-- Heart disease linked to Alzheimer's (6 percent aware)
-- High blood pressure linked to Alzheimer's (8 percent aware)
-- Diabetes linked to Alzheimer's (6 percent aware)
-- High cholesterol linked to Alzheimer's (5 percent aware)
- Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of African-Americans report doing things in their lives specifically for heart health. This includes:
-- Eating heart healthy foods (46 percent)
-- Exercising (44 percent)
-- Managing their weight (40 percent)
- Fewer, though still half (50 percent) of African-Americans, report doing things in their lives specifically for brain health, especially:
-- Staying mentally active by doing puzzles (43 percent)
-- Staying socially active (36 percent)
-- Eating "brain healthy" foods (35 percent)
Steps You Can Take To Control Your Risks
Watch your numbers
-- Blood pressure -- desirable blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg
-- Blood sugar -- desirable fasting blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL
-- Body weight -- keep your body weight in the recommended range
-- Cholesterol -- desirable total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL
Make healthy lifestyle choices:
-- Stay mentally active.
-- Remain socially involved.
-- Stay physically active.
-- Reduce your intake of fat and cholesterol.
-- Don't smoke.
Visit http://www.alz.org/heartbrain or call the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association at 888-478-7653 or the Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 and you'll receive a free brochure with heart and brain health information and a pedometer, while supplies last.
Editor's Note:
The American Stroke Association's Power To End Stroke cause campaign
speaks to African-Americans about their increase
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| SOURCE American Heart Association Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |