In just the last two years, several African American celebrities have died prematurely due to a preventable disease.  James Brown, (75 years) , Luther Vandross, (54 years), Bebe Moore Campbell (56 years),  Gerald Levert (40 years), Billy Preston, (59 years), Kirby Puckett (45 yrs) and Ronald Winans (48 years)  all succumbed to a group of diseases we call cardiovascular disease.   These include heart attack (Myocardial infarction), brain attack (stroke), and heart failure (weak heart muscle).  As we celebrate Black Heritage Month as well as Heart Month, it is time that we recognize that when an African American grandparent dies prematurely, an entire “library” and part of our heritage dies with them.  Unfortunately, every black family in the United States has tasted the bitter fruit of a family member leaving us too soon due to cardiovascular disease.  We should be outraged that this disease kills and cripples fifty (50%) percent of our grandparents and is allowed to devastate our community as a “silent” killer. While cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the world it is particularly devastating in our community.

The members of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) believe that children deserve to know their grandparents so they will become GREAT grand parents.  If we are ever going to solve our social problems, (juvenile delinquency, unplanned teenage pregnancies, underachievement and unhealthy habits) we need more grandparents in our communities.  A child is only a grandparent away from growing up to be healthy, happy contributing members of society.  Other children expect to grow up knowing the nurturing and wisdom of their grandparents and even their great grand parents, but due to cardiovascular disease, African American children are fortunate if they have one grandparent (almost always a grand mother) by the time they graduate from high school.  Who will pass on our legacy to our youth?  The good news is, however, that since the founding of the ABC thirty three years ago, the rate of heart disease in our community has decreased by 50%.  This trend may reverse, however, because since 1975, the rate of obesity in our community has increased 50% every ten years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing, especially among our youth.

The most important fact that I can share with you this February, is that cardiovascular disease is preventable.  No one should ever perish from heart disease and stroke.  I am encouraged by the fact that tooth decay was a common condition only fifty years ago.  Scientists gave us good information about causes and cures of this painful condition.  So, with that information to guide us, America mounted a public health campaign to fluoridate our drinking water and promote twice per year preventive check-ups with dentists. Most importantly, this campaign encouraged every citizen and children of all ages to take personal responsibility for their own dental health by brushing and flossing their teeth twice per day.  As a result, my children who are between the ages of 25 and 36 have never had a tooth ache, and ninety percent of Americans born in the last fifty years will live into old age with the same set of teeth that they were born with. Most of us didn’t even take notice of this marvelous achievement and take dental health for granted. We can do the same for the prevention of heart disease.

Like dentistry, based on good scientific information, the ABC developed “the formula” that will guarantee that you will reduce your chances of dying from a heart attack or stroke.  By following our “Seven steps to a healthy heart” you can live with the confidence that heart disease and stroke are diseases that will not limit your life or the quality of your life. Eventually, you will die from something, but it doesn’t have to be before your time and it doesn’t have to be from heart disease or stroke.

The basic unit of life is a cell. Our body is made of billions of them.  Each one requires a constant supply of oxygen and other nutrients to stay alive and continue to do the jobs that nature assigned them.  Whenever the cells burn energy (oxygen) to accomplish its various tasks, they create waste.  So, each cell also needs to have their garbage picked up.  Cells are grouped to form organs.  Some cells help us to move, some to taste, smell, think and do our work.  The reason we get tired when we exercise is that our oxygen consumption is exceeding the amount being replenished.  We catch-up when we rest, catch our breath and re-establish that balance.

I am aware that most people associate the heart with love, bravery, emotion and caring but, the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) is none of that.  This intricate system is designed solely to deliver the oxygen and nutrients to each cell, pick up waste, cleanse and enrich the blood before sending it out again.  This is a closed system that repeats itself about sixty times per minute, 24 hours a day, and 365 days per year for our entire lives.  Our heart never takes a break or rest.  I could go on and on about various characterizations of the heart in the Bible, art and literature, but I don’t have the heart.

Cardiovascular disease represents an “interference” with the flow of blood.  This commonly takes the form of an obstruction (embolus), a rupture (hemorrhage), a spasm or occasions when the blood may be either too thick or thin to pump normally.  Cardiovascular disease is the state of affairs when our vital organs are not getting the blood supply they need.  It could be a little area the size of a pinhead or an entire organ.  Gangrene is a condition that poisons or kills cells because waste has accumulated in them due to poor circulation.

Arteries take blood from the heart and veins return blood to the heart. With every beat of your heart, blood is expelled and travels through the large arteries and branch out like the limbs of a tree until the arteries meet the veins.  This network of venules and arterioles is called the capillaries.  At that point, the oxygen and nutrients are delivered, the waste is picked up and the impure used up blood enters the veins.  As the impure blood pass through the kidneys, the blood is strained and these impurities leave the body as urine.  The blood continues its route back to the heart when it is pumped to the lungs where a great exchange takes place, carbon dioxide for oxygen.  Carbon dioxide leaves the body as we exhale and the pure oxygenated blood travels back to the heart, and once again is sent on its way. 

If some of the cells of your heart are malnourished and dies, you have a heart attack or a myocardial infarction (death of a part of the heart muscle).  The chest pain you may encounter when the heart is starving for oxygen (blood) is angina. If some of your brain cells are deprived of the life saving oxygen because an artery is blocked with a clot or if there is a break in a blood vessel and the blood is directed elsewhere depriving the intended brain cells, you have had a brain attack or a stroke.  If the heart muscle becomes flabby or is damaged and therefore not strong enough to expel the blood from the heart efficiently, you have heart failure.  You can prevent these conditions by adopting our seven steps to a healthy heart.

1.      Be spiritually active.  According to a study from the University of Texas, African Americans who go to church regularly live 14 years longer than African Americans who do not go to church.

2.      Take charge of your blood pressure.  This is a lethal risk to your health.  Tell your doctor you want to keep your blood pressure at goal (120/80mm Hg).

3.      Control your cholesterol.  Keep your HDL high and your LDL, and total cholesterol low.

4.      Track your blood sugar and maintain ideal weight.  While obesity has increased by 50% over the last ten years, diabetes also increased by 57%.  If you are overweight, you run a very high risk of developing diabetes which increases your risk of blindness, amputations and impotence.

5.      Enjoy regular exercise (30 minutes per day-every day) and follow a sensible diet!  Move those muscles.  Increase fruits and veggies and reduce fats and sugars but most of all, eat less.  Every little bit you do either helps or hurts a little bit.

6.      Don’t smoke.  Nobody argues with this anymore, not even smokers.

7.      Access better health care and faithfully take your medication as prescribed. It is no longer acceptable for the most vulnerable among us to receive the worst care.  Just because some of us are poor does not mean we are relegated to poor care.  All members of society deserve to receive our best efforts-respectful, culturally competent health care.  If you are unhappy with the care you are receiving, go somewhere else.

It does no good for you to go to a physician, have your condition diagnosed and medication prescribed if you don’t fill the prescription and take it as prescribed.  If you cannot afford the cost of your prescription, your physicians can help you get these medicines free.  This is America, no one should go without the medical care they need.

Please join the Association of Black Cardiologists in helping, advocating and reducing diseases that rob our children of the warmth and love of their grandparents.  Leave later.

By paying dues of just $35.00 per year, you will be designated as a “Community Health Advocate” and benefit from the tremendous programs and publications offered by the ABC. 

Please learn more about us and how you can help, call 800-753-9222 or online at www.abcardio.org.