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Hispanic Women & Heart Health

Understanding Heart Disease in Hispanic Women

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women every year in the United States, but only one in three Hispanic women know that. This can create health risks because over 40% of Hispanic women over age 20 have some form of

Hispanic women need to know heart disease impacts them differently than non-Hispanic women. Even though, compared to non-Hispanic women, Hispanic women are 30% less likely to die from heart disease, they can start to experience heart problems around 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic women. So, knowing the risk factors and the effect of culture and lifestyle behaviors is important.

Heart Disease Risk Factors for Hispanic Women

Hispanic women face a variety of biological risk factors for developing heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, women in this group experience:

Diabetes: 14% have physician-diagnosed diabetes.
Hypertension: 41% have high blood pressure.
Prediabetes: 32% have received this diagnosis.
Weight problems: Nearly 40% of all women are obese, and that percentage is slightly higher for Hispanic women.

Additionally, research shows Hispanic women report they get less daily physical activity than the AHA recommends. They are also three times more likely to be uninsured than non-Hispanic white women.

Cultural Impacts of Heart Disease Risk

Alongside health-related risk factors, there are also many cultural and lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease in Hispanic women.

Food deserts are a phenomenon seen across all demographics, including neighborhoods with primarily Latino/Hispanic residents. Food deserts are residential areas where people often have limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. Instead of grocery stores or a local farmer’s market, these areas often have convenience stores, gas stations or fast food restaurants. Residents rely on these quick and unhealthy foods, increasing their chances of gaining weight and developing diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Culturally, Hispanic families heavily value and emphasize togetherness. So, many generations frequently end up living in the same house. Hispanic women shoulder most of the caregiving responsibilities for their parents, children, siblings and spouses. As a result, they end up putting everyone else’s needs — particularly healthcare — above their own. Doing so leads them to overlook preventive care and acute symptoms of heart disease.

Ways to Reduce Heart Disease Risk

There are several things women can do to reduce their risk of developing heart disease:

Avoid Tobacco: Nicotine found in cigarettes and vaping devices causes blood vessels to narrow and forces the heart to work harder than it needs to. Over time, heart attack and stroke risks increase.
Focus on Diet: Choose fresh, whole foods as much as possible. Limit processed foods and avoid options that are high in sugar and animal fats. Making these changes can lower the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol and help control weight gain.
Exercise More: Get the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. This can include a brisk walk or fun activities like dancing.
Get Regular Check-Ups: Seeing a doctor is a critical part of preventing heart disease, especially if it’s been a while since your last visit. It’s an opportunity to talk about any symptoms and possible changes to lifestyle behaviors.

Be Proactive in Your Heart Health

Don’t wait for something bad to happen. Take care of your heart with healthy lifestyle choices and partnering with your primary care provider.

There are a lot of steps you can take on your own to get your heart health on track. St. Elizabeth offers a complimentary prevention and wellness program to help identify potential risk factors and improve your quality of life. Discover more at Take Time for Your Heart.