February 1, 2013 is National Wear Red Day!
About the movement
Cardiovascular disease is the number on killer of American women each year, yet women do not pay attention. In fact,
many dismiss it as an “older man's disease.”
Other common myths according to the American Heart Association:
Myth: Heart disease is for men, and cancer is the real threat for women
Fact: Heart disease is a killer that strikes more
women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.
While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart
disease claims the lives of one in three. That’s roughly one death each
minute.
Myth: Heart disease is for old people
Fact: Heart disease affects women of all ages. For
younger women, the combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts
heart disease risks by 20 percent. And while the risks do increase with
age, things like overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can cause plaque
to accumulate and lead to clogged arteries later in life. But even if
you lead a completely healthy lifestyle, being born with an underlying
heart condition can be a risk factor.
Myth: Heart disease doesn’t affect women who are fit
Fact: Even if you’re a yoga-loving, marathon-running
workout fiend, your risk for heart disease isn’t completely eliminated.
Factors like cholesterol, eating habits and smoking can counterbalance
your other healthy habits. You can be thin and have high cholesterol.
The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your
cholesterol checked at age 20, or earlier, if your family has a history
of heart disease. And while you’re at it, be sure to keep an eye on your
blood pressure at your next check-up.
Myth: I don’t have any symptoms
Fact: Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly
of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. Because these
symptoms vary greatly between men and women, they’re often
misunderstood. Media has conditioned us to believe that the telltale
sign of a heart attack is extreme chest pain. But in reality, women are
somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting
and back or jaw pain. Other
symptoms women should look out for are dizziness, lightheadedness or
fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen and extreme fatigue.
Myth: Heart disease runs in my family, so there’s nothing I can do about it
Fact: Although women with a family history of heart
disease are at higher risk, there’s plenty you can do to dramatically
reduce it. Simply create an action plan to
keep your heart healthy.
Because of healthy choices and knowing the signs, more than 627,000
of women have been saved from heart disease, and 330 fewer are dying per
day. What’s stopping you from taking action?
To dispel these
myths, the American Heart
Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
created
National Wear Red Day® to raise awareness of this critical
issue. Each year, on the first Friday in February, millions of women and
men come together to wear red, take action and commit to fighting this
deadly disease.
Since the first
National Wear Red Day 10 years ago, tremendous
strides have been made in the fight against heart disease in women,
including:
- 21% fewer women dying from heart disease
- 23% more women aware that it's their No. 1 health threat
- Publishing of gender-specific results, established differences in
symptoms and responses to medications and women-specific guidelines for
prevention and treatment
- Legislation to help end gender disparities
But the fight is far from over as still hundreds of thousands of
women still die each year. It's time to stand stronger, speak louder and
join us in the fight this
National Wear Red Day.
It's time to
Go Red. Join us.
