BE THE DIFFERENCE!

PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY (February 3, 2012):

This year, Go Red For Women is asking women to participate in the 9th Annual National Wear Red Day^® on Friday, February 3, 2012, to make ending heart disease a reality.  Show your support by wearing red on National Wear Red Day to build awareness and inspire action.

The facts are clear. More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer isn’t as easy to see. Heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood.

The truth is: our lives are in our hands. We can stop our No. 1 killer together by sharing the truth. We can be the difference between life and death.

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.

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.

^®National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.