Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans

The following video, HealthWatch MD, features a short interview with an African American cardiologist in Atlanta. He addresses the health disparity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans. This ethnic group has disproportionately higher rates of CVD than Caucasians. He does not believe that this is due to discrimination, but lifestyle and genetics. The cardiologists emphasizes the importance of patient education and promoting health literacy as a means of prevention for the African American community.

Although the interview is generally informative, I disagree with his statement about discrimination not being a determinant; it is major determinant of health. Discriminating is not always an overt act during the provision of care. This could entail access as a barrier because of institutionalized racism and discrimination. Perhaps, the facilities in one community are not available or the transit does not permit an individual to get to a health facility. The problem is not merely rooted in biological predispositions or even behavior; it is also social.