LatinaLista — Red as in today is “National Wear Red Day!”
Today, is when we mujeres remind ourselves that heart disease is the Number One killer among Latinas!
Though the risk rises as we get older, Latinas of all ages are affected by heart disease. Especially with statistics like these:
More than 60% of Hispanic women are physically inactive.
Nearly one-third of Hispanic females are overweight.
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Having a family history of early heart disease
Age (55 or older for women)
Yet, we are all Latinas Listas and so when we hear that our mothers, tias, abuelas, hermanas AND for ourselves, feel:
* Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. It may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. The discomfort can be mild or severe, and it may come and go.
* Discomfort in other areas of the upper body including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
* Shortness of breath. May occur along with or without chest discomfort.
* Other signs include nausea, light-headedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.
We know que no hay tiempo para esperar (that there’s no time to wait) in calling an ambulance or getting ourselves or our family/friends to the hospital quickly, one way or another.
And just so we don’t become one of these statistics, it’s time to really start that exercise program and watching what we eat.
It’s no longer a question of if we want to — we have to, if we want to be around for our familias!
