The first Friday of February is National Go Red for Women Day in Kane County, when the Kane County Health Department encourages folks to wear red as a support for women’s heart health.

This year, Feb. 5 is no exception, and it’s a great way to kick of National Heart Month. It is no coincidence that National Heart Month is celebrated during February: The heart is the very symbol of the month’s most celebrated holiday, Valentine’s Day.

“We know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Kane County, which is why the Health Department’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) identifies chronic disease as one of the major threats to community health and well being,” Kane County Health Department Executive Director Barb Jeffers said.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type in the United States is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, costs the United States $312.6 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity. These conditions also are leading causes of disability, preventing Americans from working and enjoying family activities.

So, show your support for women’s heart health by wearing red this Friday. And while you’re at it, take a selfie and post it on social media. This is the best way to raise awareness for a serious health threat to our community.

About Go Red

SOURCE: goredforwomen.org

It’s time to put our hearts into it and Go Red For Women®

Our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends are at risk. Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Fortunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.

Get informed about the risks of heart disease and stroke. Know the red flags. Know your heart health story. Go Red For Women inspires women to make lifestyle changes, mobilize communities, and shape policies to save lives. United, we are working to improve the health of women in your community. For more information, visit goredforwomen.org.

A Decade of Success

Since the first National Wear Red Day in 2003, tremendous strides have been made in the fight against heart disease and stroke in women. Through research and education to healthy lifestyle changes:

• Nearly 90 percent have made at least one healthy behavior change.
• More than one-third has lost weight.
• More than 50 percent have increased their exercise.
• Six out of 10 have changed their diets.
• More than 40 perecent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One third has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.
• Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day.
• Death in women has decreased by more than 30 percent over the past 10 years.

About the Community Health Improvement Plan

The 2012-2016 Kane County Community Health Improvement Plan reflects the understanding that the quality of the communities where we live, work, and play is as important to achieving good health as going to the doctor for regular checkups, proper nutrition, and adequate physical activity. There are many factors that affect our health and have a tremendous influence on health outcomes. The physical environment, social and economic factors, and clinical care all play a role in an individual’s health and are all incorporated into the plan. For more information, visit the CHIP page on the Kane County Health Department website or click here to see a PDF of the Executive Summary.