Did You Know That Heart Disease Affects Women of Color Differently?

February is American Heart Month.

Cardiovascular disease affects women in ways that are often overlooked. The risks for women, especially women of color, are poorly understood. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for all women, and for women of color, particularly African American women, there is a higher risk of stroke and other cardiac events than for all other groups. In fact, 1 out of 2 Black women over the age of 20 already have heart disease, and more than 4 out of 10 of Black women have high blood pressure, often with salt sensitivity, presenting at an earlier age than for white women. Many women don’t realize they are at risk, making it crucial to raise awareness about how women can protect their cardiovascular health.

Here are 10 lesser-known facts about how heart disease specifically affects women of color:

• Non-Hispanic, African American women are twice as likely to have a stroke compared to non-Hispanic white women.
• About 4 out of 10 non-Hispanic Black women have high blood pressure.
• Black women are more likely to develop high blood pressure at a younger age compared to white women.
• Black people are more likely to have salt sensitivity, raising blood pressure even with small amounts of salt, due to an inherited genetic variant.
• Cardiovascular disease rates are increasing in Native American women, with one in 3 having three or more cardiac risk factors. They are also at greater risk of dying from heart disease before the age of 65.
• South Asian women have the highest rate of heart disease among Asian Americans, often without common risk factors.
• Hispanic women have a lower cardiovascular risk, but a higher rate of diabetes and risk of complications.
• Foreign-born East Asian women have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, with the risk increasing for their American-born descendants.

Other women at elevated risk include Native Americans and Native Alaskans diagnosed with diabetes, as well as Latinx and foreign-born East Asian women. Asian-American women are at higher risk than their immigrant grandparents, though still lower than all other groups.

Many factors contribute to these statistics, including a lack of access to good medical care and a lack of knowledge of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, putting women at increased danger of a heart-related event.

However, there are steps women can take to reduce their risk:

• Decrease risk factors by quitting smoking, reducing sugar, fat, and sodium in your diet, getting regular exercise, and managing stress.
• Control weight and diet if at risk or living with diabetes.
• Diligently take medication and keep appointments with healthcare providers if you have high blood pressure.
• Understand family medical history to take preventive measures.
• Personalize treatment plans with a healthcare provider who understands how gender, race, and ethnicity affect cardiovascular health.
• Access educational resources from organizations like the American Heart Association or the Association of Black Cardiologists.