INDEPENDENT VOTERS WILL DECIDE NEXT U.S. PRESIDENT
By Donald V. Watkins

Birmingham, AL -- The stage is set for independent voters to decide the next president of the United States later this year. The battle will be between President George Bush and Senator John Kerry. The nation is politically polarized, and the election in November is certain to be a close one.

VNN has tracked the developments in the presidential race for the past six months. Bush and Kerry each enjoy a 45% base of support with voters. However, uncommitted independent voters account for 10% of the likely voters in the presidential election.

The battle lines in the Bush v. Kerry fight are clearly drawn. Policy differences between the candidates on the management of the economy, the conduct of the war in Iraq, gay rights, gun control, and abortion rights sharply define these candidates. They are political opposites.

On a personal level, both men came from a background of money, privilege, and power. Both have a record of military service to America. Both believe they have found the political heartbeat of America.

VNN believes that the stage is set for a repeat of the 2000 presidential election. The Democrats have substituted Kerry for Al Gore. The key battleground states are likely to be Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Maryland, California, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Indiana. Both camps are well funded and extremely organized at the grassroots level.

VNN is working diligently to establish a political presence in the key battleground states by mid-summer. VNN will aggressively seek to turn out independent voters in those states on election day. VNN will endorse Bush or Kerry in October. Meanwhile, VNN is actively working to increase its base of voters to 2 million nationwide. VNN will also spend $2 million on voter registration, voter education, and election day voter turnout activities.

VNN will continue its focus on evaluating the candidates based primarily on pocketbook issues. VNN's polling reflects a strong concern by independent voters with the question of whether the economy can produce real job growth. Job growth and economic security is the number one issue on voters' minds. Affordable healthcare is second. Quality education for America's children is third. The war on terrorism is a distant fourth. Rebuilding Iraq is in last place.

VNN will continue to conduct tracking polls on the candidates and issues. VNN will take an up close and personal look at both candidates. VNN is not committed to either candidate at this time. The organization intends to use its national resources in the political arena to make Bush and Kerry earn the support and respect of independent voters.

PERSONAL FINANCE:
7 EASY STEPS TO AN EARLY TAX REFUND
By Jeff Schnepper

The sooner you get your money back from the IRS, the better, so start now. Get your taxes done faster and more accurately with these 7 steps.

If you want to get your taxes in early and get your refund quickly, here are Schnepper's Seven Strategies to getting those dollars in your pockets ASAP. Here's what you have to do:

1. Get started
The first step is the hardest. Stop thinking about it and get moving. Until you actually start your return, you'll never finish it. That's probably going to slow down your refund.

If you don't have all your numbers, just put your name and address on the form. It will get you in the mindset to move forward.Your first step is to break the inertia.

2. Accumulate the data
Now that January is over, you should have the numbers in hand. Make sure you've gotten W-2s and any statements from your brokers and banks. You'll receive 1099 Forms for any interest, dividends, and sales of stock. Your mortgage company will send you a Form 1098 for any interest and real-estate taxes paid. Get those statements together and review the numbers. They're not always right.

3. Put the numbers in IRS categories
Neither the IRS nor your CPA is going to add up those numbers for you. Well, maybe your CPA. Several years ago, a psychiatrist on the Main Line near Philadelphia paid me $150 an hour to open his mail because he couldn't be bothered. In any case, don't even suggest it to the IRS.

You're going to want to have totals for the income and deduction categories the IRS provides. You'll need that final "number" if you're doing your own return, whether by hand or by computer. If you're having your return prepared, you'll want to give that number to your CPA to minimize his or her bill.

I suggest my clients use what I call the "envelope" system. You create an envelope for each of the IRS income/deduction categories. There'll be an envelope for medical expenses, charitable contributions, job expenses, interest paid, etc. Find all the receipts, all the checks, all the invoices and put them in the appropriate envelope.

