Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans and exacts a disproportionate toll on many racial and ethnic groups. These ethnic groups have a lower average income salary also affects where they live, which in turn affects their access to healthy food, safe places to exercise, and quality health care. The American Heart Association (AHA) believes that it is time to bridge the disparity gap and ensure access to quality health care for all who live in the United States. CVD age-adjusted death rates are 33% higher for blacks than for the overall population in the United States. Blacks are nearly twice as likely to have a first stroke and much more likely to die from one than whites. Environmental factors are considered key determinants of cardiovascular disease. Although lifestyle choices such as smoking, diet, and exercise are viewed as major environmental influences, the contribution of pollutants and environmental chemicals is less clear. There are genetic differences which increase one’s susceptibility to CVD. For example, African-Americans are the most susceptible to high blood pressure in the world.
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