Red is a color that stands out and it grabs the attention of many. It is bold, empowering, and represents passion. Because red is such a fiery and strong color, it stands out in the fight against the number one killer in women: heart disease.
February 3rd, 2017, marks the 15th anniversary of the initial National Wear Red Day, a day that has continued to raise awareness about heart disease. Heart disease is something that can be easily overlooked, even though it is the cause of death for 1 in 3 women every year. National Wear Red Day aims to change that statistic by educating the masses.
80% of cardiac and stroke events can be prevented via action and education. The Wear Red campaign continually provides information that can help save lives across America by providing gender-focused medical research and a tight-knit community of fighters against heart disease.
When it comes to heart disease, the warning signs are different in men and women. It is false to assume that heart disease only affects elderly people. Smoking cigarettes and taking birth control pills can increase the risk of heart disease in younger women by 20%. Overeating, poor diet, and lack of movement can contribute to clogged arteries and poor cardiovascular function later in life. This is why action must be taken now.
Some women say that they have no symptoms of heart disease. Having a heart attack is not a symptom; rather, it means that you didn’t listen to your body when symptoms were present. Women should pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness/Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Pain in upper abdomen
- Extreme fatigue
Although women with a family history of heart disease are more at risk, there are things you can do to avoid it. Eating a healthier diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, legumes, and whole grains is a great start. Try to omit dairy products, meat, processed foods, soy products, and junk foods from your diet because these are the real killers.
Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day can help improve circulation and keep you from becoming obese, overweight, or developing diabetes and hypertension. Healthy choices have helped over 670,000 women be safe from heart disease. Take action now, wear red, and keep the fight alive.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
