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National Wear Red Day - American Heart Month

  • 1.  National Wear Red Day - American Heart Month

    Posted 3 days ago

    February is American Heart Month and the first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day in support of women's cardiovascular health. 

    Here are some facts from the American Health Association: 

    1. 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.  

      • This is down from 65% of awareness in 2009. The greatest declines (adjusted for factors such as education level and income) were among Hispanic women (86% decline), Black women (67% decline) and women ages 25-34 years old (81% decline), signaling the need for more education among these groups (American Heart Association, 2020). 

    1. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over on-third of maternal deaths.  

      • Black women in the US have some of the highest maternal mortality rates due to factors such as lower-quality care settings, differences in healthcare coverage and access, gaps in prenatal and postpartum care, higher prevalence of comorbid conditions (shaped by social and structural drivers of health), bias and racism. Addressing underlying causes will reduce disproportionate mortality rates (KFF, 2025). 

    1. Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim. 

    1. Only 38% of participants in clinical cardiovascular trials are women. 

      • In 2019, the initiative Research Goes Red was launched to promote the inclusion of women, especially women of color, in clinical trials.  

    1. 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. 

    1. Going through menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, but the women's cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate in midlife, making increased focus on health during this pivotal life stage crucial. 

    1. Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes. 

     
    Call to action - Take control of your health! 

    • Eating a heart-healthy diet (low salt, trans fats, and sugar), getting plenty of exercise, limiting alcohol intake, abstaining from smoking, and managing your stress can reduce your risk.  

    • Regular check-ups aid with early detection for conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol. 

    • Educate yourself, your loved ones, and community about health disease prevention – see, e.g., CDC, FDA, Cleveland Clinic. 

     
    Personal questions to reflect on: 

    • How has chronic stress shown up in your body and how do you manage it to reduce your health risks?  

    • What would it look like if rest were treated as preventive care? 

    • When was the last time a health care provider talked to you about your heart health?  
       



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    Claire Schuch, PhD
    Associate Director for Research
    Program for Pet Health Equity
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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