Go Red for Women 2021
It’s February! The month that symbolizes an expression of love. Where there’s love, the heart resides. As we celebrate love in February, the United States commemorates American Heart Month and Go Red for women. National Go Red for women is recognized on Friday, February 5, 2021. Heart month marks a good time to make a commitment to adopt a heart healthy lifestyle. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. One in three women are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable with education and learning the risk factors. It’s important for women to have annual wellness checks with their health care provider to assess their risk for heart disease. Your health care provider can help you learn how to make changes to improve heart health. Some risk factors can be controlled, while others can’t.
Understanding Heart Disease
Heart disease is a range of conditions that affect the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. A person can experience many problems as a result, one known as the process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. The buildup causes the arteries to narrow, making it harder for blood to flow through. This can cause a blood clot to form and stop the blood flow. This increases the risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Heart attacks are life-threatening emergencies. If you have any of the signs, don’t delay treatment, every second counts. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately.
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.
To learn more information visit, https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women