You can use this simple system all year. Throw all of your receipts into a file or even a shoebox. When you reconcile your checking account, on a monthly or at least a quarterly basis, you break down the checks and receipts according to the categories you selected.

By the end of January, you should have had all your checks and receipts broken down in each envelope by deduction category. You add up the receipts and checks (don't double count!), and that's the number you use on your return or give to your preparer.

That's how much you've spent in each deduction category. And, with this system, you never have to fear an audit.

An audit is nothing more than the IRS asking you to prove the numbers you put on your return. You've already done that. Just hand over the deduction-category envelope with the receipts and checks. After a series of matches, it's going to be a quick audit.

4. Analyze the numbers
Sometimes, the raw data you have is going to be wrong.

On the income side, you're required to report any and all interest and dividends received, even if you don't receive a Form 1099.

You'll have to match up the sales of stock with the cost of those shares. The number shown by your broker on Form 1099 B is only the sale price. You're not taxed on 100% of that number. You reduce it, on Schedule D of your return, by your cost, including broker's fees. You're only taxed on the net profit.

If you don't sell 100% of your position, you'll have to allocate your costs on a per-share basis.

On the deduction side, you may have deductions not reflected by the raw data. Say you made your Jan.1, 2004, mortgage payment on Dec. 31, 2003. The interest you paid won't be reflected on the Form 1098 sent by your mortgage company. That's because they didn't get the check until 2004.

But it's a 2003 deduction, and you should run an amortization schedule to compute the additional interest. That additional interest would be shown on line 11 of your Schedule A.

5. Call your accountant
If you're going to have your return professionally prepared, call your accountant now for an appointment.

I know, you're her favorite client. But if you want an appointment tomorrow, you better call her yesterday.

In any case, once you've made that appointment, you've made a commitment to get that return done. And that means you've committed to get ready yourself. Just make sure you've got the numbers in order when you show up. Your wallet will appreciate it.

6. Put ink to paper
Or, at least open the tax program on your computer. You've got your numbers. If you're doing your own return, put ink to paper. Go to your quiet place and actually do your return.

You've done the real work. Now you're just putting numbers in boxes. Relax; this is really the easy part. Remember, we started with how to get your refund faster.

7. Mail your return
A completed return on your desk that calls for a refund is the IRS's idea of heaven. It's your money. Don't leave it with the IRS. It's bad enough that they've held it all year without paying you any interest on your excess payment. Don't compound the pain by delaying the mailing.

Of cause, the best way to speed up your return is to e-file. The IRS appreciates the cost savings and claims it expedites your refund. The IRS is offering what it bills as a free e-filing service. It's not quite free. You may still have to pay a "transmitter" to convert your return into IRS code and send it on. For more, click on the link at left under "Related Sites."

In either case, electing a direct deposit of your refund will always get it into your hands faster than snail mail. More than 41.6 million taxpayers used direct deposit for their 2002 refunds, up from 39.7 million a year earlier.

Complete lines 70(b), (c), and (d) of your Form 1040, and, coupled with an e-filed return, in theory you could have your refund in your bank account in as little as 24 hours.

Alternately, the IRS now has a new refund assistance line, 1-800-829-1954. It also has a new Web tool called "Where's My Refund?" that can tell you whether the IRS received your return and whether your refund was processed and sent to you. You can get to the tool by clicking on the link at left under "Related Sites."



PERSONAL FINANCE:
10 MISTAKES YOU CAN'T AFFORD
CHECK OUT THESE 10 THINGS TO AVOID IN YOUR HOME FINANCES
By Lew Sichelman
Homestore.com

Most advice columns tell you how you should do things. But there are all kinds of things you shouldn't do, either. Here are 10 frequent financial mistakes that consumers routinely make -- and you should avoid.

Don't:

1. Choose the Wrong Mortgage: With the advent of instant refinancing, home loans are no longer the lifetime obligations they used to be. Still, you don't want to be saddled for even a short period of time with the wrong one. Investigate all your options, then lay your choices side-by-side and do the math, making sure to compare worst-case scenarios. Be sure to look at initial interest rates, future interest rates and payments (if different), and the possibility of prepayment penalties.

