Be one in a million – Do it for your heart

American Heart Association challenges women to take the HHHeart CheckUp

INDIANAPOLIS, April 12, 2007 – With the arrival of spring comes the annual panic attack that many women face as they begin to think about slipping into their bathing suit.  Suddenly women everywhere are dieting, exercising and slathering on self-tanners --- all in preparation for the big day when they pull out that itsy bitsy, teeny weenie, yellow polka dot bikini.

The American Heart Association believes that spring is also the perfect time for women to think about the inside of their bodies --- specifically their hearts.  The first step is to understand their personal risk of heart disease – the No. 1 killer of women - by taking the Go Red Heart CheckUp, an interactive on-line assessment of their heart health.  The American Heart Association is challenging one million women to stop heart disease and Go Red For Women.

The Go Red Heart CheckUp will help women calculate their risk of having a heart attack or cardiovascular disease in the next ten years and give them information to help them make changes to reduce their risk.

“It can be a real wake-up call for women,” said Dr. Mary Norine Walsh, President of the Indianapolis Metropolitan American Heart Association Board of Directors and a cardiologist at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana.  “The Go Red Heart CheckUp takes the major risk factors for heart disease into consideration and gives women a good idea of what’s in store for them if they change nothing.  This is a CheckUp no woman should miss.”

To take the CheckUp, log onto to www.GoRedForWomen.org and click on the Go Red Heart CheckUp icon.  Women will be asked to enter basic information like height, weight and waist size, lifestyle information such as how much they exercise and if they smoke as well as cholesterol and blood pressure.  If important numbers like cholesterol or blood glucose level are not known, the Go Red Heart CheckUp will print out valuable information and questions for women to ask their healthcare provider. Once women have their numbers, the on-line CheckUp can be completed and the person’s risk assessed.  There is a Spanish version of the CheckUp on the Web site as well.

“One million women may sound ambitious, but it is a conservative number when you consider that heart disease is the number one killer of women,” said Dr. Walsh. “We are absolutely committed to reaching our goal and have asked our many cause sponsors to help us.”

Elizabeth Cisco, Vice President of Marketing and Guest Services at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana and Go Red For Women advocate, says, “Before you try on that bathing suit for the first time this season, stop and take the Go Red Heart CheckUp.  You’ll feel much more empowered and confident in that suit knowing that you’ve taken this important step towards leading a longer, healthier life.” 

The American Heart Association developed the Go Red Heart CheckUp in association with health care professionals, including a cardiologist, a primary care physician and a nurse practitioner. The CheckUp also can be used in a healthcare setting. Professionals can guide women through the process, explain their results and help them put their action plan for heart healthy living into daily practice. 

Go Red For Women is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and locally sponsored by St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana.  Additional Go Red for Women cause sponsors, such as Bayer, Brighton, Campbell’s Healthy Request Soups and V8,  Day-Timer’s,  Flooring America, Hamilton Beach, Kellogg’s Smart Start, Kensington, Key Bank, LeMystere, Perfumania, Princess House,  Swarovski, Rite Aid, WE Women’s Entertainment and Yankee Candle, also support the movement through various activities and programs.

About Go Red For Women

Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together and wipe out heart disease. Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the red dress and the color red have become linked with the ability all of us have to improve our heart health and live longer, stronger, healthier lives. Spreading the Go Red For Women message – love your heart – raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk by learning the steps to prevent it. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org.

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