News 

It’s official - the Heart Foundation will be painting Australia red in June with special Go Red for Women events held across Australia.

The Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women events aim to alert women about their risk of heart disease and inform them about the actions they can take to improve their heart health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Australian women - a fact that will surprise many Australians. On average heart disease kills almost 220 women per week or 31 Australian women each day. Women are also four times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer.

According to Dr Lyn Roberts, CEO – National, Heart Foundation, many Australian women are still unaware that heart disease can become a reality for them.

“It is still widely believed that heart disease is typically an old man’s disease. In fact, only 3 per cent of Australians are aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women ,” said Dr. Roberts.

“Women are often too busy thinking about the health of their partners, that they neglect their own. The Heart Foundation, through various Go Red for Women events, will encourage women to know and understand their risks of heart disease so that they can take the appropriate action.”

The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable. Women can reduce their risk of heart disease by making smart health choices such as not smoking, eating healthy foods, doing some form of regular physical activity and by ‘knowing their numbers’. This means finding out their cholesterol level, blood pressure and waist circumference.

”Our message to women is simple,” continued Dr Roberts. “Use the June Go Red for Women month as a time to love your heart by adopting a healthier lifestyle and by having a check up.”

Friday, June 15 2007 is the official ‘red letter day’ when all Australians can support Go Red for Women by wearing a splash of red. You can also purchase special Go Red for Women merchandise to raise vital funds for the Heart Foundation for research and education into women and heart disease.

As part of the national Go Red for Women campaign, the Heart Foundation has once again partnered with marie claire, with the magazine running a special women & heart disease editorial spread as part of the June edition. Other national Go Red corporate partners include Sunbeam and Elizabeth Arden who have created ‘red’ products to help the Heart Foundation raise much needed funds to reduce the incidence of heart disease in women.

To register for a Go Red for Women merchandise kit call 1300 550 282. To find our more information about Go Red for Women events in your state or territory go to www.heartfoundation.com.au

For heart health information or free Women and Heart Disease booklets, call 1300 36 27 87 or visit: www.heartfoundation.com.au/goredforwomen.

The Heart Foundation saves lives and improves health through funