Tuesday Tools

Good  morning
Have  and  Peace  be  unto  you.

Friday  is  wear red  day. I just wanted you to be aware and be prepared.

Heart disease and African American Women.Here are a few unsettling stats:

*Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American women annually.
*Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases.
*Only 1 in 5 African-American women believes she is personally at risk.
*Only 52 percent of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
*Only 36 percent of African-American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.

The truth about high blood pressure More than 40 percent of non-Hispanic blacks have high blood pressure, which is more severe in blacks than whites, and develops earlier in life. This little known fact is something that, if known and treated in advance, could save your life.

But why is it targeting African-Americans? Researchers have found that there may be a gene that makes African-Americans much more sensitive to the effects of salt, which in turn increases the risk for developing high blood pressure. In people who have this gene, as little as one extra gram (half a teaspoon) of salt could raise blood pressure by as much as five millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The African-American population also tends to have higher rates of obesity and diabetes, which puts them at greater risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.

But for many African-American women, particularly those who consider themselves perfectly healthy, perception may not always equal reality. So what’s the solution? For starters, cutback on the amount of salt in your diet. In fact, make a serious effort to improve your overall eating habits by learning about heart-healthy foods, and how to prepare them. And of course, if you’re not already active, get moving.

And as always remember to...live Blessed