News Release
For Immediate Release: February 2, 2010
Contact Person: Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, 301-334-7730
National Wear Red Day
Friday, February 5, 2010, is National Wear Red Day-a day when Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women. Risk factors for heart disease include:
- High blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
- High Blood Cholesterol (240mg/dl or higher)
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Being physically inactive
- Having a family history of early heart disease
- Age (55 or older for women)
While heart disease risk begins to rise in middle age, heart disease develops over time and can start at a young age, even in the teen years. It is never too early, or too late, to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease. Having more than one risk factor is especially serious, because risk factors tend to rally together and worsen each other's effects.
While certain risk factors cannot be changed (age, family history), it is important to realize that you do have control over many of the risk factors. Replace smoking with walking, read food labels for sodium and fat content, and get your diabetes under control. Make the changes gradually, one at a time.
Every women needs to take her heart disease risk seriously, and take action now to reduce that risk. Wear red Garrett County on February 5th and show your support!