To my family and friends! I am looking to raise $2,000 in 2 weeks for the American Heart Association! My passion for the AHA started back in 2002 when my dad had a successful triple bypass surgery at the age of 53. That seems so real to me. 53 is only 8 years away from my current age. He didn't die from heart disease but I remember it being a very nerve-wracking time for our family. Prior to that, I had lost the best deal-shopping Grandpa (Boppie) ever to heart disease and stroke! I don't think I would be as obsessed with the Gap Outlet if it wasn't for him! Fast forward many years, and my mom realized in her 60's that she had a minor congenital heart defect! It had been undetected for all of those years.
THESE ARE MY WHY!!!!!! I am trying to make a real impact this year to raise funds for the Go Red for Women campaign. This is women's greatest health threat, and it could affect me or our 3 daughters. 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 without. Please read through these facts about Women and Heart Disease and consider donating to my campaign -
- 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.