On Thursday February 5, 2015 Representative Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) called on her colleagues in the NC House of Representatives to take action to fight cardiovascular diseases in women. She challenged her fellow lawmakers to show their support by wearing red on Wear Red Day Friday February 6, 2015. You can listen to Representative Carney’s comments on this recording of the day’s legislative session from the NC General Assembly website here.
You’re the Cure advocates provided each member of the NC General Assembly with a fact sheet about women and heart disease with a reminder to join the American Heart Association in celebrating Wear Red Day.
This year marked the 12th anniversary of National Wear Red Day. Since National Wear Red Day started:
- Nearly 90% of women have made at least one healthy behavior change.
- More than one-third of women has lost weight.
- More than 50% of women have increased their exercise.
- 6 out of 10 women have changed their diets.
- More than 40% of women have checked their cholesterol levels.
- One third of women has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.
But despite this progress, many women are still unaware of their risks and the facts. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in North Carolina, killing more women than men and is more deadly than all forms of cancer.
- 8,286 women died from heart disease in NC in 2013. That’s 20% or one in five deaths among women.
- 2,635 women died from stroke in NC in 2013. That’s 6.3% or one in sixteen deaths among women.
- Overall about 11,000 women died from cardiovascular disease in NC in 2013. That’s over one out of every four deaths among women.
This year resolve to help the AHA/ASA fight cardiovascular diseases in women and be an active advocate for high impact health policies. Learn more by contacting Grassroots and Local Advocacy Director Kim Chidester, or Senior Director of Government Relations Betsy Vetter.
Showing 1 reaction