- 2/1/2010
Prestonsburg – February is Women’s Heart Month, and advocates for greater awareness of women’s health issues have encouraged women across the nation to “Go Red” on Friday, February 5, to reflect the fight against heart disease.
Heart disease, according to Highlands Regional Medical Center’s Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab, Dr. Vaughn Payne, is the number one killer of women. Being a part of the national call to awareness of critical issues, he says, “is the first step in making women aware of their well-being.”
According to the American Heart Association, there are seven key steps for women to follow to help live long, productive lives. Known as Life’s Simple 7, these steps include:
• Becoming more active, including an exercise regimen on a consistent basis
• Eat better
• Lose weight
• Stop smoking
• Control cholesterol
• Manage blood pressure
• Reduce blood sugar
“While these steps are general in nature and apply to people of either gender, it’s important for women throughout our community to become more aware of how they can best avoid heart disease and lead healthier lives,” Dr. Payne said. “I hope that many of us at HRMC will “go red” on February 5 to indicate our support of women’s heart health issues.”