Even small amounts of plaque in the carotid artery–a blood vessel in the neck that carries blood to the brain–can present a serious health concern for Hispanics.

A study published in March assessed nearly 2,200 people, with an average age of 68, and found plaque in the carotid arteries of more than half the subjects. Those who had a maximum carotid plaque thickness greater than 1.9 millimeters had an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or a vascular-related death. However, the relationship between carotid plaque and these events was only statistically significant in Hispanics.

Among Hispanics, those with this amount of carotid plaque were three to four times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or a vascular-related death.

According to the study's lead author, this research points to the effectiveness of using ultrasound as a noninvasive way to measure people's carotid plaque in order to determine their risk of stroke.

Learn more about stroke / carotid artery disease screening

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