Everything in the body is connected. When one part falls out of balance, the effects can reach far beyond what is immediately noticeable. Warning signs can be quiet enough to overlook until the body makes them impossible to ignore.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in the United States, and Black men continue to experience a disproportionately high cardiovascular burden, particularly at younger ages.
The American Heart Association reports that 62.3% of non-Hispanic Black men have high blood pressure, compared with nearly half of U.S. adults overall. CDC data also show that among non-Hispanic Black adults ages 25–44, heart disease death rates increased 5% from 2017 to 2019 and another 14% from 2019 to 2020. Their heart disease death rate remained higher than those of non-Hispanic White and Hispanic adults throughout 2000–2020.
Discussing and navigating personal health numbers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar does not have to happen alone or solely with a doctor.
On World Heart Day, the Association of Black Cardiologists and Executives Alliance Fund announced the nationwide expansion of Brother to Brother: Know Your Numbers, a campaign encouraging Black men to talk openly about cardiovascular health.
Originally launched as a grassroots pilot in 2025, the campaign is expanding through HBCUs, barbershops, churches, community organizations, health fairs, and physician leaders.
At Tougaloo College’s 100 Men in Suits Day, students created campaign videos encouraging one another to know their numbers, generating nearly 17,000 combined views through the college’s digital channels.
There are documented reasons men may delay those conversations. A 2016 systematic review of more than 100 studies found that fear of getting a disease and believing oneself to be at low risk were common barriers to screening. Medical mistrust is another factor. One study of 610 African-American men found that greater medical mistrust was associated with delays in blood pressure screenings and routine checkups.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol often have no noticeable symptoms. When cardiovascular disease becomes symptomatic, warning signs can include chest pressure or pain, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, or pain in the arms, jaw, neck, or back. These symptoms can signal a heart attack and require immediate medical attention.
Preventive care does not have to begin with a crisis. Regular checkups can help monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Sometimes, looking out for a Black man starts with a simple question: Do you know your numbers?
Na’ilah Burston
