Hispanic Women and Heart Disease: What To Look For
Risk factors prevalent among Hispanic women
Risk factors prevalent among Hispanic women
Heart disease doesn’t discriminate, especially when risk factors are present. For Hispanic women, there are many risk factors to watch out for, especially hypertension, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Preventing or getting these risk factors under control can make a significant difference in reducing the number of heart-related deaths among Hispanic women. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Hispanic women, just behind cancer. It is also the leading cause of maternal death in the United States, which rose sharply among Hispanic women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular screenings are important for identifying risk factors early. However, many Hispanic women face many challenges, like language barriers and limited health care access, that make it harder to get the education and treatment they need for heart disease.
“Despite the risks that women in general face for developing heart disease, many Hispanic women are not aware of these dangers, which is why education and taking preventive action are so important for this fast-growing community,” says Namee Kim, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo.
Studies show culturally sensitive health care practices can be effective in reducing heart disease risks in Hispanic women.
Risk factors
Hispanic women are particularly vulnerable to several heart conditions, including coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke, due to various risk factors.
Recent studies indicate the following prevalence rate among Hispanic women:
- 46% are obese
- 41% have high blood pressure.
- 14% have diabetes and 41% have prediabetes.
- 37% have high cholesterol levels.
If not treated, these conditions can lead to serious problems like heart disease and stroke.
Many Hispanic women face higher risks due to lack of access to health care, economic issues and lifestyle factors, such as not exercising enough, poor nutrition and smoking.
Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and causes many diseases, including heart disease. Quitting smoking lowers those risks.
Poor nutrition and not getting enough exercise are major risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Hispanic women and access to primary care
Many Hispanic women have jobs that do not provide insurance. They are almost three times more likely than non-Hispanic White women to lack health coverage. They are also less likely to have a regular primary care doctor, which makes it harder to manage chronic diseases. Spanish-speaking immigrants without legal status often use emergency rooms instead of regular doctor visits.
Primary care doctors provide preventive care and help find health problems early. They keep track of your medical history and watch your health over time. They manage chronic health issues and can refer you to specialists when needed.
Regular medical care is important for educating patients about health risks and symptoms, especially for women.
Studies show that Hispanic women are less aware of heart attack symptoms, compared to other groups. This is important because heart attack signs can be different for women.
Like men, women often feel chest pain or discomfort during a heart attack. However, women may have other symptoms too, including shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and pain in the back or jaw.
Women are also more likely to overlook their symptoms. Hispanic women often put family responsibilities before their own health. Because of this, they may not seek medical care for themselves as much as they do for their families and downplay symptoms that could be signs of heart disease.
Social determinants
Other non-medical factors that affect health are called social determinants of health. These are the conditions where people are born, grow, work, live and age. Many Hispanic families live in low-income neighborhoods where access to healthy food is hard. These areas are often called food deserts.
Understanding Hispanic health
Efforts to lower heart disease risk in Hispanics focus on culturally-sensitive programs that address key issues like diabetes and heart disease. They include community activities, diet education based on Hispanic food traditions and fun exercises like dance. They aim to improve access to health check-ups and primary care.
Scripps offers a diabetes prevention program in English and Spanish. The program has proven to be effective in helping people with prediabetes prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
“By partnering with a physician who understands their personal and cultural heart care needs, Hispanic American women can lower their risk of heart disease and learn ways to adopt healthy prevention strategies,” says Dr. Kim, who is a member of the Scripps Women’s Heart Center.
What is the Scripps Women’s Heart Center?
Scripps Women’s Heart Center provides heart care for women, by women. Our female cardiologists are experts in cardiology and integrative medicine and specialize in female heart disease. We’re dedicated to empowering women to take care of their hearts through education, lifestyle and, when needed, expert medical care.