Several weeks ago, I gave a barbershop talk to a group of Black men and was not surprised that the majority of them did not know that the number one cause of death among Black people is heart disease.  Most of them thought that cancer was the major cause of death and this is because cancer and HIV get the most attention in the community.

The American Heart Association and the American college of Cardiology released new risk assessment guidelines for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (heart disease) in November, 2013.  Heart disease prevention needs to be embraced by the African American community because heart disease is the number cause of death.

The strongest predictors of premature heart disease are sex, race, elevated total cholesterol (HDL and LDL), high blood pressure, history of smoking, and family history.  Lack of exercise is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Men, age 45 years or older and women, age 55 years or older, are at risk for heart disease.