As a Latina mom, there are two health concerns I have for myself – diabetes and heart disease. Unfortunately, these two are prevalent in my family. Did you know heart disease is also the #1 threat to our nation? As Hispanic women, on average, we are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanics but only 1 in 3 Hispanic women are aware that heart disease is their No. 1 killer.
Personally, the circle of life has been a great educator. As I watch my grandparents and parents age, I’m reminded how much I need to care for my own health. Also, as I watch my own children, I am reminded how much that care is necessary to be the best mom for them.
As a life-long learner, I’ve taken some time to learn about these diseases and particularly about prevention of diabetes and heart disease. Today, I’ll share some heart disease prevention tips with you, queridos. Education is key. PLEASE share with your hermanas Latinas.
From the American Heart Association, here is the GO RED for WOMEN‘s Checklist for Heart Disease Prevention:
Chose a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is yours to follow if you want it. Your diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco smoke all affect your cholesterol level and heart disease risk — and these factors may be controlled by:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet
- Enjoying at least 150 minutes a week moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, and more than two days a week muscle strengthening activities
- Avoiding tobacco smoke
Use these tips and healthy habits to improve your heart health every day.
Know your fats
Knowing which fats raise LDL cholesterol and which ones don’t is the first step in lowering your risk of heart disease. Make sure you understand the difference between good fat and bad fat.
Cook heart-healthy
It’s not hard to whip up recipes that fit with the low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol eating plan recommended by scientists to help you manage your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Cook heart-healthy with Go Red For Women recipes you can sort by meal type or buy the complete Go Red For Women Cookbook.
Understand drug therapy options
For some people, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to reach healthy cholesterol levels or control your heart risk. Your doctor may prescribe medication. Learn about:
- Types of cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins
- Tips for taking medications
Avoid common misconceptions
Knowledge is a key to improving your health by knowing how to truly live a heart-healthy life. Here are a few ways to ensure your heart disease knowledge is up to speed:
- Learn the common myths versus facts about stroke.
- Understand the different types of cholesterol.
- Make sure you’re up to speed on the new heart health guidelines.
Also included in the Go Red for Women Heart Disease Prevention checklist is to work with your doctor and take the Go Red Heart CheckUp.
February 6th is the National Wear Red Day but supporting Women’s Prevention of Heart Disease is an every day cause. I love the flow chart below what shows who should you support Women’s Heart Health. Pass it along or Pin it for later.
On Friday, February 6th, American Heart Association hosted its annual Go Red For Women Luncheon at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown San Antonio educating the community to improve their health while raising funds to support heart disease and stroke research. Below are some social shares from the event.
You can always join in the conversation with AHA San Antonio by following along on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ahasanantonio
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@AHASanAntonio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/AHAsanantonio
VESTIDO ROJO SAN ANTONIO
If you didn’t make it to the Go Red For Women Luncheon, you still have an opportunity to participate in the free event – Vestido Rojo San Antonio on February 28th. Vestido Rojo San Antonio is being held in conjunction with Go Red Por Tu Corazon, the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power of Hispanic women to band together and wipe out heart disease. Vestido Rojo is an initiative, de todo corazón, to address the needs of Hispanic women in San Antonio.
Date: February 28, 2015
Location: San Antonio Event Center
8111 Meadow Leaf Drive, San Antonio, TX 78227
Agenda: 8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration/Screenings
9:30 am Registration closed
9:30 am – 1:00 pm Workshops/Lunch
