Raise awareness of heart disease among women by wearing red

People around the country and in the Southern Tier will don red on Friday, February 2, to call attention to heart disease among women as the nation observes “National Wear Red Day,” part of the “Go Red for Women” awareness campaign.

UHS will join with the American Heart Association to mark the event, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony starting at 10 a.m. in the main lobby of UHS Vestal. Red sweaters, dresses, scarves and ties will be in abundance.

The public is welcome to attend.

Heart disease was sometimes thought of as “a man’s disease” in the past, but we now know that almost as many women as men die of heart disease each year in the United States. 

Despite increased awareness over the past few decades, only about 56% of women recognize that heart disease is the number one killer of women. It is responsible for about one in every five female deaths. Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy in the United States have good heart health.

There are many ways that heart disease can be prevented. It’s important for every woman to take these important steps: 

1. Schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional to learn your risk for heart disease,
2. Quit smoking; just one year after you quit, you’ll cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%,
3. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (such as jogging), or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week,
4. It’s also good to include moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weight training) at least twice a week.  Naturally, you must consult your provider first before starting any exercise program, and
5. Modify your family’s diet if needed — today, it is easy to find smart substitutions, healthy snacking ideas and better cooking prep methods.

“As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort,” reminds UHS Cardiologist Rasha Aurshiya, MD. “But women may also experience those other symptoms instead.”

If you do have any kind of heart symptoms like those listed below, it’s important to act quickly.  Call 911 and get to an Emergency Department right away if you experience:

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest, especially if it lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Good heart health begins with raising awareness of your risks, ensuring that you get the right diagnosis and following the right treatment plan. Never look the other way when symptoms present themselves and seek care immediately. Wear Red Day is one of the most effective events for increasing heart-health awareness among women across the country. The American Heart Association and UHS are pleased to hold this important day in high regard every year.

To learn more about UHS Heart and Vascular services, click here.