National Effort Puts Spotlight on Heart Disease as Leading Cause of Death in Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 1, 2010

Contact: Lisa Clough, Director of Communications

Direct: 202.464.8734

Email: lclough@womenheart.org

Washington, DC -- American Heart Month is here and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is getting America ready in red to recognize heart disease as the leading cause of death in women. The Ready in Red campaign is led by WomenHeart Champions throughout the country – women heart disease survivors who are community leaders in education, advocacy and support for the 42 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease. WomenHeart Champions will turn their towns into landscapes of red to show support for accurate diagnosis, proper treatment and prevention of heart disease. They will show support and raise awareness by displaying the campaign poster throughout their communities and encourage women to take charge of their heart health.

"The time is right for the country to know that heart disease kills more women each year than men, more than any other disease and more than all cancers combined. We hope to move the nation toward more effective diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women, and support for the more than 42 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease," said Lisa M. Tate, Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart.

"We're very excited to see the national response as America becomes a landscape of red for American Heart Month. As a nation we to need continue to educate about heart disease prevention, advocate on behalf of women with heart disease for better care, and provide women with heart disease the support they need to live heart healthy lives," Tate continued.

Beginning today and continuing throughout the month, a national photo contest is open to the public to find the participant with the best photograph of how they got their town or community ready in red. The contest is simple: participants are asked to print the poster, take pictures of how they decorated their community with the poster and additional decorations and submit the photos online at www.womenheart.org/readyinred.cfm. The winner will receive a grand prize of a $500 gift certificate donated by Travizon Corporate Travel. Complete contest rules and more information about Ready in Red are available online.

The contest seeks to encourage women living with heart disease, as well as their families, friends and the heath care community, to generate awareness of this chronic and life threatening medical condition. Cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle and diabetes all increase women's risk of having a heart attack or developing heart disease. Many women are under the impression that heart disease is a man's disease; however, more women than men have died from heart disease every year since 1984. Furthermore, women are less likely than men to receive guideline based treatment after a heart attack. As the leading cause of death of American women, heart disease needs to be a leading health concern for more women.

For more information on Ready in Red, visit www.womenheart.org/readyinred.cfm.

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

WomenHeart is the nation's only patient advocacy organization serving the 42 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease – the number one killer of women.  WomenHeart is solely devoted to advancing women's heart health through advocacy, community education, and the nation's only patient support network for women living with heart disease.  WomenHeart is both a coalition and a community of thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, physicians, and health advocates, all committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. Take charge of your heart health and get your free women's heart health action kit at www.womenheart.org/kit.

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