American Heart Month

Written by: Jane Cozby 

February is American Heart Month.  What better time to refresh our knowledge of the warning signs and risk factors of cardiovascular disease.  

This increased awareness can help prevent a heart attack or stroke from occurring.  Sadly, my father didn’t know that he was at risk.  In 1980, he died suddenly of a heart attack.  He was only in his 50s.  Our family was devastated by his unexpected death. 

He was a vibrant, strong and fit man.  He ate well, exercised and was rarely sick.  There were no warning signs to identify that he may be unhealthy. No obvious need to see a doctor.   It wasn’t until after he died, that we came to learn of a strong family history of heart disease. With this knowledge, we can now take a pro-active approach to our health and try to stop this disease from becoming part of our future.

It’s important to remember that heart disease does not discriminate.  It affects women as well as men.  In fact, it is estimated that 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease. About ten years ago, the American Heart Association created National Wear Red Day® and the Go Red for Women  challenge to increase awareness of this issue and dismiss the falsehood that cardiovascular disease only happens to men.  

The first Friday in February marks a day where millions of people come together to wear red in commitment to fighting this serious disease.  Since the inception of this program, great progress has been made in the fight against heart disease.  The latest statistics reflect that 21% fewer women are dying from heart disease and 23% more women are aware that it is their number 1 health threat.

In recognition of American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association website and utilize the risk assessment tool, take the America Goes Red Challenge, or simply share this important information with your friends and family.  Go Red and take charge of your health.

Go Red - Women's Heart Disease Awareness

TOMORROW - Friday February 1st is National Wear Red Day.  

All across America people will take women's health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. 

Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death for women? 

Each year, heart disease claims the lives of more women than breast and lung cancers combined. I was also surprised to learn a greater percentage of women die within one year of a heart attack than men. Learn more facts about women and heart disease here. 

Encourage those you love to participate tomorrow by sporting red. You can start the conversation, send an email to your coworkers or text friends and family! 

Spotlight on...Half the Sky

Written by: Shannon Fissori 

Arroyo Grande, CA 

While women make up half the world’s population, they comprise 70 percent of the world’s poorest people.  As a woman not a part of that figure, this is heartbreaking to me.  To think simply being born a girl increases your chances of being targeted for violence or exploited for sex trafficking is just as sad.

This can change.  There are many ways to shift the tide of oppression against women around the globe.

Education has proven to be one of the most effective ways to lift women out of poverty.  Investing in a girl’s education has a ripple effect over the entire community.  An increase in education typically leads to greater job opportunities, higher wages and a general tendency to marry later and have fewer children.  Income equality for women often lifts whole families out of poverty due to the fact that women are more likely to spend money on nutrition, medicine and housing - thus resulting in healthier children.

Gender equality has come a long way but much work remains to be done.  Our mothers, daughters and sisters around the world continue to need our help. 

To learn more about issues impacting women today, organizations working to improve their lives and ways you can help, please check out the Half the Sky movement here.

Spotlight on... Breast & Ovarian Cancer Prevention

Preventing breast and ovarian cancer is the mission of one motivated woman named Lindsay Avner. This is her story. 

"At 23 years old, Lindsay Avner became the youngest patient in the country to bravely opt for a risk-reduction double mastectomy with reconstruction.

After losing her grandmother and great-grandmother to breast cancer before she was born, and watching her mother fight both breast and ovarian cancer when she was only 12, Lindsay underwent genetic testing at the age of 22. The test revealed she carried a mutation on the BRCA1 gene, indicating she had up to an 87% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 54% chance of developing ovarian cancer. Vowing to not let breast cancer strike her as it had three generations of women before her, she chose to act by taking proactive measures with her breast health."

She has since founded Bright Pink - the ONLY national nonprofit organization focusing on the risk prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals. The talented team at Bright Pink is changing lives. Check them out! 

Lindsay truly inspires me to take a proactive approach to health and share early detection strategies with the ladies in my life.

You can learn more about Lindsay & Bright Pink from their feature in The Everygirl.