2. Confuse "Pre-Approved" and "Pre-Qualified" with a Loan Commitment: These are debatable terms in real estate because not all lenders apply the same definition to each expression. In fact, one leading real estate dictionary contains neither expression because their definitions are uncertain. According to one school of thought, however, when you are "pre-qualified," the lender is making an educated guess about how much you can borrow based on information you've provided. When you are "pre-approved," the lender has verified everything you have told him or her and is offering to lend you up to a given amount at current interest rates -- under certain conditions. Whether pre-qualified or pre-approved, final clearance and a check at closing -- a loan commitment -- are subject to an appraisal satisfactory to the lender, good title, a last-minute credit check, and other verifications. When meeting with lenders, always ask how they define each term and what additional steps will be required to obtain a loan.

3. Have Too Much Credit: Excessive credit is almost as bad as no credit or even bad credit. Even if you pay your bills on time, lenders tend to focus just as much on how much credit you have available to you as they do on timeliness. So being up to your ears in car loans and credit cards is a sure way to be turned down for a mortgage. Postpone any big ticket purchases until after you buy your house.

4. Lie on Your Loan Application: Exaggerating your income on a mortgage application or putting down other untruths can be a federal offense. Lenders rarely prosecute liars. But if they find out later, they can call your loan due and payable. Don't ever sign your name to a loan application that is not completely filled out, either. Loan officers have been known to stretch the truth to get a client approved, but it's the borrower who ends up paying the price, often in the form of monthly loan payments he can't afford.

5. Hide If You Can't Make Your Payments: The worst thing you can do is ignore phone calls and letters from your lender when you are behind on your payments. Lenders have many options at their disposal to help keep borrowers from losing their homes to foreclosure. But they can't do anything for you unless they can talk to you about your difficulties. Lenders are the enemy only if you give them no other choice.

6. Skip a Home Inspection: Failing to make your purchase contingent on a satisfactory home inspection could be a costly mistake. Independent home inspectors examine houses from stem to stern. They'll be able to tell you whether the roof and/or basement leaks, whether the mechanical systems are in good shape and how long the appliances should last. They can't report on things they can't see, but at least their trained eyes are better than yours. So don't pass just to save $300-$400; that's money well spent.

7. Hire Just Any Agent to Sell Your House: All real estate agents are not the same. You want to look for those who specialize in your neighborhood and are top producers. Ask your candidates how they plan to market your house, what you can do to make the place more attractive to prospects and how much you should ask. If you don't like any of the answers, looks elsewhere. And above all, stay away from relatives. Unless Aunt Bessie or Nephew Nick fit the description above, keep looking.

8. Fail to Check Out a Remodeler: Never, ever hire a contractor who knocks on your door or says his prices are good for only a few days. Reputable remodelers don't not solicit door-to-door, and they don't cut prices just because they happen to be in your neighborhood. Check out a potential contractor thoroughly by calling several of his past clients, your local better business bureau, his bankers and suppliers, and your local consumer affairs agency.

9. Pay Too Much Upfront: If a contractor asks for more than a third of the contract price as a downpayment, chances are something's wrong. At worst, he's a scam artist who has no intention of returning after he cashes your check. At best, he's undercapitalized and can't afford to purchase materials on his own. Or, in between, he could be using your money to pay workers on another job. Never give a contractor cash, either.

10. Burn Your Mortgage: It's a wonderful feeling when you make your last house payment. After all, the place is now yours, all yours. Many people celebrate by holding a mortgage burning party. But they torch the original document. Don't. Make a copy and burn that instead. Keep all your loan docs in a safe place.



OVERWEIGHT IN AMERICA THE GROWING EPIDEMIC
Black Collegian Online 2004
(Reprint)

A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that in the 1990s, the prevalence of being overweight or seriously overweight (obese) among Americans increased in every state, in both sexes and across all age groups, races and educational levels. The percentage of seriously overweight people (BMI of 30 or more) increased from 12 percent in 1993 to 37.9 percent in 1998. The article likened this 50 percent increase to the spread of a communicable disease.

In addition, the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), found that more than half of American women (50.7 percent) and six in 10 American men (59.4 percent) are overweight or seriously overweight. In another estimate from the NHLBI, nearly 100 million Americans are overweight or obese (BMI of 25 or above).

These numbers are expected to rise, despite the fact that almost 40 percent of American women and nearly 25 percent of American men say they are trying to lose weight at any given time.

The Medical Consequences of Being Overweight

· Weighing too much is closely associated with serious, chronic conditions that can lead to death or disability. These include high blood pressure, blood cholesterol abnormalities (dyslipidemia), adult onset diabetes (type 2 diabetes), heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis of the knees and hips, sleep apnea and respiratory problems and certain types of cancer.

· Conditions related to being seriously overweight contribute to 300,000 deaths every year, and are second only to smoking as a cause of preventable death.

· Nearly 70 percent of the diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to excess weight.9

· Being seriously overweight more than doubles a person's chances of developing high blood pressure, and seriously overweight individuals are 50 percent more likely to have abnormal blood cholesterol levels.

· Seriously overweight men are more likely to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate, while seriously overweight women are more likely to die from cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix, or ovaries.

· Overweight and seriously overweight women are less likely to be screened for cervical and breast cancers, even though they have higher mortality rates for these diseases.

· In women, being severely overweight has a significant negative impact on pregnancy, menstrual problems, excessive body hair growth (hirsutism), stress urinary incontinence, and depression.

· Overweight people are twice as likely to develop adult onset diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) as people who are not overweight.

Being seriously overweight also is associated with osteoarthritis, a disease in which the joints deteriorate; gout, a joint disease; and breathing problems, including sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for a short time during sleep.

How Being Overweight Is Determined
Today's most widely accepted measure of overweight is Body Mass Index (BMI). Scientists and physicians agree that BMI is a simple, accurate way to assess weight conditions. A measure of weight for height (weight in pounds times 703, divided by height in inches squared), BMI is significantly correlated with total body fat content.

An individual with a BMI greater than 25 is considered overweight and at some health risk. As BMI increases, so does the risk. A person with a BMI over 30 is seriously overweight (medical term - obese). For example, a person who is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds and has a BMI of 30 is at significant risk for health problems related to excess weight. Other methods of measuring whether one is overweight include:

· Height-weight ratio tables - the most familiar way to measure "ideal" weight

· Measuring percent body fat - one of the most accurate methods of assessing a weight problem. Methods of measuring body fat include the skin fold test and underwater weighing.

· Waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) - commonly used to quantify fat tissue distribution. Increased WHR is used to indicate accumulation of fat in the abdominal region or upper body.

How Weight Problems Are Caused
People who weigh too much typically consume more calories, with an excess of fat, than they burn through physical activity.Other factors that contribute include genetic makeup, a breakdown in appetite regulation, the socioeconomic and cultural environment and the way one handles stress.

The Costs of Being Overweight
In addition to the disease and loss of life associated with being seriously overweight, NHLBI statistics show the combined impact of this epidemic exceeds $100 billion annually in medical expenses and lost income. In addition, overweight Americans spend almost $48 billion each year attempting to lose their excess pounds.

Treatment for Weight Problems
There is strong evidence that even moderate weight loss can reduce the risk of acquiring diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also reduces blood pressure and normalizes cholesterol levels. A variety of treatment options exist for overweight and seriously overweight individuals. These include low-calorie and low-fat diets, altering physical activity patterns, behavior therapy techniques pharmacotherapy, surgery and a combination of the above techniques.

Of these options, pharmacotherapy has been at the center of recent advances. New prescription medications now provide potentially effective treatment for millions of people with weight problems when combined with changes in eating habits and exercise patterns.



PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY
By Latoiya Stout

Your social security number, your name, your address, your credit card numbers, your financial account numbers---all of this vital information is very important to not only you, but to others who may be lurking for their next victim. Identity theft has increased dramatically over the last couple of years. A report by the Federal Trade Commission and Synovate in September of 2003 indicated nearly 10 million victims of identity theft, with costs to businesses and individuals at an estimated $48 billion. Identity theft was also the number one complaint by consumers in 2002.

So what exactly is identity theft? Identity theft is acquiring pertinent pieces of someone's identifying information and using it to impersonate them. Once this information is obtained, the identity thief can use it to commit a large number of fraudulent activities, such as, opening new bank accounts, applying for loans and credit cards, purchasing vehicles, renting apartments, and the list goes on. Many times, these fraudulent activities can continue without your knowledge until the bills go unpaid for an extended period of time, ruining your credit standing, and leaving you to deal with the aftermath.

Identity theft is a very serious crime. People must view their identities as an asset that requires special protection. The following is a list of preventive actions by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service that should be used to help protect your identity:

· Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.

· Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.

· Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.

· Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial Information you don't want before discarding them in the trash.

· Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.

· Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.

· Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash bins, or unattended gasoline pumps. Keep track of all your paperwork. When you no longer need it, destroy it.

· Memorize your social security number and all of your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse.

· Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.

· Save all new credit cards receipts and match them against your monthly bills.

· Be conscious of normal receipt of routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.

· Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.

· Never loan your credit cards to someone else.

· If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.

· Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.

· Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.

· Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers, or other personal financial data at any web site or on-line service locations unless you receive a secured authentication key from your provider.

· When you subscribe to an online service, you may be asked to give credit card information. When you enter any interactive service site, beware of con artists who may ask you to "confirm" your enrollment service by disclosing passwords or the credit card account number used to subscribe. Don't give them out!

To obtain copies of your credit report, you may contact the following three companies:

1. Equifax
1-800-997-2493

2. Experian Information Solutions (formerly TRW)
1-888-397-3742

3. TransUnion
1-800-916-8800



W.B. PURVIS: AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTOR
By Latoiya Stout

On January 7, 1890, W.B. Purvis, one of our great African-American inventors, received a patent for the fountain pen. Purvis saw the need for a more convenient way to sign letters and documents and decided to take action. The fountain pen made the use of an ink bottle obsolete by storing ink within a reservoir within the pen which is then fed to the tip of the pen.

Of his accomplishment, Purvis said, "the object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive construction of a fountain pen adapted to general use and which may be carried in the pocket." The invention of the fountain pen is something that individuals and businesses all over the world are thankful for. They are cleaner and more efficient to use than a bottle of ink.

Between 1884 and 1897 Purvis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, patented paper bag machines, a bag fastener, a hand stamp, an electric railway device, an electric railway switch and a magnetic car-balancing device.

W.B. Purvis has played a major role in our lives. He's just one of the many African-Americans whose inventions impact our lives on a daily basis.

Sources used: littleafrica.com and blackinventors.com



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE ONLY FIX FOR ALABAMA'S PROBLEMS
By John Hudson III

Mercedes came to town. Honda, Hyundai and Toyota followed. And now, Alabama is becoming a world leader in the automotive industry.

A tremendous domino effect has resulted from the decisions of these major automobile manufacturing companies to locate in Alabama. These business organizations have created thousands of new jobs and significantly increased the tax base of several state municipalities.

Moreover, communities all over the state are competing to be supplier locations for these manufacturing facilities - which will create more jobs and provide more opportunities.

Alabama's economy is certain to benefit from retention, expansion, and recruitment of companies in the automobile industry. However, the automobile industry is only one piece of the economic development pie.

