February 6 is National Wear Red Day

Awareness of Women and Heart Disease

American Heart Association celebrates February as National Heart Month

Oklahoma Heart Hospital Hosts Oklahoma City Kickoff Celebration

The 2009 kickoff of the Go Red for Women Wear Red Day was held at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital featuring a unique display of red dresses and personal stories of survival from Oklahoma women who faced heart disease in a variety of ways.

The American Heart Association celebrates February as National Heart Month and on Friday, Feb. 6^th millions of women, men and children across America united in support of the Go Red for Women movement and take a stand against heart disease on “Wear Red Day.”  Go Red for Women is a nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together and wipe out heart disease, by wearing red! 

More than 41 million American women are living with one or more types of cardiovascular disease, yet only one in five view heart disease as their greatest health threat. One in three women has cardiovascular disease, and every minute one woman dies as a result of this health threat. That’s why Go Red For Women, powered by the American Heart Association’s research, is educating and connecting millions of women of all ages in an effort to beat our No. 1 killer. 

“We have selected 10 incredible women who are beating the odds against heart disease to tell their amazing stories.  Some of these women are thriving with implantable devices that are still in the research phase, others were saved by heroic CPR, many have survived near death experiences with sudden heart attack and others are winning against the once hopeless disease of congestive heart failure,” notes Peggy Tipton R.N., Chief Operating Officer, Oklahoma Heart Hospital. 

Life sized photographs of these women (see attached bios) in red along with their red dresses will be on display in the Oklahoma Heart Hospital throughout the month of February.  In addition to Wear Red Day, Sunday, February 8, the American Heart Association will be celebrating Power Sunday, an outreach effort targeting faith-based organizations with the intent to provide education and resources on heart health to its members. To register for Go Red Sunday, visit www.americanheart.org/scagoredsunday.

About Go Red For Women

Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion, and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe our heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women.  Today we want millions of women across America to take heart disease personally.  Using the simple platform “Love Your Heart,” Go Red For Women engages these women—and the men who love them—to embrace the cause.  Healthcare providers, celebrities, and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease.  For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.  The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.

Heart disease and stroke are the greatest health threats to women of all ethnic backgrounds, but only 21 percent realize it. Consider these facts:

• Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over age 20. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills about 460,000 women a year.

• While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, almost 1 in 3 will die from cardiovascular disease.

• Cardiovascular disease causes approximately 1 death per minute among females in the U.S.

• 43 million American women are living with cardiovascular disease.

• Sixty-four percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

• African-American and Mexican-American women have higher heart disease and stroke risk factors than white women of comparable socioeconomic status.

• Heart disease rates in post-menopausal women are two to three times higher than in pre-menopausal women of the same age.

Our Hearts. Our Choice.

2008-09 key messages

 CHOICES. We face them every day. Some choices aren’t important, while others are life changing. But what if the seemingly unimportant choices were the ones that mattered? Like choosing to take the stairs, not the elevator? Opting for baked instead of fried?

What if these choices influenced whether you were the one in every three women to die of heart disease this year?

Choosing to ignore your heart health might not seem life changing today, but women are dying of heart disease at the rate of almost one per minute. Luckily, this No. 1 killer is largely preventable. We simply have to choose to act.

Our Hearts, Our Choice. Beat Heart Disease at GoRedForWomen.org.

REASONS TO BELIEVE

• Heart disease is not just a man’s disease, which is why Go Red For Women is dedicated to building awareness of heart disease among women.
• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable.
• 1 in 3 women has some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 460,000 women each year, which is about one every minute
• More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer
• Only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
• Choosing to take care of our hearts can help us beat the No. 1 killer of women.
• Research shows that women who “Go Red” are more likely to make healthy choices.

For example:

• More than 40 percent have lost weight.
• More than half have increased their exercise.
• Six out of ten have changed their diets.
• 53 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One third have investigated their family’s history of heart disease or talked to their doctors about their personal heart risks.

CHOOSE TO TAKE ACTION

• Heart disease kills one woman every minute, but we can change this statistic by making the right choices for our hearts.
• We can turn our personal choices into life-saving actions. Let’s choose to beat heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women, at GoRedForWomen.org.
• I choose not to be the 1 in 3 women to die of heart disease.
• I choose to beat heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.
• I choose to empower myself with the facts.
• Visit GoRedForWomen.org and choose to take the Go Red Heart CheckUp to find out your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke.
• Schedule a doctor’s appointment each year and get a complete blood screen. Visit GoRedForWomen.org and download “What to Know BEFORE Your Doctor Visit.”
• I choose to move, not sit. Visit GoRedForWomen.org and sign up for a FREE 12-week physical activity and nutrition program you can customize to fit your lifestyle.
• I choose to eat baked, not fried. Find cooking tips and flavorful recipes for you and your family in the Go Red For Women Recipe Collection cookbook available at ShopGoRed.org.
• I choose to breathe, not smoke. Find out how smoking increases your risk for heart disease at GoRedForWomen.org.
• I choose to inspire and connect.
• Share your story of the choices you have made to improve your well-being at GoRedForWomen.org.
• Visit GoRedForWomen.org to share your own story about the choices you made and the results you achieved.
• Encourage your family and friends to share their stories as well.
• I choose to show my support. Donate to Go Red For Women and help save a life today. Receive a red dress pin and wear it proudly to show your support!
• I choose to speak up, not remain silent. Support legislation that would improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women at HeartForWomen.org.
• I choose to beat heart disease at GoRedForWomen.org. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, reducing our cholesterol, or quitting smoking, we can turn our personal choices into life-saving actions with the resources at GoRedForWomen.org.
• Go Red For Women, powered by the American Heart Association’s research, educates and connects millions of women of all ages. GoRedForWomen.org is the No. 1 online destination where women can learn how to make heart-healthy choices every day.