Heart & Stroke Risks Warning For African Caribbean Adults In the UK

The CWU’s second letter to branches (002/13) again deasl with health and safety, but concentrates on health, providing the alarming facts around the high risks to African Caribbean adults living in the UK of heart attacks and strokes, brought on by high blood pressure; as well as the higher risk of diabetes within their community.

In the letter to cwu branches (002/13) Dave Joyce, the Union’s Health, Safety and Environmental Officer provides information and details of a new report on the risks involved:

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has published a report confirming that African Caribbean adults in the UK are more likely to develop serious health problems than the general UK population.

Health Experts want the message to spread and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is happy to respond to the campaign appeal to disseminate information via Branches and Health and Safety Representatives to CWU members.

According to figures published by the British Heart Foundation in a recent study. African Caribbean adults are most vulnerable and the latest studies reveal worrying statistics showing that African Caribbean adults in the UK are:

• Twice as likely to have a stroke and heart disease as people of European origin,
• Twice as many are likely to develop diabetes than the general UK population,
• The group at the highest risk of high blood pressure for ethnic minorities.

Worryingly, the British Heart Foundation study found that:

• Around one in four African Caribbean adults in the UK are unaware and don't realise they're at higher risk at all and don't realise their ethnicity increases their risk of high blood

pressure and diabetes - major risk factors for stroke,

• More than half of African Caribbean adults (51%) don't know the recommended ideal level for blood pressure,
• Less than half of those surveyed (46%) know the recommended maximum daily allowance for salt is one teaspoon.
• Only 36% know the recommended amount of physical activity they need a week to stay healthy is 150 minutes or 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity (exercise).
• Less than half of those surveyed (46%) know the recommended maximum daily allowance for salt is one teaspoon (6g)
• Just 14% know the recommended maximum waist circumference is less than 37 inches for men and 31.5 inches for women.

High Blood Pressure and diabetes are much more prevalent in this community and they are  major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. In fact someone who is  African-Caribbean has over double the risk of diabetes than someone who is originally from the UK. That's why it's absolutely vital that the African-Caribbean community recognise that and try to take action to protect themselves.

The complete letter to branches goes into further details and advice plus references to support services and additional information.

The full LTB002/13 can be downloaded here

A British Heart Foundation 40 page information document on the subject can be downloaded direct from the E-Library Database, using keyword Caribbean or by clicking on the pic above.

Source: CWU / BHF

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