Heart Health
Topic write up

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Studies show that in the United States African Americans are at higher risk for heart disease and strokes compared to non-Hispanic whites, and this is associated with higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).1

But African Americans are not the only population disproportionately affected by heart disease. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death for Latino and Hispanic communities living in the United States, and research shows that Hispanics and Latinos are at a higher risk for heart disease due to metabolic syndrome.2

Saab KR, Kendrick J, Yracheta JM, Lanaspa MA, Pollard M, Johnson RJ. New insights on the risk for cardiovascular disease in African Americans: the role of added sugars. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Feb;26(2):247-57. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2014040393. Epub 2014 Aug 4. PMID: 25090991; PMCID: PMC4310665
Balfour PC Jr, Ruiz JM, Talavera GA, Allison MA, Rodriguez CJ. Cardiovascular Disease in Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. J Lat Psychol. 2016 May;4(2):98-113. doi: 10.1037/lat0000056. PMID: 27429866; PMCID: PMC4943843

An Ounce of Prevention

As frightening as the statistics are, persons can improve their odds of preventing and beating heart diseases by knowing their risks and taking steps to address them. What can you do to prevent or slow down heart disease?

Lightbulb inside a blue circleLearn the Facts

Fact or Fiction?: "Heart disease is for men, and cancer is the real threat for women."

Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. The real fact? Relying on these Common Myths About Heart Disease can cost you your life. Learn the causes of heart disease and what can be done to prevent it.

Action Item: Take a Heart Disease Quiz
Fact Sheet: Heart Disease and Women (Download English PDF or Español PDF)
Fact Sheet: What are Heart Disease and Stroke? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Icon image of a blood pressure pumpTrack Your Blood Pressure

Hypertension is a common disease that develops when blood flows through your arteries at higher-than-normal pressures. You usually don’t have symptoms from high blood pressure until it has caused serious health problems. That is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Action Item: Watch the video How to Use Your Home Blood Pressure Monitor. Then record your blood pressure numbers using Healthy Blood Pressure for Healthy Hearts: Tracking Your Numbers (PDF), and be sure to tell your health provider if you have any known health factors that increase your risk.
Fact Sheet: What is High Blood Pressure? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Icon for lowering cholesterolTest Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque. This buildup of plaque in the arteries can lead to coronary heart disease

Action Item: Discuss your cholesterol with your health provider. A blood test called a lipoprotein panel can measure your cholesterol levels. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, may mean you are at risk for heart disease.
Fact Sheet: How Can I Improve My Cholesterol? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Icon of a prescription bottle. Color is orangeTake Medicines as Directed

Your health care provider may prescribe one or more drugs to bring your blood pressure down to normal. Always take the prescription as described, and tell your health care provider if you have side effects. Your health care provider can work with you to find the medication or dose that works best for you.

Action Item: Watch the video Tips for Taking Blood Pressure Medicines as Directed
Fact Sheet: What is High Blood Pressure Medicine? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Red stop sign with words Weakness on One Side Know the Signs

During a stroke, every minute counts! By knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke, you can take quick action and perhaps save a life—maybe even your own. If someone shows signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away because fast treatment can lessen the brain damage that stroke can cause.

Action Item: Watch the video Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
Fact Sheet: What are the Warning Signs of Stroke? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Person jumping rope orange vector image Keep Active

Regular physical activity helps improve overall health and reduces the risk for heart disease, stroke, and premature death. Despite the substantial health benefits of physical activity, one out of every four U.S. adults report being inactive during their leisure time, and only about half of U.S. adults report levels of aerobic physical activity consistent with national guidelines.

Action Item: Register for Walk With A Doc Grand Canyon Adventure. It's virtual and free!
Fact Sheet: How Can Physical Activity Become a Way of Life? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Blue icon of an appleEat Healthy

Booklet cover image of Delicious Heart Healthy Latino Recipes

A healthy diet that is low in sodium and saturated fat is key to heart disease prevention. Try the highly rated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which recommends:

  • Eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
  • Eating fish, poultry, beans, nuts, vegetable oils, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
  • Limiting foods that are high in saturated fat and sodium
  • Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets

Action Item: Cook, grill, or bake a new recipe that is tasty and good for you. Download or order Delicious Heart Healthy Latino Recipes/Platillos latinos ¡sabrosos y saludables!
Fact Sheet: How Do I Follow a Healthy Diet? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

No smoking sign Stop Smoking

If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Smoking can damage and thicken blood vessels, which causes high blood pressure and can lead to blood clots and strokes. Research finds that African Americans who smoke have more than double the risk of stroke, compared with African Americans who have never smoked.

Action Item: If you or someone you know smokes, get the tools and tips you need to quit.
Fact Sheet: How Can I Quit Smoking? (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

NIH gray and blue logo Participate in Research

Scientists want to know why some people stay healthy and others get sick. Participants who enroll in studies help researchers find new preventions, treatments, and cures.

Action Item: The mission of the All of Us Research Program is to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs, enabling individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us. Visit JoinAllofUs.org to learn how you can volunteer to be one of one million persons living in the United States coming together to lead the future of health care.
Fact Sheet: Join All of Us (Download English PDF or Español PDF)

Featured Books
Title: Beautiful Affliction
Author Lene Fogelberg
Publisher She Writes Press
Year published 2015
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Title: Being Empowered for a Healthy Heart
Author Phoebe Chi MD MPH
Publisher Verdure Publishing Company
Year published 2018
Book image Being Empowered for a Healthy Heart book cover
Title: Heart
Author Sandeep Jauhar MD PhD
Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Year published 2018
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Title: Restart Your Heart
Author Aseem Desai MD
Publisher Greenleaf Book Group Press
Year published 2020
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Title: State of the Heart
Author Haider Warraich MD
Publisher St Martin's Press
Year published 2019
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Title: The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae
Author Stephanie Butland
Publisher St Martin's Griffin
Year published 2019
Book image Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae book cover
Title: The Open Heart Club
Author Gabriel Brownstein
Publisher PublicAffairs
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Title: This Heart of Mine
Author C C Hunter
Publisher St Martin's Press
Year published 2018
Book image This Heart of Mine book cover
Title: When the Words Suddenly Stopped
Author Vivian L King
Publisher Author Academy Elite
Year published 2020
Book image When the Words Suddenly Stopped book cover

Terms of use: Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) staff offer these health discussion resources for educational use. The materials included do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author, publisher, or the sponsoring agencies of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).