Sixty seconds is all it takes in the United States for another woman to die of heart disease. One minute. Yes, one woman dies every minute from this insidious disease. Many of these deaths are preventable, but most women are unaware that heart disease can kill them, too. Traditionally, this has always been considered a man's disease. Many women are oblivious to the fact that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, affecting 450,000 women each year. Most women are aware of the threat of breast cancer, which kills one in 30 women, but heart disease kills one in three women in this country.
This is certainly depressing news, but the American Heart Association (AMA) is doing its part to increase awareness and teach women how to take action to protect themselves. One of the ways in which the AMA is reaching women and raising awareness of this problem is through its annual Go Red For Women Luncheon, which will be held Feb. 2 at the Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge. This luncheon is part of a movement to encourage women to take control of their heart health.
Emceed by Sylvia Weatherspoon, the event will feature celebrity chef Holly Clegg, an exciting fashion show, free health screenings by Ochsner, a silent auction, booths filled with informational materials and the luncheon. The silent auction will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch, which will feature the inspirational testimonies of three women whose lives have been changed by heart disease. Models sashaying across the runway showing off fashions by Macy's will be the grand finale of the luncheon. Terrie P. Sterling, CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, will be the chairperson for the event.
"The fashion show includes local women who have been affected by heart disease," said Kerin Spears, regional director of the AMA. "Go Red For Women was initiated in 2004, and this is our fifth event. Our goal is to raise $200,000. We are close to that now, and I'm sure we'll meet our goal. More women die from heart disease than from the next five leading causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. The money we raise is invested locally in our own research facilities and in education and awareness programs."
Go Red For Women is asking women this year to speak up to save their lives, to get involved in their futures. Healthy choices are the answer, the only way to fight back against this killer. Women who "Go Red" have shown that taking control does work. Of those women, more than a third lost weight, 55 percent exercise more, six out of 10 change their eating habits and almost half check their cholesterol levels. All of these measure work to reduce the risk of a heart attack. And not smoking, women can add years to their lives. "This event raises the level of passion and participation from women," Spears said. "The stories of survival I've heard are amazing. Our program has raised awareness to the level where women are taking better care of their heart health."
There are many ways in which women can participate. They can wear red on Feb. 5, designated as National Wear Red Day. They can become involved in a grass roots movement to inform other
women about the dangers of heart disease or volunteer with the AMA. They can also go to www.shopgored.com  and purchase women's apparel, accessories and heart-healthy products to help fund AMA programs.
Even Louisiana government is getting involved. The Governor's Mansion will be lit in red for the first week of February in support of women's health.
"We got involved as a way to support women," said Shelly Williamson Esnard, director and partner at the Williamson Cosmetic Center and sponsor of Go Red For Women. "Eighty-five percent of my client list is women, and I wanted to find something that would help them. At Williamson Cosmetic Center, we do body rejuvenation. This is a way to help treat the whole body. I wanted to be a part of such a worthy cause."
Other sponsors include Albemarle, Peoples Health, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana, Ochsner Baton Rouge, Capital One, CVT Surgical Center, Louisiana Lottery Corporation, Total Vein Care and Williamson Eye Center. Media sponsors are Cox Communications, WBRZ-TV, The Advocate, Country Legends 107.3, and New Country 100.7 The Tiger. National sponsors include Macy's and Merck.
Five hundred women are expected to attend the event, and Spears says that number keeps growing. "Each year, this gets bigger and bigger," she said. "It's a fun time with a serious message."
And for those who cannot attend the event, www.goredforwomen.org is the perfect alternative. The website offers a variety of tools to help women prevent heart disease. Go Red Better U is a free 12-week online makeover designed to give women the tools necessary to change lifelong habits. Go Red Heart CheckUp is a risk assessment tool that helps women determine their heart health. The site also offers a community of stories where women can connect with each other and share stories of what they are doing to help prevent the disease. Educational materials are available on the website, in addition to cookbooks, brochures, posters, bookmarks and web alerts.
Very few tickets are left for the Go Red For Women luncheon, but the public is welcome to take advantage of the health screenings and health stations at no cost before the luncheon.
To join the Go Red For Women movement, please visit the website mentioned above or call (888) MYHEART. And don't forget to wear red Feb. 5!