It’s National Wear Red Day!

It’s National Wear Red Day!

February has long been the month of cupids and heart-shaped chocolate boxes when everything is aglow in red. And February 5th is no exception. Put on your favorite red jersey, blouse, or cozy sweatshirt today and celebrate National Wear Red Day in support of the Go Red for Women®, a global initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women.

Beyond today, February is designated as American Heart Month by the American Heart Association (AHA) and is the perfect time to show your own heart some love. We’ve heard the statistic many times before, and unfortunately, it’s true! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, killing more women than all forms of cancer combined. Yet, keeping your heart healthy and strong is not that difficult. Just follow the GO RED steps:

G: Get Your Numbers — Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure or cholesterol.

O: Own Your Lifestyle — Lose weight, stop smoking, exercise, and eat healthy.

R: Realize Your Risk — Heart disease kills 1 in 3 women. Yes, it can happen to you!

E: Educate Your Family — Make healthy food choices for you and your family. And     stay active!

D: Don’t be Silent — Tell every woman you know that heart disease is the #1 killer. Show them you care!

Here in the Lowcountry, improving our heart health is important as 1 of every 3 South Carolinians have high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association of the Lowcountry, “Our greatest priority across the Lowcountry is to help everyone in the community to have better access to things like healthy foods and physical activity, as well as mental and physical health and primary care resources.”

2021 Lowcountry Heart Walk

Thankfully, there are ways you can help yourself and others in our community. Participate in the Heart Walk Move More Challenge, a 30-day challenge designed to encourage Lowcountry residents to get active throughout the entire month of February! Using the Heart Walk app, you can compete with other teams or family members and it’s free to register. Or, participate in the “Walk Where You Are” American Heart Association Heart Walk on Saturday, February 27th. Though the event of 5,000+ walkers won’t be gathering together in person this year, you can participate by walking right here in Beaufort or wherever you live to create awareness and raise money to help fund the AHA’s lifesaving mission. Visit www.LowcountrySCHeartWalk.org for more details on the event or American Heart Association of the Lowcountry to learn more about your heart health.

Photo courtesy of Delk Haigler Photography

 


Writer Bio:
Karen Snyder has pursued her passion for writing for more than 30 years. She has served as a corporate editor to Fortune 500 companies and contributing writer to many regional publications and magazines covering parenting, travel, health, education, and more. She relocated to Beaufort in 2018 and enjoys the Southern lifestyle and the coastal beauty of the Lowcountry.