Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Disease
Africans Americans
Heart Disease Among Africans
• Studies have shown Africans are at higher risk for heart disease
• Many factors are attributed to higher rates of cardiovascular disease
http://www.ishib.org/ED/journal/17-1/ethn-17-01-143.pdf
Risk Factors
• Higher prevalence of hypertension when compared to a white population (two-fold higher)
• Significantly higher risk of diabetes
• African women have the highest prevalence of abdominal obesity
• Near top for limited leisure activity
http://www.ishib.org/ED/journal/17-1/ethn-17-01-143.pdf
Risk Factors
Now we know there is a higher risk in this ethnic group… but why?
• Researchers are not quite sure but say some reasons may be:– Genetic Factors– Environmental Factors– A Combination of Factors
http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/suppl_1/S48.full.pdf+html
Cardiovascular Disease
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
Coronary Heart Disease
• Leading cause of death among Africans
• Among highest in the world
• There has been a decline since 1968
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2561855/
• Average age of incidence was 69 years of age compared to whites which was 75, hispanics were 63
• Incidence rates reflect cerebral infarction rates
Stroke
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/147/3/259.full.pdf+html
Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Black ethnicity considered independent risk factor
• Risk cannot be explained by excess diabetes, hypertension or CVD risk factors
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/17/2703.full.pdf+html
Screening and diagnostic tests
• Cholesterol screening
• Blood pressure screening
• Access other risk factors– Age– Sex– Heredity– Stress– BMI
http://ddsn.sc.gov/providers/manualsandguidelines/Documents/HealthCareGuidelines/CardiovascularScreening.pdf
Exercise Prescription
• Normal Prescription
• Emphasis on leisure time activity
• Cardiovascular exercise 3x/week
• Increase heart rate past 60% of HRR
• All major muscle groups worked at least twice per week
Exercise Prescription
• Emphasis on breathing to control blood pressure
• Stretch along with exercise to maintain flexibility and improve circulation
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