Let's talk about your heart.

Did you know that nearly 50% of Latinos suffer from heart disease,

or that we as Latinas are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Latinas?

I didn't know either. That's why Dr. Julie Ramos, a cardiologist, is ringing the alarm about

what we as Latinas need to know about our health, our family history, and our community's higher

risks. Dr. Ramos and I recently talked about her journey to medicine. She gets real about

merely flunking out of medical school, providing care to the women who need it most,

and the challenges doctors are up against in the middle of the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Ramos, thank you so much for doing this.

Oh, thank you. I'm happy to be here.

Your mom's Costa Rican, dad, Puerto Rican.

Growing up, what were the messages you got about healthy living?

Actually, we did not talk about healthy living.

The only thing I could really remember my dad saying was no to fast foods.

So we always ate at home.

He felt that fast foods were unhealthy.

So the rice, the beans, the meat, you know, lots of plantains. You know, that's just how I grew up,

very traditional, in culturally, food-wise, and nobody ever went to the gym. I mean, that was unheard of growing up. Your parents, especially your dad, like so many immigrant parents,

really big on the value of education.

Was the dream always to be a doctor?

I always say my father brainwashed me.

Ever since I was in first grade, he said, look, the only way to progress in the United States is to get a diploma, get a degree, get some sort of recognition

...