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In its 15th year, National Wear Red Day increases awareness of women's heart health
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On Friday, Feb. 2, employees at SLACK Incorporated, publisher of Cardiology Today and Cardiology Today’s Intervention, wore red in support of the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day campaign to increase awareness of heart disease in women.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the National Wear Red Day campaign. It is held on the first Friday in February each year to raise awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
“Women’s issues are now front and center in our national conversation, yet cardiovascular diseases still kill nearly one in every three women each year. In fact, today, heart disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined, and we still don't fully understand the role gender plays," Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, said in a press release. “That is unacceptable and there is no better time than now for women to come together and make a Go Red Commitment to take action for women’s heart health. When you support Go Red For Women by making a Go Red Commitment, fundraising and sharing your story, more research is funded and more lives are saved.”
The Go Red For Women campaign is asking women to make a Go Red Commitment by visiting GoRedForWomen.org/Commit, selecting a personal commitment such as eating healthy, becoming more active, monitoring BP or donating to the campaign and sharing the commitment on social networks.
Goal to improve awareness
According to the AHA, fewer than 20% of women consider heart disease or stroke to be the most serious health problem they face despite it being the most common cause of mortality in women.
About 80% of cardiac events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, and the Go Red For Women campaign encourages women to take such preventive measures, according to the release.
Focus on women’s health
Here are four recent updates in women’s heart health, as previously reported by Healio/Cardiology and Cardiology Today.
CVD risk may increase with breast cancer treatment Read more
Peripheral artery disease different in women vs. men Read more
Mental stress relates to myocardial ischemia in women Read more
Healthy lifestyle behaviors less likely in minority women Read more
For more information:
Disclosure: Brown is an employee of the American Heart Association.