As we have recently discovered from Whitney Houston’s toxicology report, Whitney was previously diagnosed with heart disease. The LA Corners Office says that the cocaine found in her system may have caused a heart attack and consequently caused her to drown.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, especially among African Americans. Studies show that African Americans:
- Tend to have heart disease at a younger age
- Have a higher rate of first time heart attacks
- Are more likely to die of heart disease
- Are more prone to sudden cardiac death
African Americans have a high risk of high blood pressure and diabetes which are two risk factors leading to heart disease. Combining these risk factors with smoking, drugs, obesity or lack of exercise greatly increases the chance of being diagnosed with heart disease.
It doesn’t take much to take steps in preventing your risk for heart disease. Here are a few tips:
- Stop smoking- Smoking is the number one most preventable causes of death in the United States.
- Lose weight- Losing as little as 10 or 20 pounds can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease.
- Eat healthier- Eat fewer processed foods and reduce the amount of salt and fatty foods.
- Exercise daily- Try to get at least 30 minutes of aerobic physical activity. This can reduce your risk of blood pressure or diabetes.
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