Time to Go Red!

Going Red is about much more than wearing red on National Wear Red Day. It’s about making a change. Encourage your family and friends to take small steps toward healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

Start by explaining “What it means to Go Red” by sharing the following acronym:

• Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.
• Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, be physically active and eat healthy.
• Raise Your Voice: Advocate for more women-related research and education.
• Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you and your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.
• Donate: Show your support with a donation of time or money.

Heart disease and stroke cause one in three women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases, yet 80% of heart disease and stroke events could be prevented. Early screening, early detection and early treatment are key to lowering risk for cardiovascular disease. 

Testing should occur as follows:

• Blood pressure – every regular health care visit starting at age 20
• Cholesterol – every five years starting at age 20. More often if: total cholesterol is above 200; if you are a man older than 45 or a woman older than 50; if you’re a woman whose HDL is less than 50 or a man whose HDL is less than 40; if you have other cardiovascular risk factors
• Weight/body mass index – every health care visit starting at age 20
• Waist circumference – as needed starting at age 20
• Blood glucose – every three years starting at age 45

You can learn more about your numbers and key health indicators with the Go Red Heart CheckUp.

For more information about Go Red for Women visit here.