This February — American Heart Month and Black History Month — the American Heart Association urges all African Americans to get the facts through its ongoing awareness campaign, Take Your Heart and Health Into Your Own Hands.  We encourage African Americans to join our free risk-reduction programs and participate in heart-health activities throughout the year.

For several decades, African Americans have been plagued with health issues due to varying factors, including heredity.  Certain heart disease risk factors are more prevalent in African Americans, but many of these risk factors can be controlled through lifestyle changes.

“Don’t let your history dictate your future.  Perception is not reality, and there is something you can do to create a new legacy of heart health for you and your family,” says Robert Bonow, M.D., president of the American Heart Association.  “Just because your grandmother and great-grandmother died from heart disease doesn’t mean that you will, too.  But you must take action today to change the path of history in your family.”

“Knowledge is power, but action yields results,” Bonow says.  “Knowing the warning signs of heart attack and stroke is the first step in making a difference.  Just as important is taking action to reduce heart disease risk factors.  This means stopping smoking, lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol, exercising regularly, losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, and controlling diabetes.”

What can you do to reduce your risk?  Take your heart and health into your own hands and participate in one of the American Heart Association programs that help you reduce your risk. more