American Stroke Association Urges Empowerment during National Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrating the culture, contributions and history of Latinos. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, empowers Latinos to take time during this celebration to learn about –and take action to reduce—their personal risk factors for stroke, the No. 5 leading cause of death.
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it begins to die.
The American Stroke Association notes that an estimated 80% of strokes may be prevented if people started taking better care of themselves. This includes making healthy lifestyle choices like eating better and moving more. While some stroke risk factors can’t be helped, like family history, race or age, most can be modified, treated or controlled, including obesity, smoking, uncontrolled blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Hispanics have a different prevalence of risk factors for stroke. Over 75% Hispanics, age 20 and older, are considered overweight or obese while nearly 30% of Hispanics suffer from diabetes. Studies suggest that many Hispanics do not get the recommended amount of physical activity needed to live a healthy life.
While great advancements have been made, the work is not done when it comes to disparity in patient care. Distrust of law enforcement, language barriers, lack of awareness and financial concerns are the major barriers keeping many Latinos and others from calling 9-1-1 for help during a heart or stroke emergency. In fact, Hispanic women are less likely than others to know the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke, and Hispanic men are the least likely to use emergency medical services transport (EMS), which are primary factors in increasing survival rates.
Through the American Heart Association’s scientific research, the EmPowered To Serve movement and the efforts of passionate volunteers, Latinos – the largest growing population in the U.S. at 56.6 million — have better access to culturally-relevant resources to prevent heart disease and stroke and are positively impacting health outcomes in their communities for generations and celebrations to come.
The American Stroke Association recommends setting up an appointment with your doctor to discuss ways to lower the risk for cardiovascular disease. The American Heart AssociationAmerican Stroke Association also provides a free online resource called My Life Check which provides a personal assessment for the risk of stroke and offers suggestions on tips to reduce these risk. This free assessment is available in English by visiting www.mylifecheck.org or in Spanish by visiting www.marcando7pasos.org/.
The American Stroke Association also urges everyone to learn the warning signs of a stroke by remember the simple acronym FAST:
• Facial Drooping
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Difficulty
• Time to Call 9-1-1
For more information in either English or Spanish, visit strokeassociation.org
About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association:
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association.