The red dress is the national symbol for women and heart disease. “Women Wearing Red to Fight Heart Disease,” a campaign in its fourth year at Tallahassee Memorial, is an ongoing effort to educate women about their risk for heart disease and empower them to take better care of their hearts.

This year 18 women from the Big Bend have answered Tallahassee Memorial’s call to raise awareness about a woman’s risk for heart disease. Some are survivors, some have a family history, but all are committed to getting the message out about this significant health threat.

The Problem:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, regardless of race or ethnicity. It claims nearly 500,000 lives each year.

The Solution:
Most heart disease is preventable. And the effects of the disease can be reversed with simple lifestyle changes. Awareness is critical.

At menopause, a woman’s heart disease risk starts to increase significantly. Each year, 88,000 women ages 45-64 have a heart attack.

Heart disease disproportionately affects women of color. African American and Hispanic women in particular have higher rates of the major risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.




Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institue web site.