Learn the Truth about Heart Disease

Go Red For Women Luncheon & Conference

January 29, 2012
By: Stacy Sawyer

When you think of February, what comes to mind? Snow, chocolates, frigid temperatures, conversation hearts, heart disease? Most likely it's all of the above, minus heart disease. Yet, February is American Heart Month. The one month a year dedicated to drawing attention to heart disease, America's No. 1 killer and more specifically, the No.1 killer of women.


The truth is more women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer isn't as easy to see. Heart disease is often silent, hidden and misunderstood. Melanie Wood's family learned how silent the disease is this past fall.

"Nikkole was young, healthy, and energetic. You never would have thought something like this could happen to her," said Melanie.

Nikkole woke up that morning feeling sick to her stomach and had slight numbness in one arm so she asked a friend to take her to the hospital. But on the way she started feeling better and convinced him to take her back home because she thought she was overreacting. When she returned home, she had a massive heart attack.

"She was just 47 years old with two beautiful young children at home," Melanie explained.

"Women know their bodies. Nikkole knew something was wrong. Had she better understood the warning signs, continued listening to her first thought, her first instinct of "something's wrong" and continued to the hospital, I'm certain she would still be here with us today."

Currently some eight million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. This represents a significant disconnect between women's beliefs about their heart health status - and reality. The truth is: our lives are in our hands.

We can stop our No. 1 killer together by sharing the truth. Join us to learn about how you can fight back against heart disease at the Go Red For Women conference and luncheon. The local event will take place on Friday, February 10, at the Midland Country Club.

8:00am - Registration, silent auction opens

9:00 - Program begins

12:30 - Lunch

1:00 - Keynote speaker, Dr. George S. Abela of MSU

2:00 - Closing

We can be the difference between life and death. Register at www.GLBRGoRed.org and uncover the truth about heart disease and make ending it a reality.

Other ways you can get involved, include:

Wear Red Day: Be sure to wear red on Friday, February 3, National Wear Red Day. The one day a year when what you choose to wear can save a life. Learn more at www.GoRedForWomen.org/WearRedDay

Red in the City: Turn your building or office red this February to bring awareness to heart disease. Turn your outdoor lights red, wave a red flag, decorate your windows with red décor. To get involved, visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/WearRedDay/whosgoingred/

Go Red Registration Drives: Hold a go Red For Women registration drive. Simply provide the registration cards at your meetings, get-togethers or provide them to your customers or patients. Contact Stacy Sawyer at stacy.sawyer@heart.org if you'd like more information.

Macy's: 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. 2 - 5 will receive a special discount. 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.

Stacy Sawyer
Communications Director -- American Heart Association 989-225-7513 (cell) 517-349-3240 (fax)

I invite your questions and feedback