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Health conditions common in
African-American women:

Asthma Breast cancer Cancer Cervical cancer Diabetes Glaucoma and cataracts Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol HIV/AIDS Infant death Kidney disease Lupus Mental health problems and suicide Osteoporosis Overweight and obesity Pregnancy-related death Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Sickle cell anemia Smoking Stroke Tuberculosis (TB) Uterine fibroids Violence

Claudette's story

"I consider myself to be relatively healthy, and I exercise for about 90 minutes every morning. I started having pain in my chest and face when I exercised, so I went to the doctor. I never thought that the pain in my face could be related to my heart, so I was shocked when the tests showed that I had had a heart attack. I thought I was too young to have heart problems. But my father died of a heart attack when he was only 38. My doctor told me that women with a father or brother who got heart disease before age 55 are more likely to develop heart disease. After my second heart attack, I knew that I needed to help get the message out. Women need to know that heart disease is their biggest health threat."

Learn more about the signs of a heart attack from womenshealth.gov.

Heart disease

• More information on heart disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system in the heart. Coronary heart disease, the most common type, affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can cause angina or a heart attack. Angina is a pain in the chest that happens when the heart does not get enough blood. It may feel like a pressing or squeezing pain, often in the chest, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Having angina means you're more likely to have a heart attack. A heart attack happens when a clot mostly or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle.

Signs of a heart attack:

• Chest discomfort — pressure, squeezing, or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Discomfort in the upper body — arms, shoulder, neck, back
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating

Women can also have less common symptoms, including:

• Unusual tiredness
• Trouble sleeping
• Problems breathing
• Indigestion (upset stomach)
• Anxiety (feeling uneasy or worried)

If you think you are having a heart attack, you must act quickly to prevent disability or death. Wait no more than a few minutes — five at most — before calling 911.

African-American women are more likely to die from heart disease than women of other races. Diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, and smoking are among the factors that put women at risk for heart disease. Studies have shown that African-Americans don't get the same care for heart disease as whites because they don't get the same tests and treatments. You have the power to fight heart disease! Read on for some tips to keep your heart healthy.

• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
    and
    
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week
• Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar). Follow your doctor's orders to keep your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels under control.

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More information on heart disease

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Make the Call, Don't Miss a Beat — Not all women have chest discomfort or other common symptoms during their heart attack. Use this website to learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack in women and what to do if you think you are experiencing a heart attack.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack/

Explore other publications and websites

• Facts About Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) for African Americans — Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common, but serious, disease that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. This fact sheet explains what PAD is and why it is a special health concern for African-Americans. It also addresses questions you may want to ask your doctor.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad/docs/pad_extfactsheet_aa_508.pdf
• Heart Disease and African Americans — African-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than whites, but are more likely to die from it. And, obesity and high blood pressure — risk factors for heart disease — are more common in African-Americans. The site also has statistics on the risk factors and rates of heart disease in African-Americans.
  http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3018
• Heart Healthy Home Cooking African American Style — Prepare your favorite African-American dishes in ways that protect you and your family from heart disease and stroke. These recipes will show you how to cut back on saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt, and still have great-tasting food. Delicious foods from spicy southern barbecued chicken to sweet potato pie are included.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/cooking.htm
• The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan — This fact sheet provides heart disease facts and figures specific to African-American women. It provides statistics on heart-related issues, as well as a checklist of questions to ask your doctor to begin your action plan for a healthy heart.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/downloads/pdf/factsheet-actionplan-aa.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Heart Association
  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
• Heart Truth
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
• Sister to Sister: The Women's Heart Health Foundation
  http://www.sistertosister.org/
• Women's Heart Foundation
  http://www.womensheartfoundation.org
• WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease
  http://www.womenheart.org/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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