National Wear Red Day is February 4th, and we wear red this day to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States is due to heart disease, so chances are we all know at least one person who heart disease has affected. But did you know that heart disease is the #1 cause of death among all women?
That’s right. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease will claim the life of one in every three women. With heart disease being the leading cause of death among women, there is a strong need to raise awareness for all the strong women who have impacted our lives.
It all starts with you. Wearing red is a wonderful way to begin raising awareness. You can also encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to do the same. Let people know why you chose to wear red, and how heart disease has affected you and your loved ones.
Know your health status. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking put you at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Lack of a healthy diet and/or exercise also put you at risk. The Go Red for Women Movement encourages women to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar and get moving. You can visit their website here for more tips on healthy living: https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/healthy-living
Make an impact today. There are so many ways you can make a difference: volunteering at events, donating to your favorite charity to fund research, or helping educate those around you on how to prevent cardiovascular disease. Find one that makes sense to you. Go Red for Women has resources to help you get involved with the community here: https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved
Stand in solidarity for women! Together we can change the course of this deadly disease!
