Go Red For Women, Macy's and volunteers nationwide raise money and awareness to end heart disease and stroke in women
DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association's (AHA's) Go Red For Women® is asking all Americans to "Go Red" by wearing red on Friday, February 5, 2016, National Wear Red Day®. In addition to raising awareness of heart disease and stroke in women, Go Red For Women is encouraging all women to schedule a Well-Woman Visit, an annual check-up that can provide personal health information and help assess risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause 1 in 3 women's deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. While an estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases and 90 percent of women have one or more risk factor for heart disease and stroke, women can take action to improve their overall health.
"Heart disease is not just a man's disease; in fact, only one in five women is aware it's their greatest health threat," Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director of Women's Heart Health, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, and spokesperson for Go Red For Women. "Fortunately, when it comes to beating heart disease and stroke, simple lifestyle changes such as following a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly, as well as scheduling a Well-Woman Visit to fully understand your risks can be the cure -- 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented."
Since its inception in 2004, Go Red For Women has helped women live healthier lives. This February, Go Red For Women urges all women to make healthy lifestyle changes, mobilize their communities and take preventative action – including the Well-Woman Visit. Together, we can improve the health of women and their families. Help the AHA's Go Red For Women raise awareness of heart disease in stroke in women in the following ways:
Go Red with Macy's
In honor of National Wear Red Day, Macy's customers who wear red or purchase a Red Dress pin for $3 during its Go Red with Macy's event (Feb. 3 – Feb. 8), will receive a 25 percent discount on most purchases storewide, 15 percent off fine and fashion jewelry, sale and clearance watches and select home items. The Red Dress Pin is only available in stores. Macy's will donate 100 percent of pin sale proceeds to Go Red For Women. Macy's has raised more than $55 million for Go Red For Women since the movement was launched in 2004.
"As the national founding sponsor of Go Red For Women, Macy's is honored to once again support the fight against heart disease and stroke all throughout February," said Martine Reardon, Macy's chief marketing officer. "Macy's goes red for women in many ways. Through our limited-edition merchandise, promotions and in-store events, we encourage our customers to help us inspire women and ignite action by "going red" to change the lives of millions."
Schedule a Well-Woman Visit and Know Your Family History
A Well-Woman Visit is a prevention check-up to evaluate a woman's overall health so her doctor can determine if she's as healthy as possible or if she's at risk for heart disease, stroke or any other serious illnesses. During the visit, a health care provider will likely weigh their patient to determine BMI, check their blood pressure, review family health history, conduct a physical exam and do blood work to evaluate risks for heart disease and stroke. This is a separate visit from other appointments for specific sicknesses or injures. The visit itself can be scheduled with a primary care physician, nurse-practitioner or an Obstetrician Gynecologist (OB-GYN). For most women, a Well-Woman Visit has no additional costs because of the Affordable Care Act, but not for all, so it's important to check insurance plans for preventive services coverage before scheduling the Well-Woman Visit. Family history can be a significant – and often unknown – risk factor for heart disease and stroke so it's important to understand your family history before your Well-Woman Visit.
Macy's Red Dresses and Ideology Active Wear
Sales of three Macy's-exclusive red dresses provide 10 percent of the purchase price to benefit Go Red For Women throughout February, American Heart Month. The dresses are designed by Kensie, Calvin Klein and Thalia. Additionally, 10 percent of proceeds from each sale of the exclusive Ideology Active Wear will also benefit Go Red For Women. These items are available in select stores and at Macys.com.
Real Women, Real Stories
The 2016 class of Real Women represent a sisterhood of women who actively, urgently and passionately participate in the movement to raise awareness of the issues of women and cardiovascular disease. They spread the word about the importance of the Well-Woman Visit in their hometowns, often at local Go Red events, serve as National Wear Red Day ambassadors and drive the online conversation. These Real Women represent the different faces of heart disease and stroke nationwide and hope that by sharing their story, other women will be inspired to make a change and share their personal stories as well.
Share the 2016 Real Women video and encourage women to share their own stories of heart disease and stroke using #GoRedWearRed or #GoRed
Video assets available at goredforwomen.org/media.
Suggested Tweets for National Wear Red Day:
About Go Red For Women
Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. Heart disease and stroke kill 1 in 3 women – more than all cancers combined. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Women who Go Red live healthier lives. For more than a decade, Go Red For Women has fought for equal health opportunity for women. The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's, with additional support from our cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Consumer Inquiries:
The American Heart Association
1-800-AHA-USA1; or visit americanheart.org
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SOURCE American Heart Association
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