Join us at
Go Red Connect
Connect with others and learn how you can help us save a woman’s life today. Share your story – whether you or a loved one
has experienced heart disease –for a chance to become a Go Red For Women® spokesperson.
BE THE DIFFERENCE
This year, Go Red For Women is asking women to participate in the 10th Annual National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 1, 2013, to make ending heart disease a reality.
Twitter Hashtags to use: #GoRed & #WearRedDay
- GIVE: Donate to help fund lifesaving research and educational programs that can help uncover the truth about heart disease and save lives.
- VOLUNTEER: Contact your local American Heart Association office to see how you can get involved with Go Red For Women.
- SHOP GO RED: Go to ShopGoRed.org to support education and awareness programs by purchasing Go Red For Women apparel, accessories and other heart-healthy products.
WHY GO RED?
Research shows that women who Go Red are more likely to make healthy choices.
- More than one-third have lost weight.
- Nearly 50 percent have increased their exercise.
- Six out of 10 have changed their diets.
- More than 40 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
- One-third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.
For more information about Go Red For Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART.
Factors that Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease
When you think of an energetic college athlete, the last thing you’d think she’d have to worry about is heart disease. But that’s exactly what 19-year-old Regan Judd was faced with her junior year. Turns out, her youth was no match for risk factors like her heart murmur and a family history of heart disease.
Regan’s story is unfortunate proof that heart disease does not spare the young. It does not discriminate based on age, and in combination with lifestyle, overall health and whether or not it runs in your family, these factors can work together to raise your risk. While you can’t change things like age and family history, the good news is that even modest changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your heart health and lower your risk by as much as 80 percent. Read on to learn more about each of the risk factors, how to assess each and the keys to prevention so you can cut your risk and keep heart disease out of your life – for good.
Cholesterol and Heart Disease Find out healthy cholesterol levels and what you can do to improve your health »
High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease High blood pressure is a misunderstood condition. Read on to learn the truth about its relation to heart disease »
Smoking and Heart Disease In addition to lung cancer, smoking can put your body at risk for heart disease. Find out effects of smoking and tips on how to quit »
Diabetes and Heart Disease Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without the condition »
Weight and Heart Disease Losing weight isn't just for aesthetic reasons. Practice heart healthy eating habits to keep your risk for heart disease low. »
Physical Inactivity and Heart Disease A lack of physical activity comes with great risks. Learns ways to exercise moderately and reduce your risk for heart disease »
WHY TAKE ACTION?
- More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.
- While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, one in three dies of cardiovascular disease.
- Currently, some eight million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
- Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
- Only 43 percent of African American women and 44 percent of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60 percent of white women.
- In women, heart disease is too often a silent killer – less than a third of women in a recent survey reported any early warning signs such as chest pain or discomfort before a heart attack, compared with most men.
- Only slightly more than half of women are likely to call 911 if experiencing symptoms. And yet, 79 percent of women said that they would call 911 if someone else was having a heart attack.