BAKERSFIELD,CA - Heart disease doesn't discriminate.
"I was diagnosed at six weeks old. That's when I had my very first open heart surgery," said heart disease survivor Bianna Bravo.
At 19, Bravo has already had four open heart surgeries. "That's why I love sharing my story because that's what a lot of people think is that older people suffer from heart disease or from a heart attack," said Bravo.
Bravo shared her story at Go Red Por Tu Corazon or Go Red for Your Heart, an event aimed at spreading awareness to the community.
"Hispanic women are affected more by heart disease, more than any other population," said Marisol Ventura with Kern Family Health Care.
According to the American Heart Association, Kern County ranks last among California's 58 counties for incidents of heart disease. Kern County has more deaths from heart disease per capita than any other area in California. The numbers show for every 100,000 Kern County residents, 136 died from coronary heart disease between 2010 and 2012.
"We're investing in ourselves, our health, our bodies, our heart," said Victor Lopez, owner of Victor's Mexican Grill.
Lopez taught healthy cooking methods to the crowd. He says making simple choices like switching out fatty oils with olive oil, cutting out fats in meat,s and using salsas for flavor can make a difference in your diet. There were also health screenings to check blood pressure and blood sugar levels. But it wasn't all lecture, the ladies got up to dance to shed some calories.
"It's important to take care of yourself right now as soon as you can before it becomes an emergency," said Bravo
"I was diagnosed at six weeks old. That's when I had my very first open heart surgery," said heart disease survivor Bianna Bravo.
At 19, Bravo has already had four open heart surgeries. "That's why I love sharing my story because that's what a lot of people think is that older people suffer from heart disease or from a heart attack," said Bravo.
Bravo shared her story at Go Red Por Tu Corazon or Go Red for Your Heart, an event aimed at spreading awareness to the community.
"Hispanic women are affected more by heart disease, more than any other population," said Marisol Ventura with Kern Family Health Care.
According to the American Heart Association, Kern County ranks last among California's 58 counties for incidents of heart disease. Kern County has more deaths from heart disease per capita than any other area in California. The numbers show for every 100,000 Kern County residents, 136 died from coronary heart disease between 2010 and 2012.
"We're investing in ourselves, our health, our bodies, our heart," said Victor Lopez, owner of Victor's Mexican Grill.
Lopez taught healthy cooking methods to the crowd. He says making simple choices like switching out fatty oils with olive oil, cutting out fats in meat,s and using salsas for flavor can make a difference in your diet. There were also health screenings to check blood pressure and blood sugar levels. But it wasn't all lecture, the ladies got up to dance to shed some calories.
"It's important to take care of yourself right now as soon as you can before it becomes an emergency," said Bravo