This Heart Health Month CDC is raising awareness about the risk of heart disease for Black women

February is American Heart Month, focusing on heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., especially among women, particularly Black women. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease claims one in three women’s lives in the U.S., surpassing all cancer deaths combined. Black women face higher rates of cardiovascular disease, coronary disease, and stroke deaths compared to White women, with nearly 60% more likely to have high blood pressure. Dr. Leandris Liburd is acting director of the CDC’s Office of Health Equity, and she joined “All Things Considered” to address some of the causes leading to these disparities. She said factors like structural racism and economic policies contribute to these disparities by increasing financial stress and limiting access to quality healthcare. That was the case for both Tara Robinson and Tina Marie Marsden, both Black women who experienced heart failure but, for various reasons, had their symptoms dismissed by medical professionals. At age 28, Marsden was diagnosed with congestive heart failure shortly after giving birth to her second son, despite no family history of heart disease. Her symptoms were severe, leading to the implantation of a heart pump to keep her alive. Now,...