Craig Mack ~ Heart Failure In African American Men

 

 

Today many lovers of rap music learned of the passing of Craig Mack. Being the researcher that I am, I immediately began to search for the cause of his death. I didn't know his exact age but I knew we were close in age. Craig Mack was 46. His cause of death was heart failure. Heart failure? At 46?

Craig Mack was one of those artists that had "it". He was part of Bad Boy Records he had features with top artists in the early 90's. So what happened to him? I've read that he left music because of his faith and eventually became a minister.

One of the initiatives that I love is Have Faith in Heart, it's now referred to as Empowered To Serve. That initiative is a part of American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Campaign. In one session a speaker said, "You have to make sure you heart is healthy. It's hard to serve others if you are not well." To goal is to be heart healthy so that we can serve others.

Through my working with Go Red For Women I know that heart disease is the number one killer among women. Here is information from the Go Red For Women website:

Here are a few unsettling stats:

• Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American women annually.
• Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases.
• Only 1 in 5 African-American women believes she is personally at risk.
• Only 52 percent of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
• Only 36 percent of African-American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.

Well what about African American Men?

Fast Facts: Black Americans & Heart Disease

• Black Americans are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke than White Americans.¹
• Black women (49%) and Black men (44%) have higher rates of heart disease than White men (37%) and White women (32%).¹
• Between the ages of 45 and 64, Black men have a 70% higher risk and Black women have a 50% greater risk of developing heart failure than White men and women.²
• The earlier onset of heart failure means higher rates of hospitalization, earlier disability, and higher rates of premature death (death before the age of 65) for Black Americans.²
• The annual rate of first heart attacks and first strokes is higher for Black Americans than White Americans

(The above statistics came from Close the Gap website)

At 46 Craig Mack still had more to give the world through his music and through his ministry. May his legacy not only be his music but I pray that his heart failure prompts more men to go to the doctor and prevent another premature death.

Sending condolences to his wife and children and to all who knew and loved Craig Mack.

He'll forever be remembered as the man who brought that new flavor to our ear and he'll forever be in our hearts.