The Heart Truth – National Wear Red Day

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The month of February is Heart Month and February 7 is National Wear Red Day – a day when Americans nationwide will take women’s health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.

Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing something red on Friday, February 7. By joining together, the community will help “put a face on heart disease” and motivate women to take heart health seriously and engage in action to reduce their risk of heart disease. Caroline Calderone Baisley, the Director of Health warns: “Many women think heart disease is a man’s disease. It isn’t. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and most women fail to make the connections between heart disease risk factors and their personal risk of developing the disease.” To support the need to take control of one’s health, public health nurses of the Department’s Division of Family Health will offer blood pressure screenings and BMI assessments. These services will be available on Friday, February 7, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Town Hall lobby. Red dress pins, information about risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight/obesity, diabetes and lack of physical activity) and handouts about healthy nutrition will also be distributed. In addition, the nurses will be available upstairs in the Department’s hypertension clinic from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The clinic is located on the 3rd floor in Town Hall. Walk in blood pressure screening is available in Family Health every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this time. Check the Department of Health website for other locations and time. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease in the United States. Usually referred to as simply “heart disease,” it is a disorder of blood vessels of the heart that can lead to a heart attack. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women and causes one in three deaths each year – or about one woman every minute. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities.

Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of women every 80 seconds in the United States. About 80% cardiovascular diseases can be preventable with education and action. Knowing the signs and symptoms is crucial to ensure the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. Many women who have a heart attack may not experience direct chest pain, but rather chest discomfort, which includes the feeling of pressure, squeezing or fullness. Although pain can occur in the chest, pain can also appear in the right arm, back, neck, shoulder or throat. Other symptoms might include vomiting, nausea, pressure, fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling cold, sweating, or lightheadedness. If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, act quickly to prevent disability or death and call 9-1-1.

Deborah Travers, Director of Family Health encourages you to take steps toward a healthy heart. Adapting a healthy diet and controlling disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol will give you valuable tools to fight heart disease. Manage stress and get enough sleep. Women and men should talk to their doctors about these risk factors and make lifestyle changes when necessary to prevent disease. Do you know the most critical numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI)) for your heart health? Know your numbers!

The American Heart Association sponsors National Wear Red Day. For more information about Women’s Heart Health and National Wear Red Day, call 203-622-7859 at the Greenwich Department of Health or online at greenwichct.org or goredforwomen.org

Additional Resources:
American Heart Association – www.heart.org
National Women’s Health Information Center – www.womenshealth.gov
The Heart Truth: National Awareness Campaign for Women about Heart Disease – www.hearttruth.gov

 

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