There is still no official cause of death for gold medal sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner. Although she did have a history of as yet unexplained heart problems. Her death, while surprising, is possibly part of a sad reality for many African Americans. Cardiovascular disease is a serious problem among blacks. Fifty percent will die from heart disease complications or stroke. Rates of high blood pressure among African Americans are also 50-percent higher than many other ethnic groups. CEO of the Association of Black Cardiologists, Waine Kong, says while researchers still do not understand the full reason why African Americans have higher rates of heart disease, they do know that cutting back on high fat foods and smoking helps reduce deaths. Kong says for now, prevention is the best medicine doctors can offer: | D-CART ITEM: 0525