LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the Hispanic community. For many Latinos, heart disease isn’t just a health concern – but a family legacy.
“I lost my father to a heart attack – cardiovascular disease, and there’s 13 brothers and sisters on my dad’s side, 17 brothers and sisters on my mom side… with the exception of two on my dad’s side, all were lost for the same thing.” Said Albert Navarro
The American Heart Association warns Latinos are at higher risk for conditions that lead to heart disease.
“So probably a good 19% of patients with cardiac disease are of the Hispanic,” said cardiologist, Dr. Tiffany Fonte. “With that it comes with certain risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, obesity issues.”
Albert Navarro never thought he would be a part of that statistic, but then one morning everything changed.
“All of a sudden I got the most excruciating jaw pain that I have ever felt…it dropped me to my knees, and I was on the floor pulling my hair,” Navarro said.
Navarro says he called 911 just in time. Doctors found a severe blockage and placed a stent, now he’s doing everything he can do prevent another one.
“There’s a genetic test that you can take that determines whether you are genetically predisposed to hold cholesterol, and I am,” Navarro said.
Doctors say early detection and lifestyle changes can save lives – but many Latinos face barriers to care.
“There’s language barriers, health literacy issues where they may not think to even come in and get checked out kind of thing,” Dr. Fonte explained.
For Navarro, quick thinking saved his life now he wants to remind others to take their health seriously.
“If we don’t take care of ourselves as Latinos and be a little more vocal about our health you know, there’s not going to be much of a Latino community left,” Navarro said.
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