National Wear Red Day

Friday, February 1, 2013, is National Wear Red Day – a day when Americans nationwide will show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Heart disease is the #1 killer of both women and men.  You can raise national awareness by wearing red on February 1st, and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to do the same.  Anyone can participate by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt or tie.

The good news is that both men and women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent by leading a healthy lifestyle. It's never too early or too late to improve heart health—even for those who have already had a heart attack.
 

Tips for Heart Health

• Don't smoke, and if you do, quit.  Women who smoke are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smoking women.  Smoking also boosts the risk of stroke and cancer.
• Aim for a healthy weight.  It's important for a long, vigorous life.  Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.
• Get moving.  Make a commitment to be more physically active.  Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
• Eat for heart health.  Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
• Know your numbers.  Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose.  Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.

A free toolkit of materials for National Wear Red Day is available from the Heart Truth Campaign
Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

What Are the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack?

For many people, the first symptom of heart disease is a heart attack.  Therefore, every woman should know how to identify the symptoms of a heart attack and how to get immediate medical help.  Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.  Recognizing the warning signs, and getting help quickly, can save your life.

Know the Warning Signs
Not all heart attacks begin with sudden, crushing pain, as is often shown on TV or in the movies.  Many heart attacks start slowly as mild pain or discomfort.  The most common warning signs for men and women are:

• Chest discomfort.  Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes.  It may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.  The discomfort can be mild or severe, and it may come and go.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath.  May occur along with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs include nausea, light-headedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.  But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

To find out more visit:
Our Hearts, Our Choice. Beat Heart Disease at GoRedForWomen.org

NCSL Resources:
Heart Disease and Stroke: 2011 Update of State Policy Options
Heart Disease and Stroke: An Overview of Our Nation's Leading Killers
Heart Disease and Stroke: 50-State Profile and Policy Reports
Postcard: Heart Disease Death Rates by County

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