Go Red For Women…..
Did you know heart disease is the #1 killer of women. Unfortunately too many people miss the signs and go without medical attention before recognizing heart disease/heart attack so they write off unfamiliar symptoms.
A woman dies from heart disease more than anything else. It affects more than 43 million of our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends in the US. About every 34 seconds, someone in the United States has a myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association volunteer stated, “Although men and women symptoms are different, specifically in that men may feel as though a elephant is sitting on his chest, but a woman may not feel that at all, but Instead they may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.”
Heart attacks is “a scary issue, not doubt about it,” says Alexzina Griffin who lost her husband to a massive heart attack and almost lost her son to one approximately five years ago. “I never thought about getting myself checked as a woman, because my thoughts were ‘this doesn’t happen that often to women as it does with men, however that could not be further from the truth,” explained Alexzina.
Today, Alexzina and her daughters are proactive in getting check-ups on a regular basis. Sonya Griffin notes “I even started exercising on a regular basis, because I understand that early treatment and exercise are keys to living a happy and healthy life.” Although heart disease/heart attacks are the #1 killer of women in New York they’re preventive measures that every woman can take everyday———- The Go for Red For Women campaign wants women to take note of five small things you can do everyday that will yield huge rewards, but first
Know the SYMPTOMS:
Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that 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, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
Be Proactive Take Preventive Action!
- Eat Healthy
- Get up and Get moving: Exercise Daily
- Process out processed foods
- Quit Smoking
- Drink more water
The Go Red For Women movement has been impacting the health of women for 10 years, and as a result, 330 fewer women are dying per day,” said local Circle of Red member, Hilda Escher. “We should all feel empowered by this amazing accomplishment and use it as motivation to continue to fight this deadly disease. We can truly make a difference.”
Make It Your Mission
For 10 years, many lives have been saved, but the fight is far from over. The strength of women fighting side by side is more powerful than any killer. It’s time to shout louder, stand stronger and demand change.
Represent
Register for the movement at GoRedForWomen.org. Receive a red dress pin and wear it proudly to show your support. Volunteer Take action. Contact the local American Heart Association office to see how you can get involved with Go Red For Women. Give Make a difference. Donations that fund lifesaving research and educational programs are needed so that our daughters, sisters & mothers have a chance to fight this silent killer.
Consider joining Rochester’s Circle of Red. The Circle of Red is an elite group of women who have the influence and resources to significantly impact the community by providing a personal and financial commitment to help find a cure.
Change
Make lifestyle choices to reduce your risk for heart disease. Join a gym, quit smoking and resolve to take control of your risk factors.
Advocate
Learn CPR. A cardiac arrest is most likely to happen at home and the life you save with CPR is most likely to be a loved one. Spread the word. Join the American Heart Association’s network and advocate for policies to promote women’s heart health.
– Go Red For Women – Rochester Women’s Magazine
