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Wear red and take a stand for women’s heart health

Did you know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women? According to the American Heart Association cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year. Despite the dire predictions, many of these deaths are preventable with education and lifestyle changes. That’s why for the last 17 years, the American Heart Association has placed a special priority on helping women live longer, healthier lives with support and awareness. The first Friday of every February is National Wear Red Day, which is when the nation comes together to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease in women and support causes that help save lives. On this day, across the country, individuals and organizations wear red clothing to show solidarity with women and women’s health. 

Why going red is important

There are some similarities; however, the warning signs for heart attacks for women are sometimes more subtle or different than those for men. According to the U.S. government’s Office on Women’s Health, only about 50 percent of women who have had heart attacks experienced traditional symptoms like chest pain. Spreading awareness about cardiovascular disease in women is important because the signs of heart problems and stroke are often unrecognized and/or ignored. For example, a woman having a heart attack may experience back, neck or jaw pain that can be ignored as ordinary discomfort. Or, a woman having a stroke may have a sudden severe headache with no known cause that could be dismissed or wrongly attributed to another condition. In order to help save lives, it’s imperative to put more focus on knowing the early warning signs of cardiovascular disease.

Warning signs of heart attack for women

  • Pain in the back, neck, jaw, or throat
  • Indigestion
  • Heartburn
  • Extreme sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Problems breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Lightheadedness
  • Pain in the arms

Warning signs of stroke

  • Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of the body
  • Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
  • Severe headache with no known cause

Westside Terrace to go red

In addition to wearing red, some ways to show your support on National Wear Red Day are to talk about cardiovascular disease with women close to you in your community. You can also post messages about heart health and stroke prevention to your social media account and share pictures of yourself wearing red. You can also show your support by attending one of the many events that promote healthy living and being heart smart at Westside Terrace.

Westside will kick off events Feb. 1 by showing our commitment and passion for ending heart disease by wearing red and releasing red balloons at 2 p.m. in memory of loved ones that have struggled with cardiac disease. On Feb. 7, we will celebrate Healthy Heart Day from 12- 2 p.m., where our staff and residents will partner for a walk outside the building. There will be music, drinks, and trivia health stations at each corner of the building. Our goal is to encourage exercise while providing participants with healthy heart tips. February 14 is Adopt a Heart day at Westside. We will show our love and appreciation for our residents by presenting them with red balloons. Westside will conclude the month on Feb. 28 with Heart Jeopardy at 2 p.m. In front an audience of residents, staff members from each resident neighborhood/department will be quizzed on their heart knowledge for a chance to be crowned 2019 Mr. /Mrs. Heart. We are proud to go red for the month of February and invite you to join us in standing up to heart disease.

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