Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for Hispanic women; killing nearly 21,000 and unfortunately, only 34% of women know that they are at risk. The American Heart Association has been working on the Go Red for Women campaign for the past 13 years and this Friday, February 5 they are encouraging people to wear red to bring awareness to the silent killer.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Hispanic women are least likely to have a primary doctor and only 1 in 8 say that their doctor has discussed their risk for heart disease.
Many times its lack of education and leading an unhealthy lifestyle, which is why the American Heart Association is uniting women to help prevent heart disease and stroke. They are encouraging women to schedule a Well-woman visit with their doctor in order to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and look for signs of heart disease and your overall health.
The National Wear Red campaign has helped save many lives because since their 10th anniversary and the numbers of women dying from heart disease have gone down by 34%. Heart disease is known as the silent killer because it usually has no signs or symptoms.
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Ways to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke
- Schedule a Well-Woman Visit today to learn about your health status and risk for diseases.
- Document your health habits and your family health history
- Encourage your family and friends to take small steps toward healthy lifestyles to improve health and to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke
- Explain “What it means to Go Red” by sharing the following acronym:
Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.
Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, be physically active and eat healthily.
Raise Your Voice: Advocate for more women-related research and education.
Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you & your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.
Donate: Show your support with a donation of time or money.