Today is National Wear Red (for women) Day.
Heart disease (which includes heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases) is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths (more than all forms of cancer combined) and affecting an estimated 43 million women in the U.S.. But only about one in five women realize that heart disease presents such a threat to their health and since the symptoms that we experience with heart attack differ from those men experience (and that most of us are familiar with), women can have a heart attack without even realizing it. In fact, sometimes even medical professionals can miss the signs of heart attack especially if the patient doesn’t seem to ‘fit the profile’, as Jen Thorson shares in the Huffington Post with her compelling article We All Fit the Profile.
Knowing and reducing the risks for heart disease are great steps in the right direction. Eat right, exercise, minimize stress, and don’t smoke. Get regular check-ups and follow your doctor’s advice. And if you even think you’re having a heart attack call 911 or have someone drive you to the emergency room.
For more information check out goredforwomen.org