The American Heart Association highlights cardiovascular health disparities in the black community

While the American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update has made progress by reducing cardiovascular and brain health disparities, the US black community remains at a low risk of heart disease, stroke and hypertension. It reports that it is fairly high. These gaps then highlight the urgent need for life intervention, contributing to similarly disproportionate high mortality. As part of the National Heart Moon and Black History Month's activities, the American Heart Association is dedicated to transforming the future into a healthy world of living for all – is a continuous It emphasizes the need to bridge the gaps in survival through education, advocacy and hands. – CPR training only. The American Heart Association Goal: By ensuring everyone, especially those at risk, there is an opportunity to live a longer and healthier life.

Addressing the unbalanced burden of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be a major cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. The report notes that Black Americans suffer from some of the worst CVD health outcomes due to an increased prevalence of health risk factors leading to CVD. .

• CVD prevalence: Among people over 20 in the US, nearly 60% of black adults have some kind of CVD, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, or hypertension. This compares with about 49% of all US adults who have some type of CVD.
• Stroke difference: Of all adults in the US, the prevalence of stroke was highest among black women (5.4%) and black men (4.8%), compared with 2.9% of all women and 3.6% of all men .
• High blood pressure crisisBlack adults in the US have the highest prevalence of hypertension worldwide. 58.4% of black women and 57.5% of black men suffer from hypertension. This is comparable to 50.4% of all adult men and 43% of all women in the US.
• Heart failure burden: Black adults account for more than 50% of heart failure hospitalizations among adults under the age of 50 in the United States.

Science is a clear black community and continues to face disproportionate risks of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease, resulting in reduced survival outcomes. However, data alone does not change. Actual impacts come when we work directly with the community who develop ideas and create plans and programs to create solutions that address these disparities. By providing access to Hands-only CPR training, advocating for equitable health care and promoting heart health education, we are committed to working with our community to change the future of health . ”

Dr. Keith Churchwell, Chief Volunteer Science and Medical Director of MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, American Heart Association

Take action and become a lifesaver

In February this year, the association challenges families, schools and community organizations to participate in practical CPR training initiatives and participate in the Nation of Lifesavers™. Of the 10 cardiac arrests that occur outside the hospital, nine people will die, and you can learn that CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. Only 46% of people suffering from cardiac arrest receive CPR from bystanders, while CPR is 41% less for black or Hispanic people.

“Learning Hands-only CPR is a simple and powerful step that we all can take to save lives. Black History Month provides a powerful reminder of the resilience and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. It reminds me of the lasting disparities in health that affect Black people, and today's Latino community,” Churchwell said. “Through the nation of the lifesaver movement, we not only have important CPR skills for individuals, but also work to close the health equity gap, so that every individual can be healthier for a longer period of time. I have opportunities to live.”

The association's commitment to filling the health gap

To combat these disparities, the American Heart Association is the next major initiative:

• Expand CPR education in black communities – Encourage all households to have at least one person trained with practical CPR to increase survival in a heart emergency.
• Improve access to hypertension management – raises awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment of hypertension, a major cause of stroke and heart disease.
• Increase stroke prevention initiatives – Provides resources and education on emergency response to reduce lifestyle changes, early warning signs, and stroke-related disability and death.
• Advocating for an Unbiased Health Care Policy – Supports policies that ensure Black individuals receive timely, high quality cardiovascular care, including expanding community-based health screenings. I will.

Expand your heart health awareness

To bridge this gap and improve heart health outcomes, the American Heart Association has worked with black-led organizations, historically black universities and universities (HBCUs), and community leaders to help heart health education become the most popular. Culturally relevant solutions are created and implemented to reach impact.

Some examples are:

With its commitment to investing in young entrepreneurs, the association has allowed the service to Business Accelerator™, providing support to business owners who are fully remote training and focus on equitable health solutions Gives a focused opportunity to give.

The heart of the Innovation HBCU Challenge is the development of entrepreneurial technology aimed at addressing social factors of health, improving cardiovascular health, and promoting a healthy environment This is an opportunity for business accelerators for graduates. In collaboration with Global Healthcare Startup Incubator Matter Heart Health, the American Association will hold the final virtual showcase of the four-week Innovation at Heart HBCU Challenge on February 24th. I'll do it.

Historically, black universities have graduated the largest number of African American scholars in the field of medicine. (More than 70% of African American health professionals earn degrees from HBCU.) The American Heart Association designed the HBCU Scholars program to accept and accept the graduate programme that leads to a specialized degree in biomedical science. It was designed to increase the number of HBCU students who can compete for admission. And health science.

American Heart Association's Health Equity in the Workforce Initiative, Wellbeing Works Better Create tools, resources and knowledge products that will help you improve the health and well-being of our country's workforce.

The American Heart Association's Social Impact Fund was established to provide full equitable health. The association's funding fills the critical resource gaps of traditionally unoverlooked underfunded organizations and solutions, both for-profit and non-profit organizations. We provide solutions that help everyone overcome barriers to high quality, accessible healthcare, food security and economic empowerment. Since its launch in 2018 and early community investment in 2019, the American Heart Association's Social Impact Fund, including the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund, has supported more than 100 local social enterprises across the country.