My favorite color has always been red. When I was young my room was red. Now my office is mostly red. Yes, even red velvet chairs. Red lamp, red picture frames and a red office chair.
Red started to annoy me when I was rushed to the emergency room and found out at 47 years of age I had coronary heart disease and needed surgery.
I tried liking orange after that. But, denial only takes you so far. So, I jumped in to my red again. All the way to winning awards from the American Heart Association as best advocate a few years in a row. But being best advocate came with a zero paycheck. So I'm doing the next best thing. Educating people through articles like these.
Paint your town red: Part of going red is helping us spread the word by having homes, workplaces, buildings, landmarks and even local businesses Go Red. We’re always looking for volunteers to help, especially on National Go Red Day.
If you know any artists, reach out and see if they’d be interested in creating red-inspired pieces for murals, sidewalks, lampposts or anything else they can think of. Do you frequent a certain grocery store? Suggest creating red-themed healthy food displays. You can even ask that boutique on the corner if their window display can feature this season’s most stylish red clothing and accessories. There’s really no end to the possibilities. And because red is so versatile, you can be as creative as you’d like.
This coming National Wear Red Day, Feb. 1, 2013, marks our 10-year anniversary. And looking back on all we’ve accomplished, we’ve really made tremendous strides. They include:
• 21 percent fewer women dying from heart disease
• 23 percent more women aware that it’s their No. 1 health threat
• Publishing of gender-specific results, established differences in symptoms and responses to medications, and women-specific guidelines for prevention and treatment
• Legislation to help end gender disparities
But despite our progress, women are still dying. They’re still unaware of their risks and the facts. And now’s not the time for complacency. It’s time to stand stronger, speak louder and join us in the fight this National Wear Red Day.
Heart Disease Survivor, Advocate and Heart Health Expert - Lois Trader
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