Go Red for Women
by:Janyce Gately MS, RD, LDN, CHC
The first Friday in February each year is known as National Wear Red Day. This national campaign by the American Heart Association is intended to raise awareness about heart disease in women and help share facts to improve heart health. But February 5 has turned out to be much more than wearing red and sharing information. It’s become a movement for women to take charge of their health and make a commitment to healthy behaviors, also known as Go Red Health Behavior Commitment Day.
Heart disease and stroke take the lives of one in three women. The risks include a family history of heart disease, diabetes, complications during pregnancy, menopause, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet and stress. Some of these risk factors can be prevented or reversed by making lifestyle changes like reducing stress, incorporating movement into your day and making dietary modifications.
Here are some ways you can show support for saving women’s lives on National Wear Red Day Friday, February 5:
- Wear red and post #GoRedWearRed on your social media accounts
- Know your numbers: find out more about your risk factors by checking your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar
- Participate in lifestyle and fitness challenges with the American Heart Association’s #GoRedGetFit initiative, you can earn prizes while getting healthy. For more information contact GoRedForWomen.org
- Make a commitment to your health. Taking the steps to reduce your risk factors can seem daunting and difficult without support and guidance, but you don’t have to go it alone. The dietitians at Waverley Oaks can help you with your Go Red Healthy Behavior Commitment contact [email protected] to get started today!