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Nancy Lopez's biography.

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Despite all of her professional accomplishments, there is one victory Latina golf legend, Nancy Lopez is constantly fighting to win -- the battle against strokes and heart disease.

Lopez's personal struggle with the two diseases has changed her life forever. Not only has Lopez altered her own lifestyle, but also she has touched the lives of many others through her efforts to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease and risk factors. Her personal struggle goes back to her first tournament victory at the 1978 Sarasota Classic.

"My mother's health had been off and on for a while and I remember wanting so badly for her to see me win my first professional tournament," Lopez recalled. "I finished second in my first three tournaments feeling very frustrated until I finally won in Sarasota. In my mind, that one will always be dedicated to her for all the support she gave me growing up."

Unfortunately, Lopez's mother died of a heart attack a few months before the Sarasota Classic. Despite the devastating loss for the young 20-year-old, Lopez's father, who also suffered from a heart attack, urged her to continue playing. Nancy remained on the LPGA and won nine tournaments in the 1978 season, including a record-setting five consecutive wins.

Her dad survived the heart attack and is now following an aspirin regimen to prevent a second heart attack. But Lopez is concerned about her own cardiovascular disease risk factors -- a strong family history of diabetes and heart disease increases her risk.

To educate herself and others about the risks of strokes, Lopez participates in a national stroke awareness and fundraising initiative sponsored by Bayer Aspirin, in cooperation with the American Stroke Association, A Division of American Heart Association.

Lopez, along with other pro golfers, play against each other to raise money to help the American Stroke Association in its mission of reducing death and disability from stroke.

"Until I joined this effort, I didn't know that diabetes as well as a family history can increase one's risk for heart disease and stroke," said Lopez. "I've learned so much in such a short time. I've tried to pass it on to my family and even spoke with some mothers at my parent-teachers meeting -- telling them that when it comes to your health, don't neglect it."

At age 42, Lopez neglects nothing. She has reduced her own risk factors for cardiovascular disease through a strict exercise regimen and improvements in her diet.

An estimated 97,000 women die from stroke each year in the United States. It claims more than twice as many female lives each year as breast cancer. In an effort to decrease the incidence of stroke, Lopez is sharing her story and spreading the word to women about their potential role as family medical gatekeepers.

Women can reduce their risks of heart disease and stroke by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol levels, controlling high blood pressure, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and talking to their physicians about possible benefits of an aspirin regimen.