One day out of the year, people across the nation wear red to help bring awareness to heart disease. This year, National Wear Red Day is on Friday, February 1, 2019.
Laura Thiem, better known as Nurse Laura, wears red on National Wear Red Day, and every other day in February as well. She has done this for a number of years in hopes of opening a conversation with her patients – or with anyone – about preventing heart disease.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women – and men,” Nurse Laura said. “I think 28 days is a reasonable commitment.”
National Wear Red Day focuses on females because, according the American Heart Association:
- Heart Disease is the cause of one in three deaths in women
- Heart Disease is more deadly than all other forms of cancer (1 in 31 die from breast cancer)
- Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms
“We don’t do things like men do,” Nurse Laura said, referring to that last deadly statistic. “A woman’s warning signs of a heart attack are typically different than a man’s. By the time we recognize them as a heart attack, we are more likely to die.”
Following a heart attack, approximately one in four women will die within the first year, compared to one in five men, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Nurse Laura says she has been touched by her patients, and their loved ones, and the devastating consequences of heart disease leading to sudden death, or a stroke related to AFib (atrial fibrillation).
“A cardiac event makes a major impact on a person’s life,” said Nurse Laura. “Heart attacks don’t always kill, but they can really affect a person’s quality of life.”
After a cardiac event, patients may experience depression (in about 33% of patients), and they may struggle with physical activity, sexual function, and their finances.
Prevention vs. Treatment
“People tend to put more thought and money into maintenance on their cars than their bodies. A car can be replaced but the body lasts our lifetime. Preventative care and early detection are key,” said Nurse Laura.
Although you can’t control some things that put you at risk for heart disease – like family history, or a genetic condition like a heart murmur – there are others you can control. Take control by learning whether you are at risk in the following areas.
Blood Pressure Control: Testing is readily available in drugstores, or your provider
Cholesterol Management: Your provider can order a test, or you can purchase kits over-the-counter to test yourself
Tobacco Cessation: Stop using all forms of tobacco. If a cessation program is not available in your area, free online resources may help. Try smokefree.gov, a free tool from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Physical Activity: Just start moving! Even moderate exercise has been shown to improve heart health.
On Motivation
The good news is that even small changes to your diet and lifestyle can improve your heart health and lower your risk by up to 80%, according to the AHA.
“We all make choices,” Nurse Laura said. “For some, taking a pill is easy, but moving your body? That’s hard to do. And I’m right there with them.”
The key, she says, is to figure out what is keeping you from moving, and find a way to work around it. Don’t know where to start? Try a free workout on YouTube. Is it a bum knee, or stiff joints? Try some repetitive actions with your arms and legs while sitting, Nurse Laura suggests. You can also use weights, if you have them, or use cans of soup from your pantry as weights.
21st Century Tools
Some people are encouraged to lead a healthier lifestyle by using products like a Fitbit to keep track of their steps, heart rate and other actions. If you have a smartphone, some of these tools may be found in your iPhone or Google Play app store. Ask your health care provider for a recommendation.
Once you are aware of your risk, it is important to see a health care provider and develop a plan together to lower your risk of heart disease.
Will you wear red this Friday?
Laura Thiem is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Bates County Memorial Hospital Family Care Clinic in Adrian, Mo. She holds a PhD in Advanced Practice and is an instructor of Nursing at the University of Missouri in Kansas City (UMKC). She has practiced in Adrian since 1996.
