Go red and fight heart disease in women

Worldwide cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes 8.6 million deaths among women annually. It is the largest single cause of mortality among women, accounting for a third of all deaths in women worldwide.

In South Africa CVD remains one of the major killers as one in four women before the age of 60 will have some form of heart condition. Another factor that adds to this statistic is that women also show the biggest increase in obesity, which heightens the situation.

It is with this in mind that the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA has launched the Go Red for Women campaign to wake up the women of South Africa. “It's a lifestyle disease. Today's woman has to make time for her work and family, often leaving little time to worry about herself. We want to make women aware of the risks of heart disease now whilst they still have time to change their lives,” says Hugo Coetzee, Marketing Manager at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA.

With these alarming heart facts in mind, The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa has launched the Go Red for Women movement. This international movement celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together and wipe out heart disease.

The primary message driving the Go Red for Women campaign is simple. Heart Disease kills Women. The campaign pairs this message with an interesting visual image - the red dress – as an international symbol for Women and heart disease.
The campaign provides women with tips and information on healthy eating, exercise and risk factor reduction, such as smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control, and blood cholesterol management.
For further information on Go Red for Women visit www.goredforwomen.co.za

The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa is a community-based organisation established to reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke in the population of South Africa by providing education and supporting vital research. For further information visit www.heartfoundation.co.za