Heart disease capturing the African American race
Heart disease is a very serious disease that effects mostly the African American community. Although heart disease is caused from a combination of different health factors, how to prevent heart disease is key. If the government was to make people more aware of the disease, offer better food assistant programs and teach how to prevent it, it would no longer be the number one killer of not only the African American community but, the American society as a whole.
Diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancers play major roles in heart disease. Heart disease is a general term used to describe a variety of conditions in which the health and/ or functioning ability of the heart muscle, the veins, arteries or circulatory system is compromised. (ehow.com) Heart disease is the leading cause of death according to the American Heart Association and is a major cause of disability. The heart pumps blood throughout the body. The blood flow helps oxygen and many other nutrients reach throughout the body. The heart has an effect on each organ in the body and this is the main organ that keeps the body functioning. There are there eight illnesses that can be recognized as heart disease. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) , high cholesterol , hypertension which, is also known as high blood pressure, arrhythmias, peripheral artery disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure.
The liver, kidneys, Intestines and lungs can be damaged. A person’s blood pressure either highly decrease or increase, both situations are clearly unhealthy for the body. Peripheral vascular disease can affect the arms and legs; this disease is formed when the clogged arteries damage the arms and legs. Heart disease can cause health issues as serious as strokes or losing brain function. When the heart becomes affected and destroyed you start to get really sick. The body becomes weak. There is a strong chance of dying with heart disease. The race that suffers from heart disease the most is African Americans.
There are many ways to prevent heart disease. You can exercise. Cut down on the saturated fats and salt. Eat less food containing massive amounts of sugar. Some may even maintain a controlled diet. Stress causes people to have high blood pressure. Learn ways to handle stress. There are even drugs that can help you prevent the disease from occurring. Most doctors prefer people to take some form of aspirin at least once a day to reduce the risk of heart disease. However in order to maintain a healthy diet you need to be able to provide it.
According to http://www.myplanetharmony.com26-african-americans-living-poverty/ 26% of the population in poverty is African American. “one out of six Americans are now dependent upon at least one government anti-poverty program such as, Medicaid, welfare and unemployment benefits. The article describes how the numbers went up since the year 2009. Matters have became worst. Families have grown more and the government has a lot of cut backs. Many of the eligible citizens are not receiving the benefits that should be offered to them. This causes many people to live without the proper health care or food.
In the African American society heart disease has become one of the main causes of death. The food intake of this race is unhealthy. However people only buy what is affordable for them. The government’s assistance is not supplying enough for people to live off of with the unhealthy food. So, healthy food which cost more is out of the question. This causes lower income families to make poor food choices. The products that are affordable include massive amounts of sugar, fats and high fructose corn syrup. These substances are harmful to the body. This is one of the reasons why heart disease is affecting the poor. People should be better informed about what these food items contain. The food industry sells the unhealthy and cheap foods for less but, the organic and healthy food for more. This should be farther explained to the society, including S.N.A.P recipients so that they are educated and able to make better choices.
According to table 5, shown in the “Heart disease and prevention, treatment, and mortality” article, written by Julia Holmes, PhD. Irma E. Arispe, PhD. Ernest Moy,MD heart disease deaths per 100,000 population shows that ages between 45-65+ (1,620) 8.7% of African Americans die from this disease each year. Whites and mixed population are affected way less than blacks. Statistics show that only 2.5% of white people are affected and almost 4% of the mixed populations both (white and black) are affected. The African American population is affected twice that amount. The proper health insurance is not available for people to even take care of themselves nor families.
The lower middle class population cannot afford the proper health care. According, to Ezinearticles.com/?health-care-vs.-the-lower-middle-class&id=234392 The working or middle class populations make up 33% percent of America. Their yearly incomes are varied between 30,000 -50,000 per year. That income cannot afford the health care costs and being able to provide shelter and food for their families.
Health care can cause lower and middle class to even be penniless in order, to afford health care. People try their hardest to maintain good health but, the prices have become way to high.
The governments health care and food programs should provide more money in order, to help citizens make the right choices and cure the population. There should be more information given about the food industry. The government should provide better assistant programs. Better health care assistance should be available to the less fortunate.
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