The color pink brings awareness to women about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The color red often awakens people to the dangers of unsafe sex and HIV. Now, red is being used to increase consciousness of the number one killer of women -- heart disease.
Student Health Services is asking women -- and men -- to don red on Friday to show support for "Go Red for Women," day a national effort of the American Heart Association (AHA) that began last year with the purpose to "raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women."
Jacqueline DeFouw, health educator with Student Health Services, proudly displays a red dress pin, which is AHA's "symbol for women's empowerment over their heart health." DeFouw said that her desire this year is to educate students on the dangers of unhealthy eating, inactivity and smoking.
"We have several students on campus who have blood pressure issues and heart health issues," DeFouw said. She added that the lifestyles of college students make them prime candidates for heart disease.
Kristin Finamore and Samantha Schwenke are nutrition educators with Student Health Services and are assisting DeFouw with facilitation of "Go Red for Women" day on campus. As graduate students in nutrition, Finamore and Schwenke educate other students about effective ways to lose weight and eat healthy.
"Weight control ties directly into heart health," Finamore said. "A 10 percent decrease in weight will lower your risk [for heart disease]."Schwenke added that college life could cause students to develop poor eating habits. She cited fast food as a major factor because students usually lack time for meal preparation and fast food is more convenient.Additionally, Finamore, Schwenke and DeFouw cited smoking as another risk factor prevalent with students on campus.
"The fastest growing group of smokers is college-age, white women followed by college-age, African-American males," DeFouw said.Finamore said that educating students and promoting awareness helps to prevent health problems down the road.
Stan Gibert, communications director for the Memphis branch of the AHA, agrees.
"Heart disease and stroke kill more women than all cancers combined and the next seven top killers," he said.
Gibert added that many women are not aware of the prevalence of heart disease among their gender.
The AHA conducted a survey of 1,000 women before the "Go Red for Women" campaign began and again after the program's first year was completed. The survey asked the participants what concerned them most about women's health. Only eight percent were concerned about heart disease prior to the campaign. The second survey showed a significant increase with 57 percent citing heart disease as a major concern for women.
These findings are a part of the AHA's State of Women and Heart Disease Report being released today at a press conference at the Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women in East Memphis. A red dress statue will also be revealed.
Gibert said that Memphis is showing great support for the campaign. Local companies are participating with employees paying $5 to dress down in red tomorrow.
Also, the city itself is going red with several city landmarks donning red lights, including the Pink Palace Museum, Baptist Memorial Corporate Headquarters, Memphis Light, Gas and Water and Graceland. Nationally, AHA has R&B diva Toni Braxton as their official spokesperson and a Web site promoting the campaign that includes an online shop where "Go Red" paraphernalia can be purchased, such as the red dress pin. The web site also offers information on understanding heart health and tips for healthy living.
For more information on "going red," contact Student Health Services at 678-2287 or go online to americanheart.org.
