"Go Red“ for National Wear Red Day to raise awareness for women's heart health on Friday

From the Florida Department of Health in Orange County

National Wear Red Day is Friday, and the Florida Department of Health in Orange County encourages the community to raise awareness about women’s heart health by participating and urging others in the community to wear red.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of one in three women in the US, thus making it the leading cause of death for women. In addition to wearing red, we encourage women to know the five numbers that all women should know to take control of their heart health.

The five numbers are:

• Total Cholesterol
• HDL (good) Cholesterol
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Sugar
• Body Mass Index (BMI).

Knowing these numbers can help women and their healthcare providers determine their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Here are a few lifestyle changes you should make:

• Don’t smoke
• Manage your blood sugar
• Get your blood pressure under control
• Lower your cholesterol
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Lose weight
• Eat healthy

For more information on “National Wear Red” day, please visit their website at https://www.goredforwomen.org/

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.