Have A Heart For Women's Health

Many women who need to hear this message the most aren't getting it: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.

Nationally, only 28 percent of African-American women and 24 percent of Hispanic women understand this reality, said Elizabeth Cisco, a member of the board of the American Heart Association's Midwest Affiliate. The comparable figure for all women is 57 percent, according to association data.

Cisco hopes the association's annual Go Red for Women campaign (www.goredforwomen.org) during February will increase awareness.

"I lose sleep thinking about the fact that the audience we need to be communicating to has a higher rate of heart disease. We have a lot of work to do to educate all women," said Cisco, system marketing executive at St. Vincent Health.

On National Wear Red Day on Friday, everyone is encouraged to wear red -- symbolizing the fight against heart disease. During the Love Your Heart Casting Call from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets, women who have improved their health can apply to star in local, possibly national, promotions to inspire other women.

Another event is the annual Go Red for Women Luncheon Feb. 20 at the Downtown Marriott, presented by St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana. For information, call (317) 873-3640.

While one in 30 women will die of breast cancer, one in three will die of heart disease, said Cisco. "Women are taught to think a lot about the outside of our chest, with respect to breast cancer, but we also need to be thinking about the inside of our chests."