Jefferson City, Mo. – On Feb. 8, members of the General Assembly, their staff and advocates came together in the Missouri Capitol to wear red for heart health awareness. The event was held to celebrate National Wear Red Day, which was on Feb. 3, a day the Legislature is not in session.
Each year, the first Friday in February is celebrated as National Wear Red Day. This day is celebrated annually to bring awareness to the prevalence of heart disease and strokes in women.
Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year, taking the life of approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Through awareness it is believed that 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and action.
There are five numbers, which all women should be aware of to take control of their heart health: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). Knowing these numbers can help women and health care professionals determine their risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.
For more information about the Missouri Capitol or the Missouri Senate, please visit the Missouri Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov.