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Heart Disease and
Stroke Facts about
African-American Women
• African-Americans are at
greater risk for heart disease,
stroke and other cardiovascular
diseases than Caucasians. The
prevalence of these diseases in
non-Hispanic black females is 49
percent, compared to 35 percent
in non-Hispanic white females.
• African-American males and
females have higher death rates
from heart disease, stroke and
other cardiovascular diseases
than white males and females.
• High blood pressure is a
leading cause of stroke. The
rate of high blood pressure for
non-Hispanic black females age
20 and older is 46.6 percent.
• The risk of heart disease
and stroke increases with
physical inactivity. Physical
inactivity is more prevalent in
women, African-Americans and
Hispanics. For African-American
females age 18 and older, 33.9
percent are inactive, compared
to 21.6 percent of white
females.
• Among non-Hispanic black
females ages 20 and older, 79.6
percent are overweight and
obese.
• Of people 18 and older,
17.3 percent of non-Hispanic
black females smoke, putting
themselves at increased risk for
heart attack and stroke.
Return to
our
2010 Go Red for Women Index
Source: American Heart
Association Heart Disease and
Stroke Statistics – 2008 Update
For additional information
contact
American Heart Association
at (888) MY-HEART (694
–3278) or visit their
website.
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