Letter to the Editor

Happy heart day!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Dear Editor,

Feb. 14 is known by everyone as Valentine's Day. Everything on that day is about pink, red, love and hearts.

The entire month of February is also National Heart Month and is celebrated as Go Red for Women Month by the American Heart Association. The AHA encourages everyone to wear red during February to raise awareness of the importance of women's heart health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans, but women continue to be at even greater risk. Of all women's deaths each year, cancer kills one in 30, but cardiovascular disease kills one in three. CV disease kills one woman every minute, 1,100 women each day. Ninety percent of all women have at least one risk factor. Women are more likely to call 9-1-1 for others experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are for themselves if they were having the same symptoms.

More women than men have died fro heart disease each year since 1984.

During this February's Heart Month, educate yourself about cardiovascular symptoms, and your risk factors. Make heart-health choices in your lifestyle, including diet, exercise and follow-up with your health care professional.

The Red Willow County Health Department wishes you good heart health. Wear red this February for all the women in your life who are loved.