Heart Health

Heart disease is the American woman's number 1 killer. African Americans make up a large number of affected woman because we face the six major risk factors in greater proportion.

Women face six major risk factors for heart disease that can be prevented, controlled or treated with diet, exercise and sometimes medications prescribed. These are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity or overweight and diabetes.

American Heart Association sends this special messge to African Americans:

"If you're African American, there's a good chance that you, a relative or a friend has high blood pressure (hypertension). It affects more than 40 percent of African Americans. High blood pressure develops earlier in life in blacks than in whites and is usually more severe. The longer it's left untreated, the more serious its complications can become. High blood pressure is also a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. Because high blood pressure is so serious, early detection and treatment are very important."

Heart disease can be largely prevented if women take care of themselves. Ask your doctor to help you create a plan to reduce your risk – a plan that includes a heart-healthy diet, exercise and medication, if necessary. You can protect yourself.

Learn more about these risks and what you can do to prevent heart disease by visiting these pages on teh American Heart Association's site:

Get fit and eat healthy

National Celebrity Spokesperson. Grammy award-winning R&B vocalist Toni Braxton, among several celebrities involved in Go Red For Women, is the national spokeswoman in 2005. “I am so pleased to be joining Go Red For Women, not only because heart disease has touched me personally, but also because I can assist in taking the message to the thousands of women who don’t know that heart disease is their No. 1 one health risk,” she said.

Join Toni and thousands of other women raising awareness about herat disease. Get your free red dress pin when you join Go Red.