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National Wear Red Day draws attention to heart disease
by Jaspreet Virk - February 6, 2010 - comments
Every year American Heart Association (AHA) draws attention to the disease through National Wear Red Day.
New York, February 6 -- If you noticed that people were wearing red Friday, it was not co-incidence. In fact, there wore it in the honor of National Wear Red Day, when citizens in the nation wear red color to support the fight against heart disease among women.
On this day, many wore red to raise awareness about the disease. The businesses around La Crosse County encouraged their employees and customers to wear red.
Even the receptionists and doctors at Middlesex Cardiology Associates, Middletown, were dressed in red to raise awareness.
Drawing attention to the disease
Every year American Heart Association (AHA) draws attention to the disease through National Wear Red Day. The association believes that it is important for the citizens to know the impact that heart disease is having on the country.
Many still believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women, but heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women as one in every three die from cardiovascular disease, stated AHA.
It is estimated that around 45000 women die every year due to heart problems.
Dr. Lisa Evans, a member of one of St. John's family practice teams, believes that it is important to make women aware.
"In my job, I get the impression talking to women every day, they perhaps don't think about their cardiovascular care enough,” she said.
Fighting the disease
Though the disease is the leading cause of death, doctors say that heart problems are preventable.
To order to prevent the disease, one should quit smoking as it is the leading cause of heart attacks and other problems like hypertension or high blood pressure.
Further, it is important to exercise for at least 30 minutes in a day. Take a walk, climb stairs instead of using the elevator, and play sports like basketball and badminton.
Apart from this one should take a healthy diet, which should include plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and dairy.
Cutting down on dietary cholesterol consumption definitely brings down one’s level of cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease.
Also, women should consume alcohol in moderation. One or two drinks a day are not bad for heart’s health.