American Heart Association Helping Women Live Longer, Healthier Lives
POSTED: 10:24 am EST January 21,
2005
UPDATED: 11:22 am EST February 9,
2007
The American Heart Association is celebrating American Heart Month with Boston Goes Red For Women -- an exciting campaign to empower women with the knowledge and tools they need to make positive lifestyle changes that will help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
"The number-one health risk to the women in our lives -- our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends -- is heart disease," said Charles D. Baker, president and CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. "As chairman of Boston Goes Red For Women, I am personally committed to raising awareness about heart disease while encouraging women to change this startling statistic by learning to live healthier lives."Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of American women. Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than half a million women each year -- about a death a minute. That's more lives than the next seven causes of death combined, and nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer, including breast cancer."Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in Massachusetts, claiming the lives of more than 33,000 women*," said Paula A. Johnson, MD, MPH, Brigham & Women's Hospital. "Boston Goes Red encourages women to take charge of their heart health by learning about preventative steps they can take to reduce their risk of heart disease; thereby changing the impact of heart disease in Massachusetts."For more information call 1-888-MY-HEART or click here.American Heart Association* Data provided by Massachusetts Community Health Information Profile. Census counts for 2000. 2000-2002 Mortality (Vital Records).The Go Red For Women campaign is sponsored nationally by Macy's and Pfizer and locally by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and The Boston Red Sox, with media sponsors WCVB Channel 5, Boston Magazine, STAR 93.7 and WRKO AM 680.About the American Heart AssociationSince 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, claim more than 930,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $407 million in fiscal year 2002–03 for research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.
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