National Wear RED Day is Friday; February 3, 2017 Event Raises Awareness of Heart Disease in Women

Modified: January 31, 2017 6:00pm

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01/31/2017

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PRESS RELEASE

From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale R. Burstein

Date: January 31, 2017                             

CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov

Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925

National Wear RED Day is Friday!

February 3, 2017 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.

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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 3, 2017, during February, American Heart Month.

Why Go Red? Nationally, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for nearly 1/3 of all adult female deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Fortunately, we can change that because 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. 

“Building awareness, especially among women, is one of the best ways to fight this horrible 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 2014, over 1,100 Erie County women died from heart disease. Many of these deaths can be prevented with education, motivation, and action, such as exercising more and eating healthier.”

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. Did you know that just one year after you quit, you’ll cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%?
  • Start an exercise program. Just walking 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
  • Modify your family’s diet if needed. Make healthier food choices. Cut sugar intake, including sweetened beverages.

Know these signs of a heart attack:

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
  • As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

“Everyone needs to make their heart health a priority. Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider for a prevention check-up to review your overall health, and measure blood pressure, check cholesterol and look for signs of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses,” concluded Burstein.

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For More Information:



Erie County Department of Health

American Heart Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

New York State Department of Health