February was American Heart Month, with a special emphasis on women’s heart health. A common misconception is that heart disease is more of a problem for men than women. But according to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three women’s deaths each year. Heart disease in women is deadlier than all forms of cancer combined, but only 44% of women are aware that cardiovascular disease is their greatest threat. In addition, women often don’t recognize the signs of heart disease because their symptoms tend to be different from men’s symptoms. While extreme chest pain is often the indicator of a heart attack in men, women may experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain instead. In 2004, the American Heart Association launched the Go Red campaign to make women aware of the threat of heart disease.
Resilience Healthcare team members celebrated American Heart Month by wearing red on February 2 and recommitting to taking good care of our hearts! We can all reduce our risk for heart disease by quitting smoking, being active, eating a heart-healthy diet, and managing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.