The first Friday of February has been designated as National Wear Red Day. Men and women alike can show their support of this cause by wearing red on this day.
The American Heart Association website states “Wear red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives. Because when we come together, there’s nothing we can’t do.” 1 in 3 women will die this year because of a cardiovascular-related disease. The awareness surrounding that statistic has increased over the years, but the fact remains the same… women are still dying at an alarming rate.
Did you know…
- “Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined.”1
- Up to 1.3 million Americans alive today have some form of a congenital heart defect and at least nine of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect.1
- Almost two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.2
- Nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented…1
- “Women with diabetes have a higher risk of dying than men with diabetes.”3
What are the signs?
Unfortunately, there are not many warning signs of heart disease. Knowledge is power. If your family has a history of any type of heart disease, record who and what kind. This knowledge can empower you in your own journey to a healthy heart. One form of heart disease that does not have symptoms is Atherosclerosis. This is a process by which low-density lipoproteins (LDL’s) AKA Bad Cholesterol build up to create a blockage in a heart vessel(s). The end result of continual build-up is a blockage that can lead to a heart attack. The synonym for good cholesterol is HDL which our bodies can have as well. Please consult your doctor to see what the recommended level of both HDL and LDL is for you. Certain daily habits increase the risk of heart disease. Some examples of these issues or habits are smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise, and a poor diet. Luckily most of these are lifestyle choices that can be changed.
How to decrease your risk?
Let’s not make this completely depressing. There are ways to decrease your risk of heart disease. Treat your body better with better food. Reduce or eliminate your intake of sugary sodas, sodium, fatty foods, and processed foods. Go to your search bar and type heart-healthy recipe options or restaurants with heart-healthy options because we don’t eat every meal at home. The result is thousands of recipes or numerous local restaurants here locally.
Another way to reduce your risk is to simply move more. You don’t have to go sign up for a gym just go for a walk. The first step will lead you to many more; just keep moving. Regular exercise can improve many aspects of your life but talk to your doctor before taking on any new exercise program. One other way is knowledge. Get regular checkups, know your family history, and pay attention to what you put in your body and how you feel.
Ways to help support the mission to fight for women:
One of the ways we can support the mission to fight for women is to donate to the heart healthy organization of your choosing. Wear red and spread the message to increase awareness. The American Heart Association has a page dedicated to a vast array of resources that can be used to help you spread the word to save women’s lives. You can also shop. Shop for Go Red products at the American heart association’s site https://www.shopheart.org/.
We would love to see you in your Red! I’ll be in mine!
2 https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_women_heart.htm
3 https://www.medicinenet.com/heart_disease_in_women/article.htm#heart_disease_in_women_facts
