WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
And the Hearts Have It
By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n
T
he American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women
movement is dedicated to the prevention of heart attack
and stroke in women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 82 million Americans have some form of
heart disease. Around 2,200 die from heart attacks, heart disease or
stroke on a daily basis, with that number made up of the same amount
of women as men.
Heart attacks can also occur at any age, and you are never too
young to start heart-healthy living. Some of us have risks that cannot
be changed. Those include aging and heredity, which includes race.
African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, American Indians, native
Hawaiians and some Asian-Americans have a higher heart disease risk
than Caucasians.
According to the American Heart Association, that makes it even
more important to manage the risks that are in your power to change,
which include smoking, high blood cholesterol (which can be controlled
to a certain extent), exercise and diet.
AHA has a multitude of resources, programs and tips that can help,
whether you are at high risk and are searching for help with prevention,
or are currently suffering with some form of cardiovascular disease.
American Heart Association – An organization that has the latest
news of heart disease, stroke and general health, and up-to-date
recommendations for living longer with a healthier lifestyle, including
recipes, exercise suggestions and tips for overall wellness. heart.org
Go Red for Women - Nationally sponsored by Macy’s, Go Red for
Women offers recipes, tips from celebrity trainers and other initiatives
to help women eat healthier and lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle.
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum have participated in
the “Red Dress” initiatives to promote awareness of heart disease in
women. goredforwomen.org
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GAZELLE STL
WEAR RED & RAISE YOUR VOICE
Go Red for Women’s National Wear Red Day on Feb. 2 is all about
awareness – of your numbers.
Even if you miss wearing the vibrant color on the appointed day, the
point is to get all women to be fully aware of the numbers that could
save their lives.
Talk to your healthcare provider to learn about your blood pressure,
cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. These are numbers that
can add up to a healthier heart.
And remember, you can “Go Red” any day of the year. Go Red for
Women encourages women to take a selfie wearing red, organize office
members to wear red, organize a neighborhood walk wearing red, dress
the family up in red – or any other scenario that encourages people to
take note of the movement, and take a photo. However you choose to
Go Red, take photos and share them using #WearRedandGive. Shop for
#GoRedWearRed gear at shopheart.com.