The color of your skin
Heart disease risk is higher among African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans compared to whites. This may be due to higher rates of diabetes or obesity in some groups compared to others. It often “relates back to one of the risk factors that lead to heart attacks,” says Dr. Milani.
For example, African Americans are at greater risk of high blood pressure, which may be one reason they are also more likely to experience heart problems, he says.
