Although the smoking rate is lower for blacks, the rate of hypertension, diabetes, and being overweight are higher. The cardiovascular mortality rate for the Hispanic population is significantly below the state average and the national average. In part, the lower rate can be explained by the age distribution of the population in the state. If changes to these risk behaviors do not occur, it is very likely that the cardiovascular disease mortality for this population will increase dramatically. There are also differences in cardiovascular disease mortality based on gender.
Males are more likely to have a heart attack at a younger age and survive than females.
Approximately half of women who have heart attacks die from heart disease each year. This rate is higher than that of men in controlled age groups. Heart disease mortality ultimately extends to one third of all women. In summary, there are a number of ways to reduce your risk from the number one cause of death in Indiana. Know and understand the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.