Physical inactivity increases the risk of heart attack. However, life expectancy and rates of illness and death from CHD have not improved as much for Blacks as for Whites. Blacks have not experienced the full benefit of research advancements for a variety of reasons, including insufficient scientific data, lack of research focused on minority populations, and limited access to health care resources and technology. Consistent and universally accepted racial and ethnic categories have not been established, and definitions may vary according to the social and scientific context. The limited database currently available leaves a number of paradoxes unresolved.
Controversy remains, in particular, regarding both chest pain and sudden death.
Blacks are also less likely to receive coronary angiography or coronary revascularization.