THE ear TRUTH 

F O R W O M E N 

THE HEART TRUTH FOR LA TINAS: AN ACTION PLAN


When you hear the term “heart disease,” what’s your first 

reaction? Like many women, you may think, “That’s a 

man’s disease.” But here’s The Heart Truth: Heart disease 

is the #1 killer of Latinas in the United States. Together with 

stroke, heart disease accounts for a third of all deaths 

among Latinas—cancer, the second-leading cause of death, 

accounts for about a fifth. 

Latinas also have high rates of some factors that increase 

the risk of developing heart disease, such as diabetes, overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity. 

But there’s good news too: You can take action and lower 

your chance of developing heart disease and its risk factors. 

In fact, women can lower their heart disease risk by as much 

as 82 percent just by leading a healthy lifestyle. This fact 

sheet gives steps you can take to protect your heart health. 

WHAT IS HEART DISEASE? 

Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart 

disease. Often referred to simply as “heart disease,” it is a 

disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead to a 

heart attack. It is a lifelong condition and will steadily 

worsen unless you make changes in your daily habits. 

Risk Factors for Heart Disease 

Lifestyle affects many of the “risk factors” for heart disease. 

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the 

chances of developing a disease or having it worsen. For 

heart disease, there are two types of risk factors—those 

you can’t change and those you can. The ones you can’t 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 

change are a family history of early heart disease and age, 

which for women is a risk factor at 55. That’s because, 

after menopause, women are more likely to get heart disease. Partly, this is because their body no longer produces 

estrogen. Also, middle age is a time when women tend to 

develop other heart disease risk factors. 

But most of the heart disease risk factors can be controlled. 

Often, all it takes are lifestyle changes; sometimes, medication 

also is needed. Here’s a quick review of these risk factors: 

Smoking. There’s no safe way to smoke. But quit and, 

just one year later, your heart disease risk will drop by 

more than half. It’s not easy to quit but make a plan and 

you can do it. Or, try an organized program or medication—ask your doctor if either is right for you. 

High Blood Pressure. Also called hypertension, high 

blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, 

and congestive heart failure. Even levels slightly above normal— 

called “prehypertension”—increase your heart disease risk. 

Lower blood pressure by following a heart-healthy eating 

plan, including limiting your intake of salt and other forms of 

sodium, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a 

healthy weight, and, if you drink alcoholic beverages, doing 

so in moderation (not more than one drink a day). If you have 

high blood pressure, you also may need to take medication. 

One good eating plan, shown to lower elevated blood pressure, 

is called the DASH diet—for a copy of the plan, contact the 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Health 

Information Center, which is listed in “To Learn More.” 
If there are too much cholesterol and 

fat in your blood, they build up in the walls of vessels that supply 

A “lipoprotein 

profile” tests your levels of total, LDL (“bad”), and HDL (“good”) 

cholesterol, and triglycerides, a fatty substance in the blood. 

being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and, 

if needed, taking medication. 

If 

not to gain more weight. 

Lasting weight loss needs a change of lifestyle—adopt a 

Aim to lose no more than 1

/2 to 2 pounds per week. If you 

a qualified nutritionist for help. 

Nearly 60 percent of Latinas are 

the week. 

ones of at least 10 minutes each. 

Diabetes. About 11 million Americans have been diagnosed 

it. Diabetes is on the increase for all Americans and some 

Latino groups have especially high rates. About two-thirds of 

The type of diabetes that adults most commonly develop is 

“type 2.” Diabetes can be detected with a blood sugar test. 

Modest changes in diet and level of physical activity can 

often prevent or delay the development of diabetes. 

ROSARIO, age 43—“I recently 

had a physical and was surprised 

to hear my doctor say I have 

this and want to change it. 

I’ve been told I have to lose 

weight and reduce my cholesterol. 

know I have to do it.” 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR 

1. 

2. What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for 

me, and what do I need to do about it? 

3. What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include 

total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, a type of 

fat found in the blood and food.) What do they mean 

for me, and what do I need to do about them? 

4. What are my “body mass index” (BMI) and waist 

measurement? Do they mean that I need to lose 

weight for my health? 

5. What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I’m at 

risk for diabetes? If so, what do I need to do about it? 

6. 

7. What can you do to help me quit smoking? 

8. How much physical activity do I need to help protect 

9. 

10. 

If I think I’m having one, what should I do? 

Now that you know , what should you do? 

See the Box 

Then begin taking 

eating plan, be physically active, and maintain a healthy 

weight. 

TO LEARN MORE 

NHLBI Health Information Center 

Phone: 301-592-8573 

240-629-3255 

Phone: 

Phone: 202-728-7199 

Phone: 1-800-994-WOMAN 

TDD: 1-888-220-5446 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH Publication No. 03-5065 

September 2003 

High Blood Cholesterol. 

blood to the heart and can lead to blockages. 

Lower cholesterol by following a heart-healthy eating plan, 

Overweight/Obesity. Nearly two of every three Latinas 

are overweight or obese, increasing the risk not only of 

heart disease but also a host of other conditions, including 

stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, and some cancers. 

you’re overweight or obese, even a small weight loss will 

help to lower your heart disease risk. At the very least, try 

healthy, lower-calorie eating plan and be physically active. 

have a lot to lose, ask your doctor, a registered dietitian, or 

Physical Inactivity. 

physically inactive—they do no spare-time physical activity. 

Regular physical activity lowers your risk of heart disease, 

high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, and diabetes. 

Try to do at least 30 minutes of a moderate-intensity activity 

such as brisk walking on most and, preferably, all days of 

If you need to, divide the period into shorter 

with diabetes—and another 5.7 million don’t know they have 

those with diabetes die of a heart or blood vessel disease. 

If you have diabetes, it’s vital that you keep it under control. 

several risk factors for heart 

disease...I’m concerned about 

I know it won’t be easy, but I 

What is my risk for heart disease? 

What other screening tests for heart disease do I need? 

my heart? 

What’s a heart-healthy eating plan for me? 

How can I tell if I may be having a heart attack? 

TAKING ACTION 

The Heart Truth

First, find out your heart disease “risk profile.” 

above for questions to ask your doctor. 

the steps to heart health—don’t smoke, follow a heart-healthy 

Start today to keep your heart strong. 

TTY: 

www.hearttruth.gov 

American Heart Association 

1-888-MY HEART 

www.americanheart.org/simplesolutions 

WomenHeart: the National Coalition 

for Women with Heart Disease 

www.womenheart.org 

Office on Women’s Health 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

National Women’s Health Information Center 

www.4woman.gov 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute