If The hoe its, ear it! Walking in the Truth about African-American Women and Heart Health

Transcription

1 If The hoe its, ear it! Walking in the Truth about African-American Women and Heart Health

2 If the hoe its, ear It! Is designed to heighten awareness and motivate women to become more knowledgeable about the nature of heart disease and its warning signs. Mission The Center for African American Health is committed to improving the health and well being of the African-American community. tepping into the truth about heart health wareness: Black women are more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Black women are 38% more likely to die of stroke, as compared to white women. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African- American women 20 years of age and older. African-American women are less aware of their cardiovascular risk factors, as compared with Caucasian women Black women are more likely to die from heart disease than all other racial/ethnic groups. Total Heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents population (all ages) White Non-Hispanic Black Hispanic AI/AN Asian/Pacific Islander AI/AN = American Indian / Alaska Native. Note: Data are age adjusted. Source: National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2006: With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans

3 isk actors Traits or behaviors that increase your risk for heart disease and stroke are called risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. Some risk factors can be changed. Others can not. Risk Factors you CAN NOT change: Age The risk for heart attack and stroke increases Consistent with age. More physical African-American activity: men develop heart disease and develop it earlier, but women narrow the gap after age 55. Older women who have heart attacks are more likely than men to die from them within a few weeks. Family History, Race and Ethnicity Like your eye color, tendencies for many health conditions can be inherited from one family member to another. As an African American, there is a good chance that you or a relative has high blood pressure. Risk Factors you CAN change: Smoking If you smoke, stop! Smoking raises the blood pressure, making the heart work harder to maintain blood flow. High Cholesterol Know your numbers to know your risk. A simple blood test can show if your blood cholesterol level is desirable, borderline-high, or high. Tips High for Blood Managing Pressure Stress: You can better manage your high blood pressure through diet, physical activity and taking medications as prescribed. Physical Inactivity Physical activity helps maintain normal blood pressure, but few people get the amount of exercise they should to stay healthy. Being Overweight As your body weight increases, your blood pressure can rise. In fact, being over weight can make you two to six times more likely to develop high blood pressure than if you are at your desirable weight. RISK FACTORS

4 eart isease Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease is a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessel system in the heart. Coronary Heart Disease, the most common type, is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary Heart Disease is also called Coronary Artery Disease. Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque/cholesterol on the artery walls. This is also known as hardening of the arteries. 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 are more likely to have a heart attack. Heart Attack occurs when an area of unstable plaque eventually bursts, tears or ruptures, creating a snag where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery. Of those women aged years of age who had a heart attack, 28% of black women versus 18% of white women will have a recurrent heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease within 5 years. Of those women aged years of age who had a heart attack, 25% of black women versus 15% of white women will have heart failure in 5 years. Hypertension, often known as the silent killer is also known as high blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension in blacks in the United States is among the highest in the world, and it is increasing. From 1988 to 1994 through 1999 to 2002, the prevalence of high blood pressure in adults increased from 35.8% to 41.4% among blacks, and it was particularly high among black women at 44.0%. In most cases, there are no symptoms, which is why this chronic illness is known as the silent killer. It destroys vital organs without you knowing about it. In some cases of uncontrolled high blood pressure, the symptoms may include, vision problems, headaches, chest pains and breathing problems. Stroke is caused by either a hemorrhage or clot in the brain usually associated with long-term unmanaged high blood pressure. Among adults 45 to 84 years old, black women are more than twice as likely to have a stroke as white women. In 2009, among blacks or African Americans 18 years or older, 11.2% have heart disease, 6.7% have coronary heart disease, 32.2% have hypertension, and 3.8% have had a stroke. The prevalence of having 2 or more risk factors for heart disease and stroke was highest among blacks (48.7%) and American Indians/Alaska Natives (46.7%) and lowest among Asians (25.9%); prevalence was similar in women (36.4%) and men (37.8%). HEART DISEASE

5 aking trides oward onsistent hysical ctivity All Americans should be physically active on a regular basis in order to improve overall health and fitness, and to prevent unfavorable health outcomes. The benefits of physical activity take place in people who are generally, at risk of developing chronic conditions, as well as people living with chronic conditions. According to the Office of Minority Health, African-American women have the highest rate of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S. About four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese. Being physically active is especially important in the African-American community given the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. o stay fit, keep it moving! Physical activity promotes health, improves wellness, and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Ideas for physical activities include: Walking Swimming Bicycling Dancing Weight Training Golfing Jogging Aerobics Bridgett Jenefor Master Personal Fitness Trainer PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

6 aking ise ood hoices Adopting ways to prepare your favorite African-American dishes in ways that protect you and your family from heart disease and stroke is very important. Eat less fat such as saturated fat, trans-fat and foods high in cholesterol: Remember, food does not have to be high in fat to taste good. Avoid the following foods: Fast foods; Store bought baked goods like cookies, cakes and chips; Processed foods like packaged meats and snacks; Margarine and shortening. Choose the kinds of fat that can help lower your cholesterol: Use a low-fat or fat-free method when cooking; Cook with less salt; Choose low-fat dairy products. Choose foods with less fat like: Avocado; Nuts almonds, cashews, and peanuts; Salmon; Albacore tuna. Choose lean cuts of: Beef; Pork; Skinless poultry; Fish. Other tips: Beef; Read food nutrition labels carefully; Practice eating recommended serving size; Eat more foods that are high in fiber; Limit your alcohol consumption. Utilize the USDA s as a guide to healthful eating: Balancing Calories Enjoy your food, but eat less. Avoid oversized portions. Foods to Increase Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Make at least half your grains whole grains. Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Foods to Reduce Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals and choose the foods with lower numbers. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. hat you put on your plate matters. alance the food you eat with physical activity to sustain a healthy weight and a healthy heart. Jo Ann Pegues, RD, MPA Shoe Fashionista FOOD CHOICES

