Friday, , marked National Wear Red Day, an annual awareness campaign spearheaded by the American Heart Association to highlight the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in women. The initiative aims to educate the public and encourage proactive heart health measures, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
Nearly 45% of women aged 20 and over are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, encompassing a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. This includes heart attacks, arrhythmias – irregular heartbeats – strokes and diseases impacting blood vessels in the extremities. As Dr. Rodrigo Campana, a cardiothoracic surgeon with St. Joseph Health, explained, “It’s not just heart health… but it can also account for strokes and diseases in the vessels and the extremities. Cardiovascular health is very important, and a lot of people are affected by it, and that is why it’s the number one leading cause of death in women.”
Understanding Atypical Symptoms in Women
A crucial aspect of National Wear Red Day is emphasizing that heart disease symptoms can present differently in women compared to men. While classic symptoms like left-sided chest pain or pressure are well-recognized, women are more likely to experience atypical manifestations. These can be subtle and easily mistaken for other conditions, leading to delays in seeking crucial medical attention.
Dr. Campana noted that women may experience symptoms such as persistent indigestion, burning in the abdomen, or pain radiating to the neck, jaw, or shoulder. These symptoms can be easily dismissed or attributed to less serious causes. He cautioned that some patients experience symptoms for days before recognizing them as potential signs of a heart attack. The symptoms can even mimic flu-like illness or nausea, further complicating timely diagnosis.
This difference in symptom presentation underscores the importance of increased awareness among both women and healthcare providers. Recognizing these atypical signs is critical for prompt evaluation and intervention.
Prevention and Proactive Heart Health
Preventing cardiovascular disease requires a multifaceted approach, beginning with regular check-ups with a primary care physician. These visits allow for monitoring of key risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Early detection and management of these conditions are vital in reducing the risk of developing heart disease.
Beyond medical monitoring, lifestyle modifications play a significant role in promoting heart health. Increased physical activity and a heart-healthy diet are cornerstones of prevention. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement emphasizes the importance of adopting these habits to protect against cardiovascular disease.
Knowing your numbers – total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index – is also essential. Understanding these values and working with a healthcare provider to maintain them within healthy ranges can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk. The American Heart Association provides resources on their website to help individuals track and manage these key health indicators.
The Importance of Research and Ongoing Awareness
Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of women, claiming more lives annually than all forms of cancer combined. Despite this stark reality, research specifically focused on women’s heart health has historically been limited. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative actively supports research efforts aimed at addressing these gaps in knowledge and improving cardiovascular care for women.
The Research Goes Red movement encourages participation in clinical studies and data collection focused on women’s cardiovascular health. This research is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies and treatments tailored to the unique needs of women.
National Wear Red Day serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to prioritize women’s heart health. By raising awareness, promoting early detection, and supporting ongoing research, the American Heart Association and its partners are working to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and improve the lives of women across the nation. The initiative encourages individuals to spread awareness on social media using hashtags like #WearRedDay, #WearRedAndGive, #HeartMonth, and #GoRedforWomen.
As Dr. Campana emphasized, cardiovascular health is a broad concern impacting a significant portion of the population. Proactive measures, coupled with increased awareness of atypical symptoms in women, are essential steps toward reducing the risk and improving outcomes for those affected by this leading cause of death.
