National Wear Red Day

WHEREAS, currently some 8 million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in five American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and

WHEREAS, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease; and

 

WHEREAS, 26 percent of women die within a year of suffering a heart attack, compared with 19 percent of men; and

WHEREAS, while one in 30 American women dies from breast cancer each year, one in three dies of cardiovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of over 419,000 American females each year, almost one death per minute; and

WHEREAS, only 43 percent of African American women and 44 percent of Hispanic women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk, compared with 60 percent of white women; and

WHEREAS, nearly as many women die of heart disease, stroke, and all other cardiovascular diseases than the next  three leading causes of death combined, including all cancers; and

WHEREAS, in women, heart disease is too often a silent killer; less than a third of women in a recent survey reported any early warning signs such as chest pain or discomfort before a heart attack, compared with most men;  and

WHEREAS, common symptoms for women included pain of the jaw, arm or back, but most reported a delay in seeking treatments after the symptoms began of anywhere from 15 minutes to two weeks; and

WHEREAS, women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are if someone else were having a heart attack; and

WHEREAS, making the right choices relating to proper nutrition, physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle choices are essential to living a heart healthy life; and

WHEREAS, all women should learn their own personal risk for heart disease; using tools such as the American Heart Association’s My Life Check, Go Red For WomenHeart CheckUp, Go Red For Women Better U, and by talking to their healthcare provider; and

WHEREAS, Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s national call to increase awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for women, and to inspire women to take charge of their heart health; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim February 3, 2012, as

National Wear Red Day

in the State of the Alabama and urge all citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day through the wearing of the color red.  By increasing awareness, speaking up about heart disease, and empowering women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, we can save thousands of lives each year.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 17th day of January 2012.

 

                                                                             Robert Bentley, Governor