UNDATED (WKZO AM/FM) — Today is National Wear Red Day, but it’s more than just a wardrobe choice, it’s a way of sparking a discussion about heart disease in women.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year, but 80% of those deaths are preventable if women are properly informed.
Go Red for Women Director Dawn Worthington says simple tips like proper education, lifestyle changes, eating smart, managing blood pressure, and getting up and moving are ways to prevent cardiac events.
Overall women need to know their body, know their numbers and be informed on the symptoms and risks.
The American Heart Association says some warning signs of a heart attack include:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If someone faces any of these signs, call 911 immediately and get to a hospital right away. A full list of heart disease facts can be found here.
Both women and men are encourage to wear red on February 7th to support the efforts of the American Heart Association and raise the awareness of heart disease during National Heart Month.
Kalamazoo’s Go Red Luncheon also takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. February 7th at the Delta Marriot on South 11th Street near I-94 with an auction, speakers, and other activities. More information on the Kalamazoo luncheon can be found here and to find other Go Red Luncheons in the area go to the Go Red website here.
