Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
DALLAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maria Elena Salinas is
painfully aware of the importance of knowing her family's heart-health
history.
Both her parents died from illnesses related to high blood pressure.
"My family has been very aware of the risks we face and has tried to
take the necessary steps to maintain a healthy life," said Salinas,
co-anchor of Noticiero Univision and co-host on the Spanish-language
television news magazine Aqui y Ahora.
Recently, her 38-year-old niece died in her sleep of hypertensive heart
disease. She battled with weight, high blood pressure and diabetes for
decades.
"The one thing she had no control over was her family history with the
disease," Salinas said.
Too many lives have and will be cut short from heart disease and its
risk factors; however, early detection, lifestyle changes, and other
intervention can improve certain conditions.
As Salinas and other Hispanics celebrate culture and tradition during
Hispanic Heritage Month, the American Heart Association is encouraging
women and their families to trace their health history and learn about
heart disease risk.
To map out your family's heart health, download the American Heart
Association's Go Red Corazon Hispanic Family Tree from
http://www.heart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3059464. For the Spanish
version, visit http://www.heart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3059406.
Uncovering family history can help you to better understand your risk
for heart disease. If you have a blood relative with heart disease or a
risk factor for genetic heart disease, your risk for developing it
significantly increases.
Hispanics are at high risk of death from heart disease -- the nation's
No. 1 killer -- due to factors such as diabetes, physical inactivity and
obesity. In fact, 20 percent of Hispanics in America have hypertension, 8.3
percent have heart disease, and 5.9 percent have coronary heart disease.
Certain health conditions are genetically passed from one family member
to another, but healthy habits can also be passed from generation to
generation. So, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, take steps to adopt a
heart-healthy lifestyle -- to help ensure that your heritage continues.
Go Red Corazon can help women and their families take charge of their
heart health. For free information about Hispanics and heart disease risk
factors, prevention tips, a heart-health guide and free recipes, visit
http://www.goredcorazon.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).
About Go Red For Women
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and
intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease -- the
No. 1 killer of women. We want millions of women across America to take
heart disease personally. Go Red For Women engages women and the men who
love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and
politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and
heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call
1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org. The movement is
nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's
oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building
healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases,
America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases
claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07 the association
invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public
education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans
live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit
americanheart.org.
SOURCE American Heart Association
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Related links:
http://www.americanheart.org
CONTACT:
Elisa Ramirez-Johnson: +1-214-706-1508,
Elisa.Ramirez-Johnson@heart.org
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