Did You Know?
Heart disease is the # 1 killer of Americans and any one of us could be at risk without knowing it.1
Women
Women often do not exhibit the same signs and symptoms as men when having a heart attack and therefore, they may not be diagnosed as quickly.2
Black Americans
Black Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure (hypertension), develop it earlier in life, and have more severe cases.1
Latino Americans
It is estimated that 1 of every 4 Latino males — and 1 of every 3 Latino females — will die from heart disease or stroke.3
Heart disease causes more deaths in Americans of both genders and all racial and ethnic groups than any other disease.4
- A person’s race or ethnicity is one risk factor that affects a person’s likelihood of developing heart disease.5
- Unfortunately, heart disease takes a greater toll on certain racial and ethnic groups.5
- Black Americans, American Indians, Alaskan natives, Asian/Pacific islanders, and Latino Americans die at earlier ages from heart disease.6
- More women than men die of heart disease, although more men have heart attacks.7
Gaps in Treatment and Care
- Women, Blacks, and Latinos who are at high risk for heart disease are less likely to receive lifesaving treatments than Caucasian males.2, 5, 8
- Even when they have insurance and are of the same social class, minorities often receive a lower quality of care than do their Caucasian counterparts.9
The good news is that by understanding your risks, you can take charge of your heart health.
Understanding Your Risks
It’s important to understand which risk factors affect you and what actions you can take to reduce your overall risk of developing heart disease.
The risk factors don’t add their potential danger like one plus one equals two—they multiply it. For instance, if you have three risk factors you are TEN times more likely to develop heart disease.10
For risk factors you can control, it’s important that you take action to minimize those risks.
If you have risk factors you cannot control, then it’s even more important for you to take charge of your controllable risk factors to improve your heart health.
Some risk factors for heart disease CANNOT be controlled
Age — As you age, your risk for heart disease increases.11
Gender — Although more men have heart attacks, more women die of heart disease.11
Heredity — A family history of heart disease11
Race — Race is one factor that affects a person’s likelihood of suffering a heart attack and chances of survival after a heart attack.5
Some risk factors CAN be controlled
Diabetes — Each year in the U.S., about 15,000 people under the age of 20 are diagnosed with diabetes; most of the young Americans are either American Indian, black, Asian, or Latino.1
Smoking — People who smoke are up to 6 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers.12
High Blood Pressure — One in three adults living in the United States have high blood pressure.1 In fact, the prevalence of high blood pressure in black Americans is among the highest in the world.1
Obesity and Inactivity — The risk of heart disease increases with physical inactivity.1 Black and Latino American women have a higher rate of obesity, which puts them at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Family health history can help your child's doctor make a diagnosis if your child shows signs of a disorder. It can reveal whether your child has an increased risk for a disease; if so, the doctor might suggest screening tests. Many genetic disorders first become obvious in childhood, and knowing about a family health history of a genetic condition can help find and treat the condition early.
Most people do not think that chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes affect children, but children with a strong family health history of these diseases can show signs in childhood. However, having a family health history of a disease does not mean that your child will get that disease. Children with a family health history of chronic diseases can benefit from developing good lifestyle habits, such as exercising and eating healthy, right away. These habits can benefit the entire family and might help prevent or delay these conditions.
Five things you CAN do!
Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.12 People who smoke are up to 6 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers. If you smoke, QUIT!
Aim for a healthy weight.12 If you don’t know your ideal weight, ask your doctor. The more overweight you are — the higher your risk of heart disease.
Get moving.12 Make a commitment to be more physically active. Everyday, aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity such as taking a brisk walk, raking, dancing, light weight lifting, house cleaning, or gardening.
Eat for heart health.12 Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Be sure to include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Know your numbers.12 Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.
Talk to your doctor.
Know your risk factors.
Take charge of your heart health!
This information is not a substitute for medical care. Please consult a doctor or health care provider. For more information, visit www.your-heart-health.com
References
1 American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.2009 Update At-A-Glance. Page 17. Available at: www.americanheart.org
2 Mosca L, Linfante AH, Benjamin EJ, et al. National study of physician awareness and adherence to cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines. Circulation 2005; 111: 499 – 510.
3 American Heart Association. Hispanic Heritage Month. Available at: www.americanheart.org/presenter/jhtml?identifier=305793. Accessed Sept. 15, 2008.
4 Center for Disease Control. Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities. Eliminate Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/AMH/factsheets/cardio.htm. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
5 American Heart Association. Advocacy Department. Facts: Bridging the Gap: CVD Health Disparities. Available at: www.americanheart.org/yourthecure. Accessed April 30, 2010.
6 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Key Facts: Race, Ethnicity, and Medical Care. Publication # 6069 June 2003. Page 24. Available at: www.kff.org. Accessed April 30, 2010.
7 American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2009 Update. Available at: www.americanheart.org. Accessed April 30, 2010.
8 Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Disparities in Premature Deaths from Heart Disease — 50 States including the District of Columbia. 2001 CDC MMWR Weekly, February 20, 2004.
9 Alliance for Health Care Reform. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Publication Nov. 2006. Available at: http://www/allhealth.org/Publications/pub_38.pdf Accessed Oct. 8, 2009
10 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Infographs, Heart Disease Risk Factor ‘Multiplier Effect’ in Midlife Women. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/infograph_multiplier/multiplier.htm. Accessed May 20, 2009.
11 American Heart Association, Risk Factors and Coronary Heart Disease.
Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726. Accessed Oct. 10, 2009.
12 National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute. The Heart Truth from Dr. Elizabeth Nabel. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/media-room/heart-truth-nabel.htm. Accessed Oct. 8, 2009.
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