• African-Americans are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than Caucasians. The prevalence of these diseases in black females is 39.6 percent, compared to 23.8 percent in white females.

• African-American males and females have higher death rates from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than white males and females.

• High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke. The rate of high blood pressure for black or African-American females age 20 and older is 44.7 percent.

• Compared with Caucasian women, African-American women have an 85 percent higher rate of out-patient doctor visits for high blood pressure.

• As many as 20 percent of all deaths in hypertensive African-American women may be due to their high blood pressure.

• The risk of heart disease and stroke increases with physical inactivity. Physical inactivity is more prevalent in women, African-Americans and Hispanics. For African-American females age 18 and older, 55.2 percent are inactive, compared to 36.2 percent of white females.

• Among black or African-American females ages 20 and older, 77.3 percent are overweight or obese.

• Of people 18 and older, 18.0 percent of black or African-American females smoke, putting themselves at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.