But, according to statistics from the American Heart Association, Black people actually have bettercholesterol levelsthan whites.
The reasons behind these disparities are elusive, but researchers are getting closer to finding the cause.
By comparison, 47.9 percent and 49.7 percent of white men and women have high or borderline high levels.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Both Black men and women had somewhat higher HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, known as the good cholesterol.
This may point to one of the reasons behind the disparity.
Your genetics influence how your food is metabolized and how much cholesterol your body produces.
Cholesterol isn’t just found in food; your liver actually creates about 75% of your blood cholesterol.
Your genetic makeup can influence how much cholesterol is created and what your ratio of LDL to HDL is.
However, other factors may be behind African Americans' increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Obesity is one predictor of cardiovascular disease that is more prevalent among African Americans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 48% of Black people were considered obese in 2012.
The risk factors studied includeddiabetesdiagnosis, smoking habits,sedentary lifestyles, obesity,hypertension, andhigh cholesterol.
Also, statistics from the Office of Minority Health indicate a healthcare disparity within U.S. hospitals.
Although the difference is slight, only a few percentage points, these statistics may represent a larger problem.
Most healthy adults over 21 should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for cholesterol.
Shin, Min-Jeong, Alka M. Kanaya and Ronald M. Krauss.
198:2 (2008): 313-409.
