Let's have a heart-to-heart
Hi!
This week I decided to change things up a bit and send you a quick note on a Friday.
In the spirit of health and wellness, I want to bring into light what the first Friday of February marks: it’s National Wear Red Day.
So what is National Wear Red Day?
It’s when you wear red to promote awareness about cardiovascular disease in women (BTW, February is American Heart Month, too!)
Let me share a few facts:
Heart disease remains the leading killer in the US, based on the American Heart Association‘s release on Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics in 2021
Taking it a step further, heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and white women in the United States.
About 1 in 16 women age 20 and older (6.2%) have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease.
As a doctor, as a coach, as a woman of color, and as woman who has led a high impact and stressful lifestyle, I want to stress how important heart health is. I encourage women to take a preventative approach: learn more about heart disease, how it can affect you, and what steps you can take to lead a healthier lifestyle.
I’ll share 3 preventative tips you can take right now:
Eat whole and eat well: minimize alcohol use and refrain from smoking.
Try to mitigate the levels of stress in your life.
See you primary doctor regularly: check your labs and your vitals.
By the way, I know number 1 and 2 are not the easiest to accomplish. It’ll take some effort and patience to create a healthier environment for yourself.
Let’s start with the first step towards a good cause (and it’s fun)…
Today (or tonight!) wear red to raise awareness about the prevalence of heart disease in women.
Hey, you know what, be bold and wear red whenever you have the chance.
Take this as a catalyst for change to improve your life.
BTW, here’s a link from the CDC : it provides a quick overview about heart disease in women.
Warmly,
Val
NEED SUPPORT?
P.S. If you are looking for any help or support to keep you accountable during your wellness journey, feel free to reach out to me for a consultation! Just click the link below to schedule!