Dress Red for Women’s Health

Pull out your best red dress! February 6, 2015 is Dress Red for Women Day!

Each year the American Heart Association, in partnership with national sponsors Macy’s and Merck, encourage men and women all over the country to wear red to raise awareness about heart disease in women. People can also buy special Go Red products from a variety of sponsors, proceeds of which go to heart health research. A number of celebrities, including Lindsey Vonn, Ireland Baldwin, Marie Osmond, Rosie O’Donnell and Joy Behar have lent their “star power” to the event to build awareness.

Why Heart Disease Awareness is So Important

Source: Go Red for Women

General statistics

• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.
• Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
• An estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease.
• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease.
• The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood.
• While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
• Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
• Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies.

Hispanic women

• Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than Caucasian women.
• Only 1 in 3 Hispanic women are aware that heart disease is their No. 1 killer.
• Only 3 in 10 Hispanic women say they have been informed that they are at a higher risk.
• Only 1 in 4 Hispanic women is aware of treatment options.
• Hispanic women are more likely to take preventive actions for their family when it comes to heart health.

African American women

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African American women.
• Of African American women ages 20 and older, 46.9 percent have cardiovascular disease
• Only 1 in 5 African American women thinks she is personally at risk.
• Nearly 50 percent of African American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
• Only 43 percent of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.

Want to check your risk of heart disease? Click here to go to the Go Red Heart CheckUp.