Today is National Go Red Day for Women’s Health
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – I know you just sang that.
But here’s the thing. Your heart can kill you. It can be a ticking time bomb. And the hearts you would be breaking if you don’t take care of yourself are your kids, partners, families and loved ones. Here’s the reality. More women – 1 in 3 will die from cardiovascular disease and it kills more women than all forms of cancers combined.
You must empower your health!
Why? You work out, eat healthy, have no problems or reasons to worry. Your age does not matter – it does not care how old you are.
But girl, here’s the FACTS:
Fact: Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It’s a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, coworkers and more. It’s a third of the women we can’t bear to live with it.
Fact: Cardiovascular disease impacts some women at higher rates than others, but the simple truth is that most cardiovascular diseases can still be prevented with education and healthy lifestyle changes.
Fact: Heart disease and stroke can affect a woman at any age, making it vital for all women to understand their personal risk factors and family history. Women can also experience unique life events that can impact their risk, including pregnancy and menopause. Furthermore, research shows that stress may impact health, making it important for women to understand the mind-body connection and how to focus on improving both their physical health and mental well-being.
Fact: Losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is too many. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. According to https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts this is why this is so important and what YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW:
Here are 10 other facts you need to know about women and cardiovascular disease:
- 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.
- Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy in the United States have good heart health.
- Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over on-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.
- 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.
- Going through menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, but the approach of menopause marks a point in midlife when women’s cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate, making increased focus on health during this pivotal life stage is crucial.
- Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, such as moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.
- 51.9% of high blood pressure deaths, otherwise known as hypertension or the “silent killer,” are in women, and out of all women, 57.6% of Black females have hypertension — more than any other race or ethnicity.
- While there are an estimated 4.1 million female stroke survivors living today, approximately 57.5% of total stroke deaths are in women.
- Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim.
- Women continue to be underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, as well as in research. In fact, women occupy nearly half of all U.S. jobs (48%), but only 27% of jobs in STEM fields. Furthermore, only 38% of participants in clinical cardiovascular trials are women.
This is not to SCARE you but to EMPOWER and EDUCATE you.
But there is something you can do about it! It’s not too late -actions steps you can start today!
Here’s some resources for you to access now:
https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/http://Go Red for Women
For women this is crucial! And we all know as moms dealing with school and homework and your job and career and everything else we get overwhelmed with – it’s easy to overlook taking care of yourself! We are so busy taking care of everything else, we get put on the back burner and don’t pay attention to our own health!
Women are much more likely to die and may not even realize it! And experts say this to crucial to bring greater attention to heart disease as a leading cause of death in women.
You do have the ability to make a difference and empower your health. It’s not melodramatic to say you can save your own life.
Make that doctor’s appointment now! Don’t let it be too late.
Take that INTENTIONAL SELF-CARE. Now.
You GOT THIS you gorgeous girl – make a difference in your life, your health and the life of your family as The Empowered Mom by taking care of your heart.
Empower Yourself Today!
While today is National Wear Red Day, the emphasis for you is to focus on your health and be aware and take action all of the month of February.
Remember baby, you can’t pour from an empty cup. You MUST take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else. Is it selfish that you take time for yourself? NO NO NO! It’s the most important and empowering thing you can do.
I commit to you (and my husband and family and loved ones) – that I am no longer thinking ‘it can’t happen to me’ and ‘I am perfectly healthy’. But the culprit can be happen for the healthiest of us. So, I make you this promise: I am empowering my own health and making doctor’s appointments, making changes in my daily activities and putting my health FIRST! Let’s all EMPOWER our precious hearts. Let me know what changes you are making and how you are empowering yourself and your own heart health!
Much love from My Heart to Yours,
XOXO,
Maria Luce AKA The Empowered Mom
And by the way, if you want to REALLY be in the know on events, happenings, activities for kids, everything happening in your community, and especially for you, mom (!!), check out BubbleLife at https://mckinney.bubblelife.com/ AND be in the know at https://intheloopkids.bubblelife.com/community/intheloopkids_news .