Companies all over the world - all kinds of companies from many different types of industries - would do well to locate in Alabama. The Southeast is the fastest-growing region in the nation, and some of the advantages of our state include a quality work force, natural resources, low cost of
operations, accessibility to U.S. and global markets, a pro-business environment, a sense of community, and competitive utility prices.

With so much competition from other states, it's important for people from the public and private sectors to be more interested in economic development. More involvement, including involvement from educators, community leaders, politicians and business leaders, will fortify the state's economic-development focus and will bring new approaches, creative ideas, and innovation to improve the lives of all Alabamians.

We must understand how important economic development is to Alabama. We must understand that economic development strengthens communities; enlarges the state's tax base; makes it easier to attract other industry; provides new, high-wage jobs; improves the image of our state, which gives Alabama a competitive advantage; and improves employment opportunities, which helps keep children close to home.

Some of our leaders understand. Alamerica founder Donald Watkins has been involved in ongoing
economic-development talks and trade missions with Bahamian dignitaries. Former Birmingham Mayor and 100 Black Men of Birmingham member Richard Arrington, Jr. is heading up Alamerica's Bahamian economic development effort. This is the type of effort that could make a huge impact on
bringing businesses to this state. In order for our community to really progress, more businesses, more government officials, more educators, more community leaders and more economic developers must play a role in helping our state grow and
prosper.

That's why the 100 Black Men of Birmingham will continue to concentrate on its most strategic focus area - economic development.

John Hudson III, assistant to the CEO of Alabama Power Company, is president of the 100 Black Men of Birmingham and Chairman of the Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority.

THE MINORITY POPULATION: PLAGUED BY DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION
By Latoiya Stout

The conditions of health for African-Americans and other minority groups have reached very dangerous levels. According to BlackHealthCare.com (BHC), diabetes and hypertension are two of the chronic diseases plaguing the African-American community.

The following is a brief overview of these two chronic diseases affecting the minority population:

DIABETES

The occurrence of diabetes is about 70% higher among African-Americans than white Americans. Also, African-Americans with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes complications and experience a greater degree of disability from the complications than white Americans. Hispanic - Americans have a higher prevalence of diabetes than non-Hispanic people. Puerto Ricans and Hispanic people living in the Southwest have the highest rates for type 2 diabetes.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), 1 in 10 people in the state of Alabama have diabetes. Thousands more are not aware that they have the disease. Also, Alabama ranks among the top states in the U.S. for the pervasiveness of diabetes, the sixth leading cause of death in the state.

So what can you do to decrease your risk of developing diabetes? Well first of all, poor dietary habits greatly increases your chances of having diabetes. A diet low in calories and saturated fat is an excellent approach to preventing type II diabetes. Experts also recommend nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day and lots of whole grain (rice, pasta, bread, ect.) to raise your fiber intake. Obesity is a major risk factor. Weight loss has repeatedly been shown to reduce and correct insulin resistance. Last, but not least, exercise is extremely important. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise (walking, biking, playing tennis, ect.), five times a week to significantly reduce your risk of diabetes.

HYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure)

High blood pressure can affect anyone, however, African-Americans are at a greater risk than any other race or ethnic group. The prevalence of high blood pressure in African - Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world. High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer" because most people feel perfectly healthy and are not aware that they have it. So is high blood pressure that big of a deal? Yes. When your blood pressure is high, your heart must work harder than it should to pump blood to all parts of the body. If it is left untreated, it can cause a stroke, heart attack, kidney problems, eye problems, and even death.

Listed below are steps to lower your chances of developing high blood pressure:

1. Maintain a healthy weight
2. Exercise
3. Choose foods low in salt and sodium
4. If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation, and
5. Have your blood pressure checked by your health care provider at least once a year

The New Year is steadily approaching and there's no better time to make some changes in our lifestyle to live healthier and better lives. Many of the dangerous health conditions that face the minority population can easily be prevented if we take matters into our own hands and make the necessary adjustments.

Sources: BlackHealthCare.com, Alabama Department of Public Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and The American Heart Association.