The Christ Hospital Health Network Works with Hispanic Patients on Healthy Hearts

CINCINNATI (September 24, 2024) – As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, The Christ Hospital Health Network wants to focus on risk factors the Hispanic Community faces for cardiovascular disease and other heart-related illnesses. According to the American Heart Association, from 2015 to 2018, 52.3% of Hispanic men and 42.7% of Hispanic women 20 years and older had cardiovascular disease.

On average, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanics and only 1 in 3 Hispanic women are aware that heart disease is their number one killer. Odayme Quesada, MD, Medical Director for The Christ Hospital Women’s Heart Center, is leading the way to combat heart disease in women across Greater Cincinnati, including the Hispanic Community.

“In order to avoid long-term health complications like cardiovascular disease and stroke, Hispanic women should keep a healthy blood pressure and good cholesterol and blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Quesada. “We know stress is also a significant factor in our overall heart health. Our goal at the women’s heart center is to educate our patients on ways to lower their risks and lead healthier lifestyles.”

Taking control of your health can help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Quesada says having patients focus on a heart healthy diet and regular exercise can help her patients stay on the pathway to a heart healthy life.

Dr. Quesada, along with Dr. Shree Lata Radhakrishnan and Dr. Maria Espinola, are part of a Latina Heart Health Awareness Campaign. With the help of community and business leaders, Dr. Quesada and others are working to educate the Latina community about risk factors and how to prevent the development of heart disease. You can find more educational videos on this campaign here.

In an effort to spread the word on the dangers of heart disease, Dr. Quesada is leading a panel of internationally renowned speakers and regional experts at the 3rd annual Women's Cardiovascular Symposium. The only symposium of its kind in the Midwest will be held on Friday, Oct. 11 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Summit Hotel 5345 Medpace Way in Cincinnati. All clinicians are welcome to register for the event here.

About The Christ Hospital Health Network

The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2024. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.