Wear Red on the first Friday of February to show support for heart disease awareness for women.

MAX Agency would like to help spread awareness for heart disease in North America this month. 

The first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day, a holiday dedicated to raising awareness for heart disease. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in Canada while 2/3 of research is focused on men. 

“National Wear Red Day was established by the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 2003. The day is celebrated annually by wearing red color to represent the fight against heart disease and stroke in an effort to generate awareness and initiate change. By the 13th anniversary of the National Wear Red Day, the campaign had achieved many positive goals including these statistics: more than 33% of women in America have lost weight and more than 50% of American women are more physically active.” (source)

This initiative can also go by a different name, Go Red for Women, although the meaning is the same. 

“It’s no longer just about wearing red; it’s no longer just about sharing heart health facts. It’s about all women making a commitment to stand together with Go Red and taking charge of their own heart health as well as the health of those they can’t bear to live without. Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone either, so grab a friend or a family member and make a Go Red Healthy Behavior Commitment today.” (source)

The Canadian version of the campaign is Wear Red Canada which will be taking place on February 13th, 2019. Find out more information about it here!

3 Key Messages to Remember and Share:

1. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women worldwide and it affects women of all ages. That means 1 in 3 women will die as a result of heart disease or stroke.

2. Heart attacks go unrecognized in women up to 54% of the time. When in doubt, check it out! NEVER delay getting help for your symptoms. Be sure to ask your doctor if your symptoms could be heart-related. Women’s heart attack symptoms can be different from men’s and often include:

• chest pain or discomfort
• pain in your back
• neck, jaw or arm
• stomach pain
• shortness of breath, nausea
• sweating
• unusual fatigue

3. Heart disease is largely preventable – 80% of risk factors are within your control to change! Know your numbers for waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Reduce your risk by:

• exercising for at least 30 minutes a day
• maintaining a healthy diet
• watching your weight
• getting regular checkups if possible
• stopping smoking
• managing stress
• limiting alcohol intake

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