NH Department of Health Recognizes National Wear Red Day to Promote Heart Disease Awareness

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), Heart Disease and Stroke

Prevention Program is recognizing the 10th anniversary of Wear Red Day on

February 1st and February as American Heart Month. Wear Red Day is an

effort to raise awareness about women and heart disease. Heart disease is

the leading cause of death for women across the country and the second

leading cause of death in New Hampshire.



According to the American Heart Association, one in four women die of heart

disease, but only about half realize heart disease is their number one

killer. Fewer than half know what are considered healthy levels for

cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol. Heart

disease is also the number one killer of men in the U.S., but the good news

is that both men and women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much

as 82% by leading a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association first

launched the Go Red for Women campaign in 2003 to try to change these

numbers.



“It is so important for women to understand their risk and take more steps

toward prevention,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at

DHHS. “The Million Hearts partnership launched in 2011 among states, the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Centers for Medicare

and Medicaid is also aiming to reduce the number or heart attacks and

strokes by 1 million by the year 2017. The steps we can take require

commitment and may take some practice but they are well worth it.”



Take these steps toward a healthier life and a healthier heart:

GET UP and GET ACTIVE by exercising for 30 minutes several days a

week.

KNOW your ABCS:

Appropriate Aspirin Therapy

Blood Pressure Control

Cholesterol Management

Smoking Cessation

STAY STRONG by eating a heart-healthy diet that is high in fresh

fruits and vegetables and low in sodium, saturated and trans fats,

and cholesterol.

TAKE CONTROL of your heart health by following your doctor’s

instructions for medications and treatment.



The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can include:

Chest discomfort - uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or

pain in the center of your chest. It can last for more than a few

minutes or go away and come back.

Upper body discomfort - pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the

back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of breath - with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs - may include 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.



If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical

attention or call 911.



For more information, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org

 the Million Hearts Campaign at www.millionhearts.hhs.gov , and the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/heartdisease .

NH Department of Health Recognizes National Wear Red Day to Promote Heart Disease Awareness

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), Heart Disease and Stroke

Prevention Program is recognizing Wear Red Day on February 3rd and February

as American Heart Month. Wear Red Day is an effort to raise awareness of

women and heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for

women across the country and the second leading cause of death in New

Hampshire.



According to the American Heart Association, one in three women die of

heart disease. The American Heart Association also indicates that only 55%

of women realize heart disease is their number one killer, and fewer than

half know what are considered healthy levels for cardiovascular risk

factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol. The good news is that both

men and women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82% by

leading a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association first launched

the Go Red for Women campaign in 2004 to try to change these numbers.



“More women die in the U.S. from heart disease than the next four causes of

death combined, including all forms of cancer,” said Dr. José Montero,

Director of Public Health at DHHS. “The Go Red for Women initiative is

meant to raise awareness, educate, and encourage women to take charge of

their health. There is much we can do to improve our health and decrease

our chances for heart disease, such as eating a healthy diet full of fruits

and vegetables, quitting smoking, exercising more, and getting a physical

exam regularly. It is also important to know the warning signs for a heart

attack because they are sometimes different for women.”



The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can include:

Chest discomfort - 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.

Upper body discomfort - pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the

back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of breath - with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs – may include 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.



If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical

attention or call 911.



For more information about the American Heart Association, the Go Red for

Women Campaign, Wear Red Day, or American Heart Month, visit these

websites: www.heart.org , www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth , or

www.goredforwomen.org  To contact the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

Program at DHHS call 603-271-4544.