Minority Women's Health

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Heart Disease

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system in the heart. 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.

African American women are 35% more likely than non-Hispanic white women to die from heart disease. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and smoking all put women at risk for heart disease. Studies have shown that African Americans don't get the same care for heart disease as whites because they don't get the same tests and treatments.

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).

Publications

1.     Facts About Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) for African Americans — PAD is a common, but serious disease that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. This easy-to-read fact sheet explains what PAD is and why it is a special health concern for African Americans. It also addresses questions you may want to ask your doctor.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad/docs/pad_extfactsheet_aa_508.pdf...

2.   Heart Disease and African Americans — African Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than whites, but are more likely to die from it. And, obesity and high blood pressure — risk factors for heart disease — are more common in African Americans. The site also has statistics on the risk factors and rates of heart disease in African Americans.

   http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3018

3.   Heart-Healthy Home Cooking African American Style — Prepare your favorite African American dishes in ways that protect you and your family from heart disease and stroke. These 20 tested recipes will show you how to cut back on saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt and still have great-tasting food. Delicious foods from spicy southern barbecued chicken to sweet potato pie are included.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/cooking.htm

4.     Prevent and Control High Blood Pressure: Mission Possible. What Every African American Should Know — This fact sheet targets African American adults with messages about their special risks associated with high blood pressure and tips for preventing and controlling it.

   http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/mission/partner/african_americans.pdf

5.     The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan — This fact sheet provides heart disease facts and figures specific to African American women. Statistics are provided on heart related issues, as well as a checklist of questions to ask your doctor to begin your action plan for a healthy heart.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_aa.pdf

6.   Heart Disease, Stroke and African Americans (Copyright © AHA) — This resource provides information about heart-related conditions. It discusses risk factors that increase your chances of heart disease and stroke and gives you tips on what you can do decrease them.

   http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1157061665970SYH_HDStrk_Repros.pdf...

7. Women, Heart Disease and Stroke (Copyright © AHA) — Heart disease is not just a man’s disease. Women are at risk too. This publication discusses risk factors for heart disease, and explains the difference between risks you can and can’t control. The factors you can control — like lifestyle changes, can help protect you from those you can’t.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4786

Organizations

1.   Heart Truth: A National Awareness Campaign for Women About Heart Disease, The
2.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
3. American Heart Association
4. Sister to Sister: The Women's Heart Health Foundation
5. Women's Heart Foundation
6. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007