Get Involved—Go Red For Women®
February isn’t all about groundhogs and valentines. It also is about hearts. Yes, Valentines are usually hearts, but this is about the one that keeps us alive!
Fourteen years ago, the American Heart Association (AHA) designated the first Friday of February—which this year falls on February 2—as “National Wear Red Day.” This came out of the realization that women were not focusing on the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women. The truth is, it’s not just a disease common to older men, as many people think.
By “Going Red for Women®,” men and women from all walks of life are bringing attention to this realization. Women are banding together on this day in February to make friends, colleagues, neighbors and daughters aware of the probability that a woman they know may be living with heart disease.
Wearing red on February 2, or wearing the AHA’s swinging red dress pin, empowers women to share their stories of survival. Just as importantly, it elevates awareness that heart disease and stroke kill nearly 1 in 3 women each year, or one woman every 80 seconds.
Going Red has positive outcomes for most participants. AHA’s research indicates that after Going Red, a woman begins to:
- follow an exercise routine;
- eat a healthier diet;
- visit her doctor for important medical tests; and
- positively influence others by talking about heart health.
So, ladies, don your red dresses, red sweaters, flowing red scarves and those fabulous red shoes to stand strong with women across the land, uniting to wipe out heart disease. Men, wear that deep red shirt, that striking red tie or those bright red socks and support the women in your lives.
For additional information about the Go Red campaign and tips for adopting a healthier lifestyle, visit https://www.goredforwomen.org/.
Stay up-to-date with Sagora’s February events by following #heartwarmingvisits on Facebook!