Title: African Americans and Heart Disease - The Heart Foundation
Headings: 
African Americans and Heart Disease
Atherosclerosis
Blood Pressure

Content: Not only is high blood pressure more severe in blacks than whites, it also develops earlier in life. High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer, as the heart can become permanently damaged before any symptoms are apparent. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected and controlled through medications, a healthy diet and exercise. Obesity
The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls. African Americans are disproportionately affected by obesity. Among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, 63% of men and 77% of women are overweight or obese. Among African American children aged 2 to 19 years old, 20% are obese. Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Diabetes also is an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which leads to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases.