CINCINNATI (October 6, 2025) – As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, The Christ Hospital Health Network wants to focus on risk factors the Hispanic Community faces when it comes to smoking and vaping as well as heart disease.
Use of electronic cigarettes has increased among adults. While white non-Hispanic adults are most likely to use e-cigarettes, Hispanic or Latino adults are the second most likely demographic to vape according to data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of e-cigarettes among young adults is also a concern because nicotine adversely impacts brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
While vaping has grown in popularity, Julian Guitron, MD, thoracic surgeon with The Christ Hospital Health Network, says that the lack of long-term data, especially among the Hispanic community, makes it challenging to consider vaping harmless.
“We simply don’t know yet what the long-term effects can be,” said Dr. Guitron. “While vaping seems to carry less risks than combustion cigarettes, we can’t recommend vaping yet and other smoking cessation options should be strongly considered. We offer a comprehensive lung health program at The Christ Hospital Health Network that offers smoking cessation sessions, screening for lung cancer and lung nodule management.”
The goal of health professionals is to lower the number or smokers and e-cigarette users. The Christ Hospital Health Network has services to get patients to stop smoking or using other types of nicotine products like e-cigarettes. Click the link for more information. Smoking Cessation Services | Ohio | The Christ Hospital.
The Hispanic community faces higher risk 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.
“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,” Dr. Guitron. “We know stress is also a significant factor in our overall heart health. By knowing our risks, we can make better decisions to lead healthier lifestyles.”
Taking control of your health can help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Guitron 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.
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, eight ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For 135 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and more than 7,200 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 2025.