Appropriately kicked off on National Wear Red Day (Feb. 5, 2010), the American Heart Association and its Go Red For Women movement urge everyone to support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red that day.
February has been celebrated as American Heart Month since 1963 to urge Americans to join the battle against heart disease. A presidential proclamation pays tribute to the researchers, physicians, other public health education professionals as well as volunteers for their tireless efforts in preventing, treating, and researching heart disease. The observation also recognizes the critical importance of developing tools that will increase survival rates from heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Consider these statistics:
- One in three American adults has one or more types of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). More than half of those directly affected with heart disease are under the age of 60.
- In 2008 alone, an estimated 770,000 people will have a new coronary attack. 780,000 will suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
- CVD claims more lives than the next four most common causes of death combined.
- Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 single killer of women over age 25, but only 21% of women view it as a health threat.
- CVD kills over 460,000 women a year, about one per minute. On average, an American dies of CVD every 35 seconds.
- The estimated cost of CVD in 2008 has risen to $448.8 billion.
Wear Red Day
February 5th is Wear Red Day, a national observance created by the American
Heart Association. Thousands of people, employees at more than 10,000 companies,
national and local news anchors and talk-show hosts will wear red to support the
cause. Men and women across the nation are encouraged to show their support by
wearing red on Feb. 5. The red dress and the color red are symbols for women and
heart disease and the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement.
City Goes Red
Buildings throughout the country will Go Red in February to help raise awareness
of women and heart disease. In Chicago, Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, the
Art Institute, 900 N. Michigan, the Smurfit-Stone Building and Blue Cross Blue
Shield are just a few of the many area buildings that will be going red in
February.
Go Red Sunday
The American Heart Association is calling on local churches to join in the fight
against heart disease by supporting Go Red For Women Sunday. Churches and other
faith-based organizations are encouraged to conduct hearth-health awareness
related activities as well as invite members to wear red to services to show
their support. By supporting the Go Red For Women movement, churches are
informing their congregations about the importance of heart health and
encouraging individuals to take action and live longer, stronger lives. To learn
more about how your church can participate, contact Curvine Summers at
312-476-6654 or
curvine.summers@heart.org.
Go Red For Women Luncheon
The Chicago Go Red For Women Luncheon will be held on February 26. Over 600
women will attend the empowering, half-day event which offers educational
breakout sessions, free health screenings, exhibits, a heart-healthy lunch, and
inspiration from our keynote speaker, Charles "Peanut" Tillman. Nancy Chagares,
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising, Jewel-Osco, is the chair
of year's Go Red For Women Luncheon.
About Go Red For Women
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence
of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease -- the No. 1 killer of
women. We want millions of women across America to take heart disease
personally. Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace
the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the
cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information
about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit
GoRedForWomen.org. The
movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's oldest and
largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives,
free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3
killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a
year. In fiscal year 2006--07 the association invested more than $554 million in
research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service
programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call
1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit
americanheart.org.
''GO RED'' EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS AROUND CHICAGO:
GO RED FOR WOMEN CASTING CALL
When: February 5
Where: Macy's on State
What: The American Heart Association and Mrs. Dash is looking for women in Metro
Chicago who are "Speaking Up to Save Lives." Women do not need to be a heart
disease survivor; we are simply looking for women who make their voice heard on
women and heart disease. Chosen participants will go on to compete for a spot in
a national television special.
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW -- "WHAT'S YOUR PERFECT SHADE OF RED..CAR"
When: February 16
Where: McCormick Place
What: Go Red For Women will be at the 102nd edition of the Chicago Auto Show
which is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times
than any other auto exposition on the continent. Stop on by to put your feet up
in the Relax in Red lounge and check out which red car best suits you!
JEWEL-OSCO HOLDS IN STORE PROMOTION
When: February 1 -- February 28
Where: All Jewel -- Osco's in Illinois
What: Jewel is doing numerous things at their stores throughout February.
Including creating Go Red shopping bags, passing out information in store,
airing Go Red information on their in store radio, and much more!
MACY'S WEAR RED DAY SALE AND MORE
When: February 3- February 7
Where: Macy's throughout Illinois
What: Macy's, a national sponsor of Go Red For Women, is having a special sale
in honor of National Wear Red Day. Customers who are wearing red Feb. 3 - 7 will
receive 20% off most regular and sale price items. Customers who are not wearing
red can get a red dress pin and a discount by donating $3 to the American Heart
Association's Go Red For Women movement.
SARAH'S PASTRIES AND CANDIES -- RED DRESS COOKIE
When: February
Where: Sarah's Pastries and Candies, Oak Street, Chicago and at Macy's on State
What: The boutique bakery is creating yummy red dress cookies to show support
for Go Red For Women.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE -- "STATE STREET BEAT"
When: February
Where: State Street
What: A celebration and extension of Go Red For Women--the American Heart
Associations movement that highlights the potentially life-changing choices that
we make every day--will come to life on Chicago's famed State Street in February
of 2010. State Street Beat, active during Valentines Day and beyond, will inform
and inspire women and families to make healthy lifestyle choices to beat heart
disease.
