Women Follow

Besides Black History Month, February also marks the start of American Heart Month. The first is National Wear Red Day, designed to bring attention to women’s health, especially cardiovascular disease. Women account for nearly half of all deaths from heart disease, so it is especially important we are proactive about our health. The symptoms of heart attack are different in women than men. Most people probably picture a man clutching his chest, but severe chest pain is more common in men than women. An article on women’s health from About.com lists some of the symptoms more common in women, including “throbbing pain in one or both arms, sweating, breathlessness, fluttering of the heart, or a feeling of pressure between the breasts.” I must admit, I don’t much care for the color red and only own one piece of red clothing, an ill-fitting jacket, so I cannot participate in tomorrow’s show of support, at least not outwardly. But I encourage all readers, male and female alike, to wear red, get educated about cardiovascular disease, and take care of their health.