National Wear Red Day

The American Heart Association’s Go Red Por Tu Corazon and Chef Hamlet Garcia Raise Awareness Among Latinas About Heart Disease This National Wear Red Day, women across the nation can support the fight against their No. 1 killer

Heart disease continues to be the No. 1 killer of Latinas in the U.S. In fact, more women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, the killer isn’t as easy to see, and may be difficult to identify for Latinas and their families. This Friday, Feb. 3 2012, is National Wear Red Day, a day meant to motivate Hispanic women in our communities to make healthy life choices for themselves and the ones they love to help stop heart disease. This February, Go Red Por Tu Corazón will be joining forces with Chef Hamlet García, host on Vme Cocina to help spread awareness about heart disease and how to decrease risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. “Our heart health is really in our hands.

As Latinos, sometimes we are used to eating large portions and cooking with fatty oils. One of the first steps we can take is to make small changes to the food we cook in our homes,” said Chef Hamlet, spokesperson for Go Red Por Tu Corazón. “This directly influences our heart health, and allows us to continue enjoying moments with our loved ones.” Currently, some eight million women in the U.S. are living with heart disease, yet only one in six women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. In fact, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Eva Gomez, 2011 Go Red Por Tu Corazón spokesperson, comments on her experience. “I could not believe it,” said Eva. “Now I am one of the many women who suffer from heart disease – the number one killer among Latinas”. “After my experience, I have made many changes in my life to maintain Heart health,” said Eva. “The first thing I had to change was my eating habits. I eliminated fried and greasy foods and substituted them for healthier foods.” The good news is that heart disease can be prevented. In fact, 80 percent of cardiac events in women are linked to poor choices, involving diet, physical activity and smoking. Women must make the right choices to change this statistic. That’s why Go Red Por Tu Corazón, the bilingual movement of the American Heart Association was developed to offer Hispanic women and their families the tools and resources necessary to be healthier using practical tips that are culturally relevant.

Local Events Local Red Dress Dash and Go Red CONNECT events will be held across the country throughout the month of February. Latinas who share their stories about heart disease have the chance to become a spokesperson for the cause representing Go Red Por Tu Corazón in marketing materials, at events, and on GoRedForWomen.org and GoRedCorazon.org. Visit GoRedCorazon.org for more information about local Go Red CONNECT events and how to participate in National Wear Red Day. For more information on Go Red Por Tu Corazón and National Wear Red Day, please visit GoRedCorazon.org