7 utting Your est oot orward Just as an enthusiastic shoe collector seeks to look fabulous in her shoes without suffering from Fabulitis, there are things that we must do by putting our best foot forward in order to live a healthier and happy life: Fabuitis is self-inflicted discomfort caused by wearing fabulous but uncomfortable shoes. Prevent high blood pressure: You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weigh; stay physically active; follow a healthy eating plan than includes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods chronic high blood pressure that requires medical treatment. Stress management is essential (just like a foot massage as a remedy for Fabulitis). Consistent physical activity: More than 50% of Americans do not get enough physical activity to provide heath benefits. Physical activity promotes health, improves wellness, and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. It also decreases the risk of stroke and high blood pressure. A sedentary lifestyle can trip you up like a heel stuck in the crack of the sidewalk. Get up and get moving! Remember that small steps to a healthier lifestyle can make a big difference. Stress Management: Stress can cause you to have sustained elevated blood pressure and, over time, may contribute to Tips for Managing Stress: Be realistic and do not take on more than you can handle; Shed the superwoman urge. Ask for help when you need it; Share your feelings. Talk about your feelings and do not try to cope alone. Give yourself a break by reading, writing, meditating, listening to music, going for a drive or enjoying a relaxing bubble bath! PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

8 urvivors haring heir tories I first discovered I had a heart problem in 1999 at age 65. I got up on a Monday morning feeling very tired with slightly swollen feet. As a retired coronary care nurse, I knew something was wrong. Over the next week I had daily doctor appointments to monitor my condition, as well as undergoing three electrocardiograms. I was diagnosed with chronic atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm). My cardiologist tried two procedures to get my heart into a normal rhythm, but they did not work. I was surprised that a small leak in my mitral valve was discovered, especially since I did not experience shortness of breath or chest pains. At the recommendation of my cardiologist, I agreed to have a pacemaker inserted because the type of atrial fibrillation I was diagnosed with is also known as sudden death syndrome. My initial pacemaker lasted 12 years and one month. My second pacemaker was inserted July, 2011 at the age of 77. Prior to the insertion of the second pacemaker, I had a partially blocked artery. The blockage was removed and a stint was inserted. By the Grace of God, I continue to live a very full and active lifestyle! Mella Dee Warren I had always been a very active person and had experienced a minimal amount of health issues in my earlier years. However, at the age of 42, everything in my life changed. I had what I thought was just a really bad flu virus, but it lingered for weeks. Eventually I went to see my doctor and we talked about the symptoms and how long I had been experiencing them. My doctor ordered an EKG and from there things went left. I was immediately hospitalized, and diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. My heart was functioning at just fifteen percent and my doctor was talking about placing me on the heart transplant list. Since my diagnosis, many aspects of life have changed. Long walks have become short walks, and instead of climbing the stairs, I now take the escalator or the elevator. Taking care of your health and especially your heart is so very important. You should never ignore prolonged illness. Be sure, be safe and be checked. Romona Dailey apping into esources Educational Materials tepping into the truth about heart health wareness: Black women are more likely to die from heart disease To obtain copies of the following heart health education materials, than all other please racial/ethnic contact the groups. Center for African-American Health at Heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents population (all ages) Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Take 300 Charge of your Health by Knowing the Facts (Co-Branded with the Center for Women s 250 Health Research) Black women are more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to all other racial/ethnic Keep groups It in Moving the United & Be Active States. your Way: The 200 African-American Woman & Physical Activity Guidelines (Co-Branded with the Center for Women s 150 Health Research) Black women are 38% more likely The to die Alphabet of stroke, Soup as of compared Women s Health (Co-Branded 100 with the Center for Women s Health Research) to white women. Cardiovascular Disease and African Americans: 50 What You Should Know Cardiovascular disease is the leading The African-American cause of death for Man s African- Playbook on Cardiovascular 0 Disease Total White American women 20 years of age and older. Non-Hispanic African-American women are less Additional aware of their Resources cardiovascular risk factors, as compared with Caucasian Make the Call, women. Don t Miss a Beat, Statistics. Health, United States, 2006: With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans Heart Healthy Home Cooking African American Style Black Hispanic AI/AN Asian/Pacific Islander AI/AN = American Indian / Alaska Native. Note: Data are age adjusted. Source: National Center for Health References Roger V L et al. Circulation 2011;123:e18-e209 National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Leading Causes for National Vital Statistics Reports. 2009;57(14): Mosca L, et al. Tracking Women s Awareness of Heart Disease: an American Heart Association national study. Circulation, 2004: 109: AHA Statistical Update: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2011 Update. A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011; 123: e18-e209 Published online before print December 15, womenshealth.gov ChooseMyPlate.gov

9 If The hoe its, ear it! The spirit of discovery. The focus of science. The health of women. Funding for this brochure provided by the List Family Foundation.