Go Red luncheon advocates heart disease awareness

For 10 years, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement has been dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to heart disease, fighting to save lives and put an end to the No. 1 killer of women.

CHRISTUS will partner with the Northwest Louisiana American Heart Association for the year-long educational program and to sponsor the women’s luncheon 11 a.m. Feb. 6 at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome.

The AHA has reported in the last decade, the Go Red for Women movement has saved the lives of more than 650,000 women through educating on healthier lifestyles and the power women have to take control of their heart health. Feb. 7 has been named the National Wear Red Day in support of the AHA and raising awareness for the disease that is deadlier than all forms of cancer combined. For the third year, CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier has announced they will be the cause sponsor for the Go Red for Women movement in this region for 2014.

Dana Smelser, director of marketing, business development and strategic planning at CHRISTUS, said there are a number of reasons the Go Red movement is important, but that it hits especially hard here at home.

“Let’s face it, we have a problem in Louisiana,” Smelser said. “We are among the top five states for all the bad stuff – the stuff we don’t want to be known for, [such as] highest rates for heart disease, diabetes and obesity. All of which are preventable. We can do something about it. CHRISTUS is committed to doing something about it for this community.”

Smelser said it was the staggering facts of heart disease in women that contribute to the importance of CHRISTUS advocating for awareness. Though heart disease is the No. 1 killer in women, only one-in-five American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. Women are less likely to call 9-1-1 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, and an estimated 42 million women in the United States are affected. At the rate it has been, one-in-three women’s deaths is due to heart disease, killing approximately one woman every minute. The symptoms are different in women and men and can oftentimes be misunderstood. It is because of these factors that CHRISTUS is dedicated to educating women on their risks and resources.

“CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier is committed to educating both women and men on how to live a healthy life,” Smelser said. “We believe this Go Red for Women initiative is vital to educating women on the importance of knowing the warning signs of a heart attack. Women who consider themselves healthy often misdiagnose the symptoms of a heart attack because they don’t think it could happen to them. That is why it’s crucial to learn about heart disease and stroke, know your numbers, live a hearthealthy lifestyle and be aware of the risk factors of heart disease.”

The Go Red movement is about acknowledging and building awareness that heart symptoms are different for women and that heart disease is preventable, and women need to take care of themselves in order to live a long and healthy life. According to the AHA, women who participate in the Go Red movement are more likely to make healthier life choices and be at a lower risk for heart disease. The movement is to spread the word for women, by women, and to continue the fight against heart disease through educational tips such as stress management, healthy eating habits and exercise regimens.

The Go Red for Women annual luncheon serves as a platform for education and for advocates to share stories and keep the conversation going. Ultimately, Smelser said, it’s to help in saving lives. Tickets are available online or by calling Sarah Baker, regional director of the AHA, at 347- 3122. The organization also has a Circle of Red, which is a group of women who are advocates in the community, a local Passion Committee of local survivors and launching this year, a Men Go Red group.

Learn more about risk factors, visit www.goredforwomen.org.