abouThealth

By REBECCA WATTS

The American Heart Association kicked off American Heart Month with the “Go Red for Women” campaign early this month. The Washington Monument, Niagara Falls, Baylor University and even Graceland joined thousands of men, women and children in donning the color in an effort to raise the awareness of cardiovascular disease.

“Go Red for Women” encourages women to determine their level of risk for the disease and learn what steps can be taken to prevent it. The movement arose in 2004 from the AHA’s “Take Wellness to Heart” awareness campaign created by women, for women.

“We are encouraging women to be cognizant that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women,” said Michael Neely, director of the Bryan American Heart Association Office. Currently, over 450,000 women have taken the Go Red Heart Checkup to evaluate their risk level and arm themselves with information and questions for their physicians.

Over 460,000 women die each year from cardiovascular diseases, double the amount of female deaths from all cancer types combined. Women are twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as men are. The risks increase after the age of 45, especially for those taking oral contraceptives. Contributing to the increase in the risk of women dying from heart disease is their response to warning signs and symptoms. Women often report chest pain as heartburn or indigestion and don’t associate other symptoms, such as pain in the jaw or shoulder, as signs of a heart attack. In a study conducted by the AHA, women reported doubting their symptoms deserved serious consideration, which created a delay in treatment and services offered to them.

“When men and women are faced with the onset of heart attack symptoms, women generally wait longer to seek medical help than men,” Neely said. The timing of treatment is critical to the outcome of a heart attack patient in order to prevent permanent damage to the heart muscle. The Go Red for Women campaign urges women to see their doctor not just if they believe they are at risk, but to find out what their risk level is. Neely said women often neglect their health in lieu of other responsibilities and concerns, such as family and work. He recommends knowing your cholesterol totals, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar levels.

The local AHA office hosts a Go Red for Women luncheon annually in order to educate Brazos Valley women about their risks for heart disease. This year‘s lunch, to be held February 7 at the College Station Hilton, will feature the theme “Love Your Heart.” Keynote speaker Linda Shelton, a 35-year veteran of the exercise industry, will educate the women on physical fitness.

Cortney Tehnet, co-chair of the Go Red for Women luncheon said, “There’s a big misconception about heart disease and women’s health. We just wanted to educate the women. I hope they enjoyed themselves, learned a little something and had a good time.”