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Cardiovacular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and base on research, African Americans are the most ethnic group with a highest mortality rate from the disease. Examination of social determinates that leads to Poor access to health care for African American is important to improve health care access for the population. There are many infirmities that impacts the heart such as heart failure, heart valve disease and one of the most common is coronary artery disease which is the accumulation of fatty deposits in the wall of the artery making it narrow and when a blood clot blocks blood passage, it leads to a heart attack or stroke.

Some of the factors that causes cardiovascular disease are smoking, poor diet (obesity), stress, lack of exercise and poor access to health care. Statistic and surveys shows that African American compared to non black Hispanics are more significantly affected by obesity, high blood pressure and diabetics which results into cardiovascular disease and only a few are aware of it and takes measures to control the risk factors that leads to heart disease.

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In the United States, social determinate health that affect African American access to health care are lack of education, racial discrimination, environmental factors, poverty, lack of employment and many more. A closer look at social determinates that leads to poor access to health care for African Americans of cardiovascular disease and the best measurements needed to address the risk factors and reduce the mortality rate will be discuss in this paper.

African American has one of the highest unemployment rate compare to whites in America and the underlining factor is due to lack of education. People who are uneducated and unemployed with limited income level have low knowledge about maintaining a healthy lifestyle since they cannot afford healthy food choices or have information on exercise, as a result are more likely to suffer from diabetes and obesity, some of the primary cause cardiovascular disease. Financial stress plays an important role that leads to blood pressure and increase heart disease. “The findings differed significantly by race with homemaker and unemployment status having a more negative impact on African-American women's physical health. The odds of reporting cardiovascular disease for involuntarily unemployed African-American women was 2.6 times greater than that of employed African-American women.” African American with low income who have Medicaid still have to pay hidden fees which they are unable to afford when they visit the doctor and to avoid unnecessary billing, most of them wait until their conditions are severe and too late before they are rushed to the hospital. Awareness on Cardiovascular disease has to be raise in African American communities through the social economic resources such as free health education on food and life style choices, unlimited access to health care, free exercise classes and most importantly providing free college education and unlimited jobs.

“Worse neighborhood economic and social conditions may contribute to increased risk of CVD among African American women. Policies directly addressing these issues may alleviate the burden of CVD in this group.”African Americans with low income are usually in overly populated neighborhood with toxin and pollution from nearby factories and due to these environmental factors, are more expose to health problems. The rate of crime and homicide especially gang violence is mostly reported in African American communities than any other ethnic group in America. This creates and leads to fear and mental stress that can causes high blood pressure, a major factor that leads to cardiovascular disease. Some cultural aspects to social determinates is that, a study shows that African American are more comfortable or prefer traditional food than healthy choices especially African American women prefer to be bigger body figures than smaller, making them more at risk to heart disease. African American have experience discrimination and racism throughout their history in the United States and still a struggle they face today, which plays major of African American not trusting the advice and recommendations of health care providers. Health care providers have to put into consideration and be mindful of the environmental and social struggles when caring for African Americans in order to form a trust base relationship so that African Americans are more open to receiving health care.

In conclusion, Economic, social and Environmental factors play a major role in poor access to health care and increase motility rate in cardiovascular disease for African American population. The mortality rate of African Americans with Cardiovascular disease can be reduce with investment social economic resources such as health Education, free health screening and primary health care access. Health care professionals should be well trained to form a trust base relationship with patient, to ensure follow ups. It is important to provide all communities with healthy food options. Pollution and toxins has to be reduced for a healthy and sustainable environment. Most importantly, free college education has to be provided for low income communities so that they are able to fill in employment opportunities and increase incomes level as well as take care of their own basic needs especially access to health.

CITATION

1. Morris, A. A. (2017, October 23). Eliminating Cardiovascular Health Disparities in African Americans: Are We Any Closer to Closing the Gap? Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://professional.heart.org/professional/ScienceNews/UCM_496611_Cardiovascular-Health-in-African-Americans.jsp.

2. Noonan, A. S., Velasco-Mondragon, H. E., & Wagner, F. A. (2016). Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice. Public Health Reviews, 37(1). doi: 10.1186/s40985-016-0025-4

3. What is Cardiovascular Disease? (2017, May 31). Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease.

4. Unemployed Women At Higher Risk For Cardiovascular Disease. (2005, March 9). Retrieved September 30, 2019, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223134822.htm.