This monthly digest is written primarily for the staff of UC Cooperative Extension. It is produced by the staff of ANR's News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) based on news reported by mainstream news media and reputable research institutions. Inclusion in the digest does not imply endorsement, nor does SBMS assume responsibility for the veracity of the information. We invite our readers to refer to the source to read more of each particular brief; we'll try to always include a link.

A National Hispanic Medical Association poll has found that many Hispanic heart attack survivors consider their heart attack a “wake-up call” and fear having another one more than dying. The poll also found that one-third of the survivors have had more than one heart attack. This is significant because too few are taking the steps necessary to prevent another heart attack, such as exercise and healthy eating. The survey also concluded that, along with the fear of having another heart attack, Hispanic heart attack survivors were concerned about high blood pressure. While many feel they know how to manage their health, 59 percent said they wanted additional information about risk factors for another heart attack.

Source: National Hispanic Medical Association, news release, http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=603324, March 26, 2007