Title: Health Disparities that Affect the African American Community | Ultius
Headings: Health Disparities that Affect the African American Community
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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: 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. In 2008, 24.5% of African Americans died from heart disease (CDC, 2013). The high rates of deaths can be linked to blood pressure levels in African Americans. The American Heart Association (2013) found that
“the prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans is the highest in the world.” Unfortunately, if heart disease does not contribute to the death of members of this population, then diabetes can since it is also a deadly disease that affects millions of African Americans. African-Americans and diabetes
Additionally, the second health disparity that affects members of the African American community each year is diabetes.