February 04, 2004
Get Red-y for a healthy heart

THERESA: One of the most important reasons to exercise and eat right -- and to encourage other women to do the same -- is to protect ourselves from heart disease, which kills 500,000 women in America each year. This is serious stuff. I was surprised by these statistics from the Heart Association (which I pulled from a story by my Montana friend, health writer Ginny Merriam):

  • While one in 29 women's deaths is from breast cancer, one in 2.4 deaths is from cardiovascular disease.
  • Sixty-three percent of women who died suddenly of cardiovascular disease had no previous symptoms.
  • Of all the U.S. deaths from cardiovascular disease in 2000, women made up 53.5 percent and men 46.5 percent.
  • The cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the United States in 2003 was an estimated $352 billion. In 2002, the estimated cost of all cancers was $202 billion.
  • Approximately half of all American women are sedentary and get no physical activity.
  • An estimated one-third of American women are obese.

    The Heart Association has launched an ambitious public education campaign aimed specifically at raising awareness of heart disease and its impact upon women. As part of this, this Friday, Feb. 6, has been declared National Wear Red Day, when we're all encouraged to wear red to show we care about heart health. We can all do that, can't we, Girlfriends?

    The Heart Association's website also lists various products that are being sold this month to raise money for the cause. For example, when you buy a bottle of "Heart to Heart with OPI" nail polish (bright red, of course!) $3 of the purchase price will benefit the American Heart Association. Macy's is selling Gund bears with red T-shirts-- they're adorable. And just in time for Valentine's Day!

    And later this month, as part of the same Go Red for Women campaign, the Heart Association (in partnership with AstraZeneca), will host the 2004 Women of Heart Health Fair. The event will be Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Women 18 years of age and older can participate in the free event, designed to help them take charge of their health, make it a top priority and choose to live longer, stronger lives. The fair will include free heart-health and stroke screenings, cooking demonstrations, fitnes s exhibitions and beauty and skin tips.

    Another women's Heart Fair is also planned this month, this one for Feb. 20 (nationally that's "Women's Heart Day") This event also features free health screenings and more, and will be held at the Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is sponsored by the Sister to Sister - Everyone Has A Heart Foundation.

    And AstraZeneca and the Heart Association are also teaming up to provide free heart-health and stroke screenings throughout February at many locations in the Philadelphia area. Check here for details.

    In the meantime, this is as good a time as any to encourage our more sedentary friends to get more active. Any thoughts on good ways to do that, Girlfriends?

    JENICE: I spent a good portion of this weekend in a hospital cardiac ward with a relative undergoing tests. And I was struck by how many people were also undergoing the three-hours worth of workup - there were middle-aged people as well as elderly; overweight people as well as average weight types. It was a sobering reminder of the importance of good heart health, something frankly I have never worried about a day in my life.

    APRIL: That is really frightening. Even a person who isn't into exercising can walk for 15 to 30 minutes a day. That's a good first step for breaking into a routine.

    YVONNE: Invite a friend to a coffee or tea house downtown, in Manayunk, Old City or some other section where you have to walk several blocks after you park. My friend Shelly and I do that regularly on Thursdays. A lot of fun and very casual.

    LAURIE: Yvonne, that's a great idea.

    I have several friends who don't exercise and are not at an ideal weight, but I feel frustrated in trying to get them interested in exercise. I don't have any good ideas how to get them going - but I'm open to suggestions!!! Another sobering aspect to heart disease and women is that women have different symptoms from heart attacks. That was one reason they used to die, because doctors didn't diagnose them correctly. The site has a chart comparing men's and women's warning signs. The site also offered this statistic:

  • Black women are at even greater risk. The death rate from heart attack is more than 38 percent higher for black women than white women, and the death rate from stroke is 75 percent higher.

    JENICE: Yvonne, I think the best thing you can do for your friends is to continue to be a good example.

    THERESA: One way to be an example this month is to sport a red dress pin, available free from the Heart Association. Call 1-888-MY-HEART to order one, and they'll send you informational material too. And here's fun event to promote heart health: The Heart Association and Macy’s are teaming up to put on a cooking demonstration at the Springfield Mall at 1 p.m. this Saturday. Chef Ryan McCauley of Christopher’s in Wayne, Pa. will whip up a heart-healthy culinary delight and provide samples for those who attend.