Sí Trends

In 2003 I lost my grandmother to heart disease. I will never forget the day I got the call that she was gone. Five years later my family is still picking up the pieces from the loss of our queen. As with many Latino families, she was the rock that held our family together. Whether it was with her unconditional love or the food that oozed with that emotion, mama was and will always be our number one. For this reason, speaking to Jennifer Mieres, MD, co-author of Heart Smart For Black Women and Latinas, was an eye-opening experience. I learned that "mamas" throughout the Latino and Black communities are dying at alarming rates due to this disease. The bad news is that heart disease can be attributed to the delicious foods we eat along with other culture specific ideologies. The good news is that we can do something about it so the "mamas" that center our families can live longer and healthier lives.

Si Trends: What inspired you to write Heart Smart For Black Women and Latinas?
Jennifer Mieres: My interest in women and heart disease goes back 10 years [ago] [when] I made a documentary called A Woman's Heart [for] PBS. Women are much more knowledgeable that they're at risk for heart disease and what I saw missing was the fact that they weren't translating the knowledge into action and not really recognizing that we can make simple lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease. What we also recognize is that when we look at the statistics coming out year after year Black women and Latinas were much more vulnerable [to the disease]. They were not getting the message. And it could be that some of the messaging wasn't culturally sensitive. So [co-author Terri Parnell and I] teamed up together to write this book to let women know that even taking a 10-minute walk a day would be instrumental in putting them on the road to heart health.

Si Trends: Do you think America's healthcare crisis adds to the rise in heart disease?
JM: Oh yes! There are a couple of factors. I think Black women and Latinas definitely are higher incidents of the risk factors for heart disease. High instances of hypertension, diabetes, being overweight or obese as well as the sedentary lifestyle, those are four potent risk factors right there that we can do something about. And then lack of access to healthcare makes it challenging. That's why in the book in the last chapter we talk about partnering with your healthcare professional whether it be a nurse practitioner or whatever and we will list the places where women can go to get access to healthcare if they don't have insurance. It's in the last few pages of the book where they can go and do some outreach. As well as we listed some organizations like the Women's Latina Network, where they can go to get advice and information on how they can gain access to healthcare.

Si Trends: Healthcare has been a big issue in the race to the presidential election. Is there a candidate that you feel has a better plan?
JM: [Laughs]. You know I will tell you, that's a tough one. But I think we need some sort of universal healthcare for all Americans. We should at least have some basic level of healthcare for all. So the Hillary [Clinton] plan looks a little more appealing to me even though it's not ideal but she has a much more comprehensive plan for healthcare.

Si Trends: What is your ultimate goal with this book?
JM: My ultimate goal is to help women realize that knowledge is power and that they are in charge of their own destiny when it comes to healthcare. I believe that a partnership with healthcare professionals and you the patient...but you know as women we take care of everyone in our family, we take care of spouses, partners, kids, the dog, you know everyone, and we put ourselves last. I want women to know that you can prevent risk for heart disease but they have to start putting themselves first if they want to be around to take care of everyone else.

Si Trends: If women follow these steps do you think we can look at a healthier future?
JM: Yes. The American Heart Association launched the Go RED For Women Campaign. When they looked at the statistics and recognized that of the 200,000 women who joined the campaign 65 percent now do some activity on a daily basis to fight heart disease. They found that 53 percent of women now discuss heart disease with their doctors and 50 percent are now more aware of smart dietary choices. So I think that the campaigns are definitely making a difference. So women are getting the message but the disparity in knowledge is still there. Overall I think within the past five years, since these campaigns, since these associations have partnered with the media, that women are getting the message. Women are taking steps but we still have a lot of work to do.   

Do you have an opinion on healthcare or other topics important in this year's presidential election? Then head over to Crash the Parties here!