Heart Attack and StrokeHeart Attack
Heart disease is the main cause of death for American women. It is a group of diseases of
the heart and the blood vessel system within the heart. Coronary heart disease, the most
common form of heart disease, affects the blood vessels (or coronary arteries) of the
heart. It causes angina and heart attacks. Angina is a pain in the chest that happens when
a part of the heart does not get enough blood. It feels like a pressing or squeezing pain,
often in the chest under the breastbone, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw,
or back. Angina seldom causes permanent damage to the heart, like a heart attack. During a
heart attack, you can feel chest pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of
the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes, or comes and goes, spreading pain to one
or both arms, back, jaw, or stomach, or cold sweats and nausea. Some women don't have
these symptoms but may have other symptoms, such as an upset stomach, burning feeling in
the upper abdomen, and lightheadedness. A heart attack can cause permanent damage to the
heart and maybe even death. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 or see your
health care provider right away.
African American women are more likely to die from heart disease than other groups of
women. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, not exercising, and smoking all
put women at risk for heart disease. In addition, studies have shown that African
Americans don't receive the same care for heart disease as Whites because they don't
receive the same procedures and treatments.
Stroke
There are two types of stroke. An ischemic (iss-kee-mik) stroke happens when a blood
vessel that goes to the brain is blocked, and blood can’t get to the brain. A
hemorrhagic (heh-muh-ra-jik) stroke happens when a blood vessel breaks and blood goes into
the brain. Sometimes a person can have a “mini stroke,” or transient ischemic
attack (TIA). A TIA is a stroke that happens when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked
for a short time and less blood reaches the brain. A stroke could cause problems that may
affect speech, language, movement, vision, balance, hearing, breathing, and swallowing. A
stroke could also cause death. African Americans are twice as likely to die from a stroke
or its complications than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. There are other
medical problems that put you more at risk for a stroke, including diabetes, high blood
pressure, heart disease, having already had a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA), and carotid
artery disease.
To avoid heart attack and stroke, the American Heart Association advises people to take
the following steps:
- Don't smoke.
- Control your blood pressure. Ask your health care provider what a healthy number is for
you and how often you need your blood pressure checked.
- Eat healthy.
- Lower your cholesterol to the right level, based on your personal risk.
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for
you.
- Have a normal fasting blood glucose level (below 110 mg/dL). Ask your health care
provider when you should be tested.
Health Problems in African American Women
Overweight and Obesity
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Kidney Disease
HIV/AIDS
Lupus
Breast Cancer
Cancer
Pregnancy-Related Death
Heart Attack and Stroke
High Cholesterol
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Asthma
Uterine Fibroids
Sickle Cell Anemia
Osteoporosis
Tuberculosis (TB)
Infant Deaths
Access to Health Care
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