FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH
This year, as our hearts fill with pride while we celebrate Black History Month, let us also remember to focus on our heart health. And not just on Valentines Day – the entire month of February is American Heart Month.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and certain minority groups face a greater risk than others. Deaths from heart disease are higher in Black Americans than in White Americans and other ethnic groups, and heart disease develops at a younger age in African Americans. Nearly half of all African American women have some form of heart disease, and even in middle and upper-class communities, the rate of heart disease is still higher among Blacks than Whites.
The most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke among Black Americans are high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the United States has high blood cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High blood cholesterol can be hard to detect, as it often shows no signs or symptoms.”
But, heart disease can often be prevented when people know their risks, make healthy choices and manage their medical conditions. So this month, learn the signs and symptoms and the steps you can take to make a difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones at https://www.goredforwomen.org
OTHER NEWS
Black Women’s Agenda Supreme Court Alert Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action
On Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in a 6-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved change to the Michigan Constitution prohibiting the use of affirmative action in its state public college admissions. This decision upholds a 2006 Michigan ballot initiative where voters approved a prohibition on race-based admissions at state schools. This decision does not change the ability of schools in states that do not have such bans to consider race as one of the factors in their admissions process. Dealing a blow to affirmative action, the Court upheld the ballot initiative as one method of challenging race-conscious admissions policies.
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH LEARN THE SIGNS, RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS, GET HELP
A noted author once wrote, “People assume you aren’t sick unless they see the sickness on your skin.” This month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. (BWA) invite you to join the “I’m Into Mental Health” campaign supporting Mental Health Awareness Month by becoming Inspired, Informed, and Involved.
A HEART TO HEART ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to our health. Take heart disease, for example. What you don’t know can prove fatal. Problems affecting the heart and its blood vessels are the number one killer of women in the United States.
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