South Asian Heart Center
The South Asian Heart Center was founded in 2006 to reduce the high incidence of diabetes and heart attacks with culturally tailored, science-based, and lifestyle-focused prevention services.
El Camino Health created the South Asian Heart Center in response to the urgent need for comprehensive preventive screening, lifestyle counseling and education, and ongoing follow-up for a population at much greater risk of heart disease and diabetes. People of Indian descent have heart attacks at much younger ages despite being a healthy weight, mostly vegetarian and nonsmoking. South Asians are also four times more likely to develop diabetes than other populations.
Today, doctors everywhere are welcome to refer patients who trace their origins to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka to the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Health. The center provides lifestyle counseling, resources and information to help doctors educate and guide their patients to prevent disease. High-risk patients receive screenings, education, expert guidance and lifelong follow-up. When they return to their doctors for primary medical care, patients are well-informed and focused on preventive strategies to manage their risk.
Through collaboration among patients, community doctors, volunteers, the South Asian Heart Center, we’re protecting the health of those in our community. Together, we’re working to reverse this dangerous trend and slow the epidemic of heart disease and diabetes.
Our Aim Is Prevention
Routine cholesterol testing alone isn’t enough to protect South Asians. That’s why our program takes “aim” at prevention: assess, intervene and manage. Through the comprehensive AIM to Prevent™ Heart Attacks & Diabetes Program, we:
- Assess risk with advanced screenings.
- Intervene with therapeutic lifestyle coaching.
- Manage these changes through ongoing guidance and coaching.
The Importance of Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors account for a remarkably high percentage of heart attacks. Studies of South Asians show that a combination of healthy diet and lifestyle practices — diet, exercise and stress reduction — has a significant impact on preventing heart disease.
Find Out if You're at Risk
If you're South Asian, get screened. Testing, along with certain lifestyle changes at a young age, can help you stay healthy. Visit us at our Mountain View or Los Gatos campus.
For more information about how we can help, visit the South Asian Heart Center or call 650-940-7242.
The South Asian Heart Center is supported by donations to El Camino Health Foundation.
