GO RED FOR WOMEN 
Come join us in celebrating the month of February as
Go Red For Women for a heart healthy month
Many americans all over the nation will be participating this month trying to begin a regimn
on staying fit and healthy. Heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer. Cardiovascular diseases
including heart disease, stroke and other blood vessel diseases are a women’s No. 1 killer. They claim the lives of about 460,000 American women every year. More women than men die of cardiovascular diseases every year. The first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day. Adults and children are asked to wear red clothing to work or school to encourage all women to protect themselves from heart disease. Don't let this be a one day event. Everyone should be thinking about how this could effect their sister, mother, grandmother or wife. Adhere to the warning signs that your body gives you that something is wrong.
Signs of a heart attack: 
Chest discomfort
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath. This feeling may occur with or without chest discomfort. Other signs of discomfort 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.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Most heart and blood vessel problems develop over time and occur when your arteries develop atherosclerosis, a process that begins in childhood and involves a gradual buildup of plaque inside your arteries.
Plaque contains fat, cholesterol and other substances, and can grow large enough to significantly reduce blood flow through an artery. Most of the damage occurs when the plaque becomes fragile and ruptures.
Plaques that rupture can cause blood clots to form. These clots can block blood flow at the site of the rupture or can break off and travel through the artery to another part of the body. If either happens and blocks an artery that feeds the heart or brain, it causes a heart attack or stroke.
Stroke
A stroke is considered to be the #3 killer of women, it is a type of vascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when an artery that carries blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain either bursts or is blocked by a clot. When that happens, part of the brain can't get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
When part of the brain dies from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems. Seeking early treatment can minimize the potentially devastating effects of stroke, but to receive them, a person must recognize the warning signs and act quickly.
Here are some risk factors that you may control or treat with help from your healthcare professional that may help prevent heart disease and strokes by lifestyle changes.
Cholesterol Blood Pressure Smoking Physical Activity
Obesity Diabetes Birth Control Pills
Stress Alcohol & Illegal Drugs
There are a number of risk factors such as age, family history and race which you cannot control. That's why it's so important to understand all of your risk factors, discuss them with your healthcare professional and address the risk factors that you can control or that you may be able to treat.
For more information on Go Red For Women click below:
http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/ 
htt://www.americanheart. 
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