|
|
 |
|
|  |
|
Asian-American Women And Heart Disease
How Are We Different?
Overall, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian women have much lower rates of heart disease than women of other minority groups. Yet, heart disease is still the second leading cause of death for this group. Heart disease risk and death rates are higher among Native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans (Asian Indians) partly because of higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, not exercising, and smoking all put women at risk for heart disease.
What Can I Do?
Follow these guidelines from the American Heart Association:
- Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.
- Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
- Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar).
Questions To Ask My Doctor
For women who do not speak English comfortably, choosing a doctor who speaks the native language (or who has translators available) may make the health-care experience more valuable.
Talking to your doctor about any health concern is important. Let your doctor know you are working on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. First, learn what is considered normal.
- Is my blood pressure normal for me? How often should it be checked?
- What is my ideal weight?
- What healthy nutrition suggestions can you make based on my dietary tastes and culture?
- What can you tell me about my medications? (Tell your doctor about all the medications you use, including over-the-counter products such as herbal supplements and vitamins.)
Be honest about your concerns and get all your questions answered. Make sure you understand what the doctor tells you.
For more information about disparities facing Asian-American women, visit healthpowerforminorities.com, a website with user-friendly health information about disease prevention, detection and control for people of color.
|
| |
|
