Women’s Center promoting heart health awareness
The USU Women’s Center and the American Heart Association are teaming up this Friday to persuade Aggies to trade in their blue pride for red.
Since February of last year, the American Heart Association has recruited sponsors such as Pfizer and Macy’s in their “Go Red For Women” campaign to tell the nation about the notorious killer stalking the women of our day: heart disease.
This year, their efforts have been extended by the USU Women’s Center.
Since its establishment in 1974, the Women’s Center on campus has considered educating the public as one of their key roles. The Women’s Center is encouraging students to wear red in support of heart disease awareness this Friday.
Mary Austin, co-organizer of the event, said, “No matter what age, it is a great idea to take control of your health and make healthy changes today.”
According to the Go Red For Women Web site, “Red is a symbol for women and heart disease. But red is more than a color; it’s the power of women – like you – investing in their heart health.”
Students are encouraged to wear red hats, T-shirts, sweaters, earrings, socks or even iPods.
For students with out any red clothing, there are red dress pins available in the Women’s Center, TSC Room 315. The cost is $2-$5, with proceeds going to the American Heart Association. The pins will also be available Friday in the Sunburst Lounge.
Tanya Birch from Logan Regional Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation clinical lead will also be speaking in the Sunburst Lounge Friday at 11:30 a.m. about the effects of heart disease on college-aged students and preventive measures they can all take to reduce their risks. There will be material on hand for those interested in heart-healthy eating habits, weight maintenance, exercise and blood cholesterol management.
Birch, an Aggie alumna, wants to spread the news concerning heart disease. She said although heart disease is the number-one killer of both men and women, it seems to her heart disease often takes a backseat to breast cancer.
According to a 2001 study by the American Heart Association, more women die of cardiovascular disease than all cancers combined.
In 2005, close to 513,000 women’s lives were claimed due to heart issues – twice the number that were claimed by cancer. This Friday, students can expect an important lesson that’s good for their hearts.
The risk of heart disease is never too small to be ignored. Especially considering the experience of Mitch Dorios, a junior majoring in business. His friend, Jordan Fowers of Farmington, felt a pain in his chest during a basketball game on his LDS mission.
According to Dorios, in the beginning of last month – three years after the initial pain – doctors ran more tests to discover an aortic dissection – a tear in the layers of his heart. The tear is believed to have been advanced by a degenerative heart tissue disease. The $140,000 surgery failed and Fowers died.
The American Heart Association’s Web site counsels, “Cardiovascular disease is mostly preventable, so understanding these serious health threats can make a lifesaving difference.”
Of his experience with his late friend, Dorios says his family and friends are certainly more aware that “the body isn’t perfect.”
Visit www.americanheart.org for ideas on how you can prevent heart disease.
—jfullmer@cc.usu.edu