Tomorrow, I will wear red. You should wear red too. It is National Wear Red Day. Why is it National Wear Red Day? The idea is to raise awareness about the number of women who die from cardiovascular disease. Awareness won’t keep my mother or your mother from dying though, so if you think wearing a red shirt is going to tip some magical scale, I keep a beautiful unicorn in my barn that I’d like to show you!
We need to do more than just wear red. Heart disease remains the top cause of death for women in the United States. In fact, many women are unaware of the signs of a heart attack or stroke.
So it is time to do more than just wear red. Here are practical things you can do:
- Talk to your doctor about your heart health, especially if there is a history of cardiovascular disease in your family.
- Learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke, particularly those that are exhibited more prominently in women.
- Donate to the American Heart Association.
- Reach out to your sister, aunt, etc. and make sure they know the signs of a heart attack or stroke too.
The week leading up to Father’s Day is National Men’s Health Week. Men: it’s a great time to take stock of your health because avoiding intervention due to illness is really important. The goal should be to not need an intervention. Or if you’re a woman, this week is a great time to let the men you care about know that they’re not alone in their quest for good health. Three things to do: