Many of the Associates and Volunteers of Doylestown Hospital will be "going red" on Friday, February 1, 2019.
Why?
They'll be wearing red to show their support for women in the fight against heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women. National Wear Red Day® is the first Friday in February, which is American Heart Month.
Wear Red Day is part of Go Red for Women®, an American Heart Association initiative to "increase women's heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally." Started in 2004, the Go Red for Women campaign is symbolized by the red dress and continues to grow.
Cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 3 deaths each year, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA estimates that only 55 percent of women realize heart disease is their No. 1 killer, and less than half know what are considered healthy levels for cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.
The Go Red For Women movement works to make sure women know they are at risk so they can take action to protect their health. Doylestown Health fully supports the Go Red movement and educating women about heart disease and stroke risks, prevention and heart attack awareness.
"Prevention through mindful dietary choices, a smoke-free life and an active lifestyle is the best first step for heart health," says Doylestown Health cardiologist MaryAnn Williamson, MD. "But, in women, the lack of awareness is in itself a risk factor. Women need to take control of their risk and protect themselves by knowing and identifying the symptoms that are unique to women with heart disease."
The American Heart Association has a few basic tips for women about what it means to Go Red.
- G: Get Your Numbers – Ask your doctor about your blood pressure and cholesterol.
- O: Own Your Lifestyle – Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and eat healthy.
- R: Realize Your Risk – Learn more about risk factors for heart disease.
- E: Educate Your Family – Make healthy food choices for you and your family.
- D: Don't Be Silent – Tell all the women you know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.
The good news is that nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with lifestyle changes and education. While there are some risk factors you can't control, there are many that you do have control over.
Go Red for Women is a reminder about just how important it is to lead a healthy lifestyle when it comes to preventing heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is no longer a "man's disease," as the myth goes.
To encourage women to take charge of their health, Doylestown Hospital Associates and Volunteers will be sporting red on February 1 as they have done each year. Won't you join them?
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About Doylestown Health's Heart & Vascular Services
Expert cardiologists and cardiac surgeons assist patients and physicians with managing risk factors for heart disease, offer advanced treatment options and provide outstanding emergency cardiac care. Doylestown Hospital’s accredited Chest Pain Center is fully prepared to treat cardiac emergencies around the clock, focusing on rapid diagnosis and effective treatment. The multidisciplinary team at the Richard A. Reif Heart Institute is dedicated to providing the highest level of quality care and patient safety.
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