risk for developing heart disease, and this risk factor may explain the high incidences of heart disease in the African American community. The incidence and prevalence of heart disease in the African American community is alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the number one killer of African American men and women.