Go Red for Women

February 2020

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute! With February being American Heart Month, we ask that you join the American Heart Association in Go Red for Women to raise awareness and improve the lives of women globally.

A heart attack does not always have obvious symptoms, such as pain in your chest, shortness of breath and cold sweats. In fact, a heart attack can actually happen without a person knowing it. It is called a silent heart attack, or medically referred to as silent ischemia (lack of oxygen) to the heart muscle.

Silent heart attacks are more common in women than in men. Women and their physicians may also be more likely to chalk up symptoms of a silent heart attack to anxiety and dismiss them. However, the risk factors for a silent heart attack are the same as those for a recognized heart attack, and include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, family history of heart disease, obesity and age.

You can control or treat these risk factors with lifestyle changes and your healthcare provider’s help. For more information, visit goredforwomen.org.