Heart Disease

Minority Women's Health > Hispanic Americans/Latinas > Health Topics > Heart Disease

Resources in English
Recursos en español

Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease consists of a group of diseases in the heart and the heart's blood vessel system. Coronary heart disease, the most common type, affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can cause angina or a heart attack. Angina is a pain in the chest that happens when the heart does not get enough blood. It may feel like a pressing or squeezing pain, often in the chest, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Having angina means you're more likely to have a heart attack. A heart attack happens when a blood vessel is blocked for more than 20 minutes.

Signs of a heart attack:

pain or discomfort in the center of the chest for more than 20 minutes
pain or discomfort lasting more than 20 minutes in other parts of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
other symptoms, including shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air), breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), or feeling faint

Other symptoms women may have include:

unusual tiredness
trouble sleeping
problems breathing
indigestion (upset stomach)
anxiety (feeling uneasy or worried)

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Hispanic/Latina women in the U.S. High rates of diabetes, lack of exercise, and being overweight all put Hispanic/Latina women at higher risk for heart disease.

The good news is you have the power to fight heart disease! Read on for some tips on keeping your heart healthy.

Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
Keep a healthy weight.
Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walk during breaks at work.
Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar).

Resources in English

Publications

For Your Heart - This portion of the womenshealth.gov web site will escort you through a short, confidential survey of questions about your health and lifestyle. Based on your answers, it will provide you with a series of articles detailing the latest information on exercise, nutrition, smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other factors that affect you and your risk for heart disease - all tailored to your needs.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/ForYourHeart/
Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs - This easy-to-read brochure covers the steps you can take to help someone survive a heart attack. It lists heart attack warning signs and common reasons people may delay in seeking care. It tries to dispel a common misunderstanding about the "movie heart attack"; outlines the steps in making a heart attack survival plan; describes who is at risk for a heart attack and gives sources of further information. As a handy reference, the back panel features a tear-off card with space to record essential medical information.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/mi/core_bk.pdf
The Heart Truth for Latinas: An Action Plan - This one-page patient handout gives the facts about heart disease, the #1 killer in the US Latino community, and offers guidance on how to live a healthier lifestyle. It also includes sources of additional information specifically for Latinas and is available in Spanish or English.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_latina.pdf
Understanding the Link between Diabetes and Heart Disease in Hispanic Americans - This fact sheet discusses how diabetes is a growing epidemic for Hispanic Americans. It was observed that there are more complications of heart disease in patients with diabetes. This sheet provides a list of things that can help reduce those risks.
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/Cuide_FS_Eng.pdf
Heart Attack/Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) - This health risk awareness quiz focuses on heart attack and stroke and allows you to assess your risk for heart disease and stroke. Included is a stroke risk scorecard, and questions to ask your doctor.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3003499
Heart Facts: Latino/Hispanic Americans (Datos del corazón de 2006: Latinos e hispanoamericanos) - This two-sided sheet contains basic facts on heart disease for Spanish-speaking Latino/Hispanic Americans on side one and facts for English-speaking Latino/Hispanic Americans on side two. Este panfleto, de dos lados, contiene datos básicos sobre enfermedad cardiaca para los Latinos que hablan español en un lado, y Latinos que hablan inglés en el otro lado.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3000994
Higher Risk Factors for Hispanic Women Require Added Attention to Heart Health (Copyright © AHA) - This publication highlights the risk factors for developing heart disease and stroke that are present among Latina women. It provides links to Spanish and English publications for women about both heart disease and stroke.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1010

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Recursos en español

Publicaciones

Actúe rápido frente a los síntomas de un ataque al corazón - Este folleto es fácil de leer y contiene información básica acerca de las acciones a tomar en caso de un ataque al corazón. Incluye la lista de los síntomas y las excusas más comunes para demorar la búsqueda de asistencia médica.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/mi/core_sp.pdf
Espasmo de la arteria coronaria - Esta publicación ofrece información acerca el espasmo de la arteria coronaria. Asimismo menciona los síntomas, los signos y exámenes, el tratamiento, complicaciones e información sobre la prevención.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/000159.htm
La verdad acerca del corazón de la mujer - Este folleto es una pieza clave en la campaña nacional "La Verdad Acerca del Corazón creada por el Instituto Nacional del Corazón los Pulmones y la Sangre (NHLBI, por sus siglas en inglés) para educar a las mujeres acerca de las enfermedades del corazón. El folleto contiene testimonios de mujeres que han sufrido enfermedades del corazón y provee información acerca de los factores de riesgo y también contiene una lista de preguntas que deberías hacerle a su medico.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/htsbrochure.pdf
Más vale prevenir que lamentar - Este panfleto provee información de cómo prevenir enfermedades de corazón y sobre que medidas puede tomar para prevenir problemas de corazón.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/latino/foto_sp.pdf
Platillos latinos ¡Sabrosos y Saludables! (Delicious Heart-Healthy Latino Recipes) - Learn to cook some of your favorite, traditional Latino dishes in a heart-healthy way. This bilingual cookbook contains 23 tested recipes that cut down on fat, cholesterol, and sodium but not on taste.

Aprenda de cocinar sus favoritos platos tradicionales latinos con menos grasa, colesterol y sodio. Este libro bilingüe con sus 23 recetas le ayudará realizarlo. Disfrute de estas recetas deliciosas.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/sp_recip.pdf
Preguntas frecuentes - Enfermedades cardiacas y cardiovasculares - Esta publicación discute el asunto de salud acerca de las enfermedades cardiacas y cardiovasculares. También explique los diferentes tipos de enfermedades cardiovasculares, riesgos y factores que afectan enfermedades cardiovasculares.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/heartdis.htm
Te lo decimos de corazon - Este folleto contiene información acerca del corazón de la mujer. Le explica el plan de acción para mantenerse saludable. También le informa sobre las diferentes enfermedades del corazón y explica cuales son las preguntas que uno le debe hacer a su médico.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_latina_sp.pdf
Angina y enfermedad del corazón (Copyright © AAFP) - Estas páginas ofrecen información acerca de la angina. También contesta varias preguntas importantes acerca de como prevenir y tratar la angina.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/basics/233.html
Señales de aviso (Copyright © American Stroke Association) - Esta publicación contiene las señales de aviso de un ataque al corazón y de un ataque al cerebro y lo que uno debe hacer.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3028873

Organizaciones

= Recurso Federal

Current as of December 2007