Heart disease affects all women. However, new reports suggest that Hispanic women are at higher risk of contracting the illness.

Heart Disease Statistics

According to Miami Herald, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women. In fact, it is responsible for 400,000 deaths or 1 in every 3 deaths of women annually.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Hispanic women with casualties reaching up to 21,000 each year, WFAA.com has learned. Unfortunately, only 34 percent of them are aware that this condition is their greatest health risk. Only 1 in 8 admitted that their physicians discussed the threat of cardiovascular problems to them.

Hispanic women are also at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease 10 years earlier compared to their non-Hispanics counterparts, Go Red for Women reported.

Why Hispanic Women

"Hispanic women think [heart disease] is something that is 'my' problem and they don't want to share it with their family," Myrna Aguilar said in a report. "It makes it more difficult for them to get the help they need."

Being aware of this and coming from a family with a history of heart disease, Aguilar decided to change her life. She became more health conscious and tends to prepare healthier meals for the family. She also keeps herself active and is encouraging her community to do the same.

Pulmonary Hypertension Causes Heart Disease

Pulmonary hypertension is among the factors that lead to heart disease in women. However, this condition is difficult to spot and it can go unnoticed for several years.

This condition may hit women between their 20s and 40s. Pulmonary hypertension affects the right side of the heart and the arteries, which may result in shortness of breath, swelling of the legs or even fainting.

If this condition goes undetected, the right side of the heart may not withstand the pressure. It will enlarge and may lead to right-sided heart failure.

In some cases, the causes of pulmonary hypertension are unknown. However, in most cases it is caused by medical conditions like lupus, emphysema, scleroderma and even sleep apnea.

Dr. Shirin Shafazand noted that during the early stages of this condition the symptoms are more subtle. Moreover, it may take two and a half years to diagnose because most symptoms are ruled out through testing.

Heart Disease Awareness

Tara Robinson from Fort Worth is determined to do her part in raising awareness about heart disease after surviving three heart attacks. She admitted that she never thought of having a heart attack and she is concerned that many other women are experiencing the same symptoms but are ignoring them.

"We must raise the awareness of this disease and now. This is my purpose. I survived to spread the urgency of this issue," she said.