Just Like You and Me: The Many Faces of Heart Disease

L-R: Gail, 41 (Stroke and Heart Attack Survivor); Kimberly, 50 (Heart Attack Survivor); Regan, 22 (Heart Disease Survivor); Christie, 51 (Heart Attack Survivor); Amy, 42 (Heart Attack Survivor); Rachel, 29 (Heart Attack Survivor); Mary, 31 (Heart Disease Survivor); Lidia, 34 (Heart Disease Survivor); Toni, 49 (Heart Transplant Recipient); Rekisha, 34 (Heart Transplant Recipient.)  The American Heart Association's 2013 National Wear Red campaign.

If you think you're too young for heart disease--you're wrong. If you think those of your gender or race don't get heart disease--you're wrong. If you think heart disease is something that happens to other people--that you feel fine, that heart disease could never happen to someone like you--you are oh, so very wrong.

While heart disease concerns everyone, it particularly concerns American women--all types of American women. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in this country--women just like you and me.

3 Things to Know About Heart Disease: 

ONE:  Heart disease strikes more women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer COMBINED;

TWO:  With the right information, education and care, heart disease in women can be treated, prevented--even ended; and

THREE:  The signs of a heart attack in women may differ from those commonly found in men, and therefore can be easily mistaken for other ailments.

Friday, February 1st, 2013 is the 10th Annual Wear Red Day sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA.) On Tuesday, February 5th, 2013, Texas Woman's University will join the AHA’s fight against heart disease with a lunch screening of Just a Little Heart Attack (accompanied by a panel discussion and a Wear Red Day campus photo immediately following.) Everyone is encouraged to participate by wearing red to campus on Tuesday, February 5th to help the AHA raise women’s awareness of cardiovascular disease and empower women to reduce their risk.TWU Go Red for Women activities (All February 5th unless otherwise noted):

• Lunch Screening and Panel Discussion:  Bring your lunch (free lunch for the first 50 attendees); 12p to 1p at the Fitness and Recreation Center, Studio One
• Paint T-Dub Red Denton campus group photo: Approximately 1p in the Fitness and Recreation Center Gym
• Paint T-Dub Red Dallas campus group photo: Time and Location to be announced
• Paint T-Dub Red Houston campus group photo: Time and Location to be announced
• I  Love My Heart cardio challenge: Month of February at the Fitness and Recreation Center

For more information on heart disease and its prevention and treatment, see goredforwomen.org and mylifecheck.heart.org.

~Sandy Cochran and Stephany Compton