Red is often associated in February with Valentine’s day, hearts and roses, but, thanks to the American Heart Association, it also symbolizes the urgency in fighting cardiovascular disease in women. While the entire month is designated American Heart Month, February 6th is National Wear Red Day. This special day is set aside to raise awareness that heart disease is the #1 killer of women, encourage women to know their risk, and take action. 
The American Heart Association has set aside the first Friday in February every year to be the day across the country that we wear red in support of women’s heart health. According to statistics, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It is so important to educate ourselves and the women in our lives and across our communities. Heart attack symptoms often go unnoticed by women because the characteristics are different.
Signs and symptoms of heart attack (per goredforwomen.org)
- Chest pain, but not always
- Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Jaw, neck or upper back pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Feeling a cold sweat
- Indigestion
- Extreme fatigue
The symptoms of extreme fatigue and nausea or vomiting occur in women. Women may also describe chest pain in different ways. For some, it may feel more like pressure. For others, it can be a tightness. What’s important is if something feels wrong, seek help Women are more likely to have more than one heart attack symptom. Many women report that something felt off before they had a heart attack, although they could not pinpoint why.
When we think of something as tragic as a heart attack, we tend to have the thoughts that “it could never happen to me or someone close to me”. I never gave heart disease a second thought until December of 2021. I was at the playground with my son and got a call from my mother telling me that my sister was in the ER due to a heart attack. My first thought was “A heart attack?! The doctor is wrong! Our family doesn’t have heart issues!” My sister was 41 years old. By the grace of God, she made it through and I get to continue to enjoy her company, her smile and her compassionate spirit today. Sadly, I know this is not the way many stories end when it comes to cardiac emergencies. While my sister grew up with Juvenile Diabetes, she was otherwise a healthy woman. She exercised regularly, took her necessary medications and supplements, and ate a healthy diet. She did everything right and, because of dealing with diabetes her whole life, knew her risk factors. While this didn’t stop her cardiac event from happening, she and her doctor were aware that her heart needed extra attention and care. I believe her awareness of the risk and, more specifically, her husband recognizing symptoms of a heart attack saved her life.
Bottom line, for women, it is extremely important to know your family history, risk factors, and signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Knowing this information could save your life.
Here are 10 other facts you need to know about women and cardiovascular disease (per the American Heart Association)
- Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat.
- Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy in the United States have good heart health.
- Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over on-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.
- Overall, 10% to 20% of women will have a health issue during pregnancy, and high blood pressure, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy greatly increase a women’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
- Going through menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, but the approach of menopause marks a point in midlife when women’s cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate, making increased focus on health during this pivotal life stage is crucial.
- Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, such as moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.
- 51.9% of high blood pressure deaths, otherwise known as hypertension or the “silent killer,” are in women, and out of all women, 57.6% of Black females have hypertension — more than any other race or ethnicity.
- While there are an estimated 4.1 million female stroke survivors living today, approximately 57.5% of total stroke deaths are in women.
- Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim.
- Women continue to be underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, as well as in research. In fact, women occupy nearly half of all U.S. jobs (48%), but only 27% of jobs in STEM fields. Furthermore, only 38% of participants in clinical cardiovascular trials are women.
The American Heart Association provides many tools and resources to our community. You can check out the local Nashville chapter here. Through the website you can find training classes such as CPR, which I highly recommend every person to be CPR certified, especially parents! You never know when those skills might come in handy, and just might save someone’s life. You can also search for health topics and education, find cardiovascular health professionals, donate financial resources or find volunteer opportunities.
Check out the American Heart Month calendar to find ideas for simple ways to incorporate heart-healthy actions into each day of the month. Get your family, friends or coworkers involved to be able to have a support system, and make it fun.
Local Resources:
American Heart Association- Nashville Chapter
