Colleton Medical Center personnel wore red in honor of National Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, on Feb. 7.
Nationally sponsored by CVS Health, the American Heart Association is rallying women to take action throughout American Heart Month in February against their number 1 killer — cardiovascular disease.
Go Red for Women encourages women starting at age 20 to get screened for heart disease and stroke and to know their numbers to determine personal risk, the five key personal health numbers that help determine heart disease risk: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. By making a healthy lifestyle a priority and moving more, eating smart, not smoking and managing blood pressure certain cardiac events can be prevented by 80%. For more information visit GoRedforWomen.org.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women and claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined with disparities in care continuing to persist:
Cardiovascular disease can be different in women than in men, and women may experience different signs or symptoms than men.
Women continue to be underrepresented in research and experience inequities in care including longer wait times for treatment.
Women make up less than half of all clinical trial participants globally with women of color only accounting for 3%.
Biological differences between men and women often are not adequately accounted for in clinical trials and other studies which provide the foundation to treat cardiovascular disease.
Research shows that women are potentially more likely to survive a heart attack if their doctor is female, yet in today’s workforce women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields by 25%.
“Powering the future of women’s heart and brain health is imperative to the work we do at the American Heart Association and to the mission of Go Red for Women,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association.
“With one in three women dying of cardiovascular disease, we must ensure women are equitably represented in research.”
“This February, women must stand together, show support and demand to be represented equally in cardiovascular disease research and care,” said Brown.
“We’re continuing to forge news paths and inspire younger generations of women to create health solutions for women.”
The public can support women’s heart health and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement during American Heart Month in the following ways:
To help women better understand their risk for heart disease, CVS Health is offering no-cost heart-health screenings nationwide select Thursdays in February at MinuteClinic®, the company’s retail medical clinic. Patients can receive a no-cost “Know Your Numbers” heart health screening on the first three Thursdays of February.
During the screenings, patients will learn five key personal health numbers that can help them determine their risk for heart disease: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index.
CVS Pharmacy customers can also help in the fight against heart disease and stroke by making a $1, $3 or larger donation at the register at CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide or online at cvshealth.com/GoRed, Feb. 2-22, 2020.
