PEORIA, Ill – In recognition of National Wear Red Day, state Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth, D-Peoria, is urging local residents to join her in supporting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign to raise awareness of heart disease.
“I admire the work the American Heart Association is doing to raise awareness about Heart Disease,” Gordon Booth said. “Heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death in this country, and through campaigns like Go Red for Women, we can help make sure women are informed about steps to prevent heart disease and seeking medical attention when necessary.”
Cardiovascular disease is a very dangerous illness and often called a silent killer, because symptoms often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed for years. Chest pain and discomfort in the left arm are well-known symptoms of heart attacks, but women should be aware of the lesser-known symptoms of heart disease, including shortness of breath, jaw pain, back pain and nausea. Heart disease is responsible for more deaths each year than all types of cancer combined, and 1 in 3 female deaths each year.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, heart disease and risk of heart disease can be treated by maintaining healthy daily habits like having a heart healthy diet, sustaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly. According to the American Heart Association, over the last ten years, Go Red for Women has saved more than 600,000 lives, funding gender-based studies showing responses to treatments and medications and publishing guidelines for women on treatment and prevention.
“A few days before Christmas in 2009, I lost my mother to heart disease,” said Gordon Booth. “We had no idea that there was a problem because she seemed to be in great health and regularly went to the doctor. Unfortunately, she did not get her heart checked. We have to make sure that the women we love in our lives fight this disease on every front. I want to thank Go Red for Women for bringing awareness and saving women from an untimely death.”
For more information, please contact Gordon Booth’s full time constituent service office at (309) 681-1992.