Heart Disease in Hispanic Women

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, including 28.3% of Hispanic female deaths. Yet the number of Hispanic women aware of their risk for heart disease has continued to decline.  

Here are some ways that cardiovascular disease affects Hispanic women:

• Nearly 43% of Hispanic females have cardiovascular disease.
• Almost 41% of Hispanic women have high blood pressure.
• Nearly 78% of Hispanic women are overweight or obese. 
• Just over 37% of Hispanic females have high total cholesterol (200 mg/dL or higher). 
• Among adults, about 13% of Hispanic women have physician-diagnosed diabetes, yet an additional 41.2% have prediabetes.
• 6.4% of Hispanic females have coronary heart disease. This refers to damage in the heart’s main blood vessels. 
• About 2% of Hispanic women have had a heart attack. 
• 1.7% of Hispanic females have had a previous stroke. Stroke led to the deaths of more than 6,300 Hispanic women in 2019.   

Awareness of heart disease among Hispanic women

Despite the risk posed by heart disease and stroke, there was a growing decline from 2009 to 2019 in the awareness of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women. While this decline in awareness occurred for women of all ethnicities, it was especially notable among Hispanic women and non-Hispanic Black women. Knowing your risk for heart disease is crucial for every woman, so you can take action toward healthier changes. Find out more about the risk factors for heart disease and stroke here.

There also was a decline among Hispanic women in the awareness of certain symptoms associated with a heart attack, including:

• Chest pain
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms
• Shortness of breath  

With better awareness, Hispanic women can make healthier choices to lower their risk for a heart attack, stroke and other heart-related problems. Learn how to take charge of your heart health today.