On February 3, Gibson Area Hospital GAH employees wore their red in support of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” to bring attention to women’s heart disease. This year over 37 GAH employees participated in “Go Red for Women”.
For a $5 donation, hospital employees received a sticker qualifying them to wear jeans with their red in support of the American Heart Association.
Every year, heart disease claims close to half a million women’s lives in our country. In fact, it’s the No.1 killer of American women. Since coronary heart disease claims about 500,000 lives each year, it’s important to learn all you can about heart attacks.
“Women are more likely to ignore or delay treatment for heart problems even if they go for check-ups for other problems,” states Melissa Stiger, RN at Gibson Area Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. “Women are also more likely than men not to survive heart events.”
Stiger added, “You should know the warning signs so you can get help right away, either for yourself, or someone close to you. Acting quickly can save many, many lives! Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, and no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain or discomfort which is sometimes described as numbness or tingling.
For more information visit www.americanheart.org.
