Nearly half a million American women will die this year from heart disease. It is the single highest killer of American women. But there is good news. According to the American Heart Association, more than 75 percent of these deaths may be prevented.
This Friday, February 2, marks National Wear Red Day, part of the Go Red for Women movement that aims to raise awareness of heart disease and strokes among women, and the lifestyles changes that can be made to prevent them. WSHA staff will participate by getting decked out in their finest red attire, and we hope you will, too.
Health equity is one of WSHA’s goals — we want to ensure people have the same access to care and same outcomes, regardless of race, gender, age or language. We know that heart disease presents different symptoms for women than men, and they can often be misunderstood.
In addition to feeling uncomfortable pressure or squeezing in the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes (which is the most common symptom among men and women), common heart attack symptoms in women include pain in the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath; nausea and vomiting; cold sweats; and lightheadedness. Helping the women in your community understand these symptoms so they get care when it is needed is an important piece of health equity.
Be sure to take a photo of your red attire on Friday, and share it on social media using #GoRedForWomen. You can also learn more about the cause at www.goredforwomen.org. Together we can build heart health awareness and save lives.
Sincerely,
Cassie Sauer
WSHA President & CEO
cassies@wsha.org