The main component of the exhibition will be an architectural-scale video projection featuring heart health related programming. In addition, various artful animations will express the pulse of State Street and draw connections between the Chicago Loop, human heart and healthy lifestyles. All of these graphic narratives will be tied together through the underlying messages of the Go Red For Women movement. Additional State Street exhibition assets (banners and exhibit panels) will be used to share the Go Red For Women messaging and to integrate this messaging with still images from the video programming.
PALMER HOUSE HILTON GOES RED
When: February 1 -- February 28
Where: Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
What: The Palmer House is going red inside and out. The legendary hotel is
illuminating their building, airing the Go Red For Women Choices PSA and
distributing red dress stickers to guests who check in; and they're even having
a special red drink promotion!
S FACTOR -- CELEBRATES INNER AND OUTER BEAUTY
When: February 20
Where: S Factor Studio, Chicago
What: S Factor will be hosting complementary classes and a Go Red event where
students can learn about cardiovascular disease in women. The event will include
a story from a local survivor, mini manicures and healthy snacks provided by a
local grocer.
OAK STREET COUNCIL GOES RED
When: February 5
Where: Oak Street, Chicago
What: Chicago's historic Oak Street in the Gold Coast neighborhood will be
raising awareness by displaying go red merchandise in their store fronts,
displaying window clings, staff wearing red attire and encouraging women to join
the movement.
METRO CHICAGO GOES RED:
BUILDINGS GOING RED THROUGH METRO CHICAGO
When: February 1 -- February 28
Where: Metro Chicago
What: This year we have succeeded in securing many of the landmark buildings in
Metro Chicago to join this powerful and visual awareness opportunity including:
- Wills Tower
- John Hancock Building
- The Wrigley Building
- Merchandise Mart
- Smurfit Stone Building
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- 900 N. Michigan
- ABC7 Studios at 190 N. State
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Palmer House Hilton
- Essex Inn Chicago
- And many, many more!
O'HARE AIRPORT AND AMERICAN AIRLINES
When: Ongoing
Where: O'Hare International Airport American Airlines Baggage Terminal
What: On each of the 8 baggage terminals a poster is displayed featuring women
from the American Heart Association Chicago Survivor Gallery.
ESSEX INN CHICAGO
When: February
Where: Essex Inn, 800 South Michigan, Chicago
What: The hotel that resides downtown Chicago on the Michigan Avenue Cultural
Mile is going red by displaying large Go Red For Women window clings, displaying
a "Heart Family Tree," placing red dress stickers with every room key and
creating a "Room With a View and a Red Dress too" suite!
Love Your Heart: Tips for Daily Living
Make Easy Lifestyle Changes. For Example:
- Look for short breaks each day (approx. 10-30 minutes) to implement heart
healthy activities such as walking or other types of enjoyable physical activity
- Take the Go Red Heart Checkup at
www.GoRedForWomen.org to learn your heart
disease risk
- Plan quick and simple healthy meals
- Know your family heart health history
Tips for Women at Work:
- Add extra walks to and from the water cooler
- Take ten minute walks between meetings
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator
- Bring healthy snacks
- Take time for lunch and eat at regular intervals versus skipping meals
- Make time for physical activity -- go to the gym and bring your favorite book or office materials to read or workout at home watching your favorite show
Tips for Moms on the Go:
- Plan meals in advance -- visit americanheart.org for recipes from a number of heart-healthy cookbooks and use the online grocery list builder to quickly identify heart-healthy products to add to your grocery list
- Set up "physical activity time" on a daily basis
- Walk around your neighborhood or in your office
- Run up and down the stairs
- Do an exercise video
- Walk when doing errands and park farther from your destination
- Take your kids to the park and identify play time activities that help keep you fit
- Join a walking group or ask friends to join you in daily walking
- Work out when your child is at practice or extra curricular activities
- Exercise while watching your favorite TV show
Tips for Traveling for Work/Play:
- Plan a physical activity routine
- Airports and malls are great places to get in a brisk walk around the terminal or from one end of the mall to the other
- Drink plenty of water
- Take time to stretch while on the flight
- Exercise in your hotel room -- simple stretches or other exercise like sit ups and push ups
- Take advantage of physical fitness facilities located in the hotel
- Pack heart-healthy snacks, fruits, and know how to manage your snack triggers
- Pack sneakers and comfortable clothes for working out
- For frequent travel keep an extra pair of tennis shoes already packed in your bag
Love Your Heart: Relaxation Tips:
- Keep a journal
- Reduce stress: Plan a technology-free weekend balanced with active sports,
swimming, skiing, horse-back riding, or other fun physical activity
- Celebrate your successes with healthy rewards like a massage or facial
- Read a book