|
Go Red for Women
The first Friday in February is American
Heart Associations (AHA) “Go Red for Women”
day. Every year 365,000 women die in America
from heart disease, more than their annual
deaths from all cancers combined. In fact,
more women than men die of heart disease.
Women also comprise of only 25% of
participants in heart-related medical
research studies.
 Why
are women twice as likely as men to die
following coronary artery bypass surgery?
Why are women more likely than men to die of
a first heart attack and more likely to have
a second heart attack? “Go Red for Women”
is a national campaign to initiate more
research on women hopefully to find answers
to these questions. Most importantly, this
campaign heightens awareness to let the
public know that these are the facts.
Last Friday walking in
the entrance of Maine Coast Memorial
Hospital (MCMH) employees, patients and
guests could visit an education table in
honor of women and heart disease. Betsy
Doherty, spokeswoman for Women Heart, a
national coalition for women with heart
disease and Bernadette Dempsey, MCMH Cardiac
Rehabilitation Coordinator presented a
women’s heart health awareness display to
dazzle the eyes and to stimulate the mind.
Red dress pins and red bracelets were
distributed along with heart health
information from women heart, MCMH cardiac
rehab, and American Heart, Blood and Lung
Institution.
February is National
Heart Month. For more information on Women
Heart as well as women’s support group call
Betsy at 359-8414 or contact Bernadette at
MCMH Cardiac Rehab at 664-5434. |
