BLACK AMERICANS are at a higher risk of having heart attacks than whites, according to a new study.

Research by The University of South Carolina, show that black people have increased levels of non-calcified plaque, which can cause blood clots that lead to heart problems.

The study comprised of an equal amount of African American and white patients, revealed that 64 percent of black people had non-calcified plaque in their arteries compared to 41 percent of whites.

Joseph Schoepf, M.D., professor of radiology and medicine at Medical University of South Carolina, said: "For a long time, physicians have searched for explanations as to why African Americans have higher rates of heart disease and higher cardiac death rates, but less coronary artery calcium than Caucasians.”

He added: "We show that one possible explanation for the discrepancy may be found in the higher rate of less stable, non-calcified plaque in the heart vessels of African Americans."