Heart Disease in the Black Community
The Disproportionate Increase of Heart Disease in the Black Population
While rates of heart disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) are rising across all populations, the Black community is particularly affected. Let’s talk about why this is and what you can do to decrease your chances of developing heart disease or CAD.
Signs and Symptoms of CAD
There are several symptoms of CAD – you may experience some or all of the following:
- Chest pain (angina) – Have you experienced a heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, squeezing or a dull ache during or after physical exertion? The pain may radiate to the shoulder, arm, neck, back or jaw.1
- Shortness of breath – Do you have trouble catching your breath when doing regular activities or laying down?1
- Fatigue – Do you constantly feel tired or weak?1
- Pain, numbness, or weakness in arms or legs – Are you having unusual feelings in your limbs?2
- Nausea or indigestion – Do you feel sick to your stomach or feel like you have heartburn?2
- Swelling (edema) – This is swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, stomach and neck.3
- Coughing – A persistent, unexplained cough could be a sign that fluid is building up in your lungs.4
- Reduced or low ejection fraction (EF) – EF is the measurement of blood your heart pumps with each beat. An EF below 50% is considered Low EF; normal EF is 50-70%.5
A Range of Treatment Options
What You Can Do to Lower Your Chance of Developing Heart Disease
While every person and every circumstance are unique, there are a few general things you can do to help lower your chance of developing heart diseases such as CAD,9 such as: know your family history, get screened for heart diseases, know the warning signs of heart disease, be aware of pain or swelling in your leg, stay active, maintain a healthy weight and diet and take medications as prescribed by your physician.
References
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Coronary artery disease symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613#:~:text=Chest%20pain%2C%20called,feel%20unusually%20tired
- Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). What is coronary artery disease?. Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/care/heart/services/coronary-disease/what-is#:~:text=Signs%20and%20Symptoms,Indigestion%2C%20nausea%2C%20vomiting
- University of Michigan Health. (n.d.). Coronary artery disease (CAD). University of Michigan. https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cardiac-surgery/patient-information/adult-cardiac-surgery/adult-conditions-treatments/coronary-artery-disease-cad#:~:text=Heart%20failure%20also%20can%20cause%20swelling%20in%20your%20feet%2C%20ankles%2C%20legs%20and%20abdomen
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Persistent cough: It may be a sign of heart failure. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/persistent-cough-it-may-be-a-sign-of-heart-failure#:~:text=In%20heart%20failure%2C%20your%20heart%20muscle%20has%20dysfunction%20that%20might%20be%20due%20to%20weak%20contraction%20or%20stiffness.%20This%20can%20allow%20fluid%20to%20back%20up%20in%20your%20lungs%2C%20creating%20a%20condition%20called%20pulmonary%20edema.%20Your%20body%20coughs%20persistently%20in%20an%20effort%20to%20eliminate%20the%20excess%20fluid.
- EuroIntervention. (n.d.). PCI has no role in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Pros and cons. EuroIntervention. https://eurointervention.pcronline.com/article/pci-has-no-role-in-patients-with-heart-failure-and-reduced-ejection-fraction-pros-and-cons#:~:text=Coronary%20artery%20disease%20is%20the,myocardial%20infarction%20and%20(reversible)%20hibernation
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Coronary artery disease (CAD): Symptoms and causes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/coronary-artery-disease.html#cdc_disease_basics_treatment-treatment-and-recovery
- Wollmuth, J., et al. (2022). Cardiac interventions for heart disease. Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, 1(5), 100350–100350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2022.100350
- O’Neill, E., et al. (2022). Cardiovascular health and interventions. American Heart Journal, 248, 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2022.02.006
- Healthline. Heart disease in African Americans: Prevention. https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/heart-disease-in-african-americans#prevention
As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. Only a physician can determine whether Impella is an option for High-Risk PCI and would be an appropriate course of treatment. There are potential risks including acute renal dysfunction, aortic valve injury, bleeding, cardiogenic shock, cerebral vascular accident/stroke, death, hemolysis, limb ischemia, myocardial infarction, renal failure, thrombocytopenia and cardiac or vascular injury (including ventricular perforation). These risks need to be discussed with your doctor and recovery takes time. The success of this procedure depends on many factors, including your physical condition and your body’s ability to tolerate the procedure. Use care in the selection of your doctors and hospital, based on their skill and experience.
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