Celebrate National Wear Red Day
Show your support for the fight against heart disease by wearing red Friday, Feb. 5. The date has been designated National Wear Red Day and people across the country will wear red to increase public understanding of heart disease, especially for women.
Heart disease is the number one killer and leading cause of disability of women in the United States. Nearly twice as many women in the U.S. die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Women need to know their numbers and risk factors for heart disease, working to reduce them. They should be able to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack.
“Women may experience different heart disease symptoms than men,” says Dr. Donna Adams, a multi-boarded and fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist on staff at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. “Although women can still experience textbook symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating, they also are more likely to suffer from neck, shoulder, and jaw pain, extreme fatigue, or nausea and vomiting without chest pain.”
“I would advise women simply to listen to their bodies and be proactive about their heart health by being aware of their weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and cholesterol,” Dr. Adams says. “If a problem occurs, we’re here to help.”
Dr. Adams will present a free talk on women and heart disease at the Covenant Health Breakfast Club meeting, Friday, Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at West Town Mall. The program will be held at the Covenant Health kiosk and includes a complimentary breakfast. Attendance is free, but seating is limited. Call (865)541-4500 to reserve your seat.