DECATUR - Katherine Walters went to her routine checkup for her pacemaker, which helps her heart beat regularly. Her physician detected what she called, "a little something." He wanted to run a few tests.

She told him his tests wouldn't reveal anything because she didn't hurt, she didn't feel dizzy and she didn't feel faint.

She only felt short of breath.

That "little something" turned out to be one completely blocked artery and another partially blocked artery.

"Any time you go to the doctor and they say they're going to run some tests, don't say no," she told a room full of women at the Macon County Health Department's "Go Red for Women" seminar Friday.

About 60 women listened to tips for heart health, stress release and skin repair as part of National Public Health Week.

Dr. Kathy Booker, dean of Millikin University's School of Nursing, said while the good news is that more women than men seek help when they develop symptoms, minority women are the least likely to be treated.

According to the American Heart Association, Latino women are in the "most at-risk group" for heart disease.

Not only do a fourth of Latino women older than 20 have cardiovascular disease, but heart disease and stroke are responsible for about a third of the deaths in Latino women.

Maria Ploch, Latino outreach coordinator for Soyland Access to Independent Living, was one Spanish interpreter available at the health fair. She said 19 Latino women attended the fair, which offered more than a dozen health screening services for free.

She said two challenges to reaching the Latino or Hispanic community include lack of transportation and lack of interpreters. So far, she said, the Latino Outreach Association of Central Illinois has reached the population in churches, local language programs and restaurants.

Regardless of race, Booker said some women do not seek medical attention because they feel embarrassed. She said if you feel chest discomfort, which can sometimes feel like indigestion or back pain, "then 911 is your best bet," especially if it's accompanied by nausea or sweating.

And don't wait.

"Every minute you wait, damage is being done to your heart because oxygen is being denied to your heart," she said.

According to the American Public Health Association, regular blood pressure screenings are critical because high blood pressure does not have any noticeable symptoms. Yet, blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and is the most common chronic condition among older adults.

Other risk factors include high blood cholesterol, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.

Booker suggested focusing on one risk factor at a time to prevent from feeling overwhelmed. For instance, ensure you get 30 minutes of physical activity each day, drink eight glasses of water and stop smoking.

Bethany Carson can be reached at bcarson@;herald-review.com or 421-6968.