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Heart disease

• More information on heart disease in English
• Más recursos en español (Additional resources in Spanish)

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 artery disease, the most common type, affects the blood vessels of the heart. It can cause angina (an-JEYE-nuh) 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.

Like all women, Latinas are at risk of heart disease. Together with stroke, heart disease accounts for a third of all deaths among Latinas. Latinas have high rates of diabetes, overweight, and obesity, which are factors that increase heart disease risk. What's more, compared to non-Hispanic white and black women, Latinas are less likely to be physically active, which also raises heart disease risk.

You have the power to fight heart disease! Read on for some tips to keep your heart healthy.

• 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.
• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.

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More information on heart disease in English

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

• Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs — This easy-to-read brochure covers the steps you can take to help someone survive a heart attack. It lists heart attack warning signs and common reasons people may delay in seeking care. It dispels a common misunderstanding about the "movie heart attack"; outlines the steps in making a heart attack survival plan; describes who is at risk for a heart attack; and gives sources of further information. As a handy reference, the back panel features a tear-off card with space to record essential medical information.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/mi/core_bk.pdf
• Heart Attack Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) — Find your personal risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease with this health risk awareness quiz. Included is a list of questions to ask your doctor.
  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/HeartAttackToolsResources/Heart-Attack-Risk-Assessment_UCM_303944_Article.jsp
• The Heart Truth for Latinas: An Action Plan — This one-page patient handout gives the facts about heart disease, the #1 killer in the US Latino community, and offers guidance on how to live a healthier lifestyle. It also includes sources of additional information specifically for Latinas and is available in Spanish or English.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_latina.pdf

Connect with other organizations

• American Heart Association
  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
• CDC's WISEWOMAN — Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
  http://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/
• Heart Truth
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/
• Women's Heart Foundation
  http://www.womensheartfoundation.org
• WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease
  http://www.womenheart.org/

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Más recursos en español (Additional resources in Spanish)

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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