Modified: January 29, 2018 4:45pm
Latest News
PRESS RELEASE
From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale R. Burstein
Date: January 29, 2018
CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov
Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925
National Wear RED Day is Friday!
February 2, 2018 Event Raises Awareness of Heart Disease in Women
ERIE COUNTY, NY— Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States—taking more lives than all types of cancer combined. Heart disease causes 1 in 3 deaths each year or approximately one woman every minute! Heart disease does not affect all women alike, and the warning signs for women are NOT the same in men.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. Cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education, motivation, and action. When you wear red on National Wear Red Day®, it helps raise awareness of the frequency of heart disease in women.
Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) encourages Erie County residents to support
Go Red For Women by participating in National Wear Red Day® on Friday, February 2, 2018. February is designated as American Heart Month.
“Building awareness, especially among women, is one of the best ways to fight this deadly disease,” stated Erie County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale Burstein. “Many people do not realize that the number one cause of death among Erie County women is heart disease.
In 2015, 1,107 Erie County women died from heart disease. Many of these deaths might have been prevented with awareness, education, motivation, and action, such as exercising and healthy eating.”
The good news is that heart disease can be preventable for a majority of women.
Follow these tips:
- Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to learn your personal risk for heart disease.
- Quit smoking. After just one year after quitting smoking, your risk of coronary heart disease is cut by 50%.
- Start an exercise program--walking just 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
- Make healthier food choices. Aim to cut sugar intake, especially sugar found in sweetened beverages.
Know these signs of a heart attack:
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest. This may last more than a few minutes, or disappears and returns
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Shortness of breath (with or without chest discomfort)
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
“I strongly urge all Erie County residents to make their heart health a priority. Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider for a check-up to review your overall health, check blood pressure and cholesterol levels and look for possible signs of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses,” concluded Burstein.
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For More Information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
New York State Department of Health--Erie County Coronary heart disease mortality rate
New York State Department of Health—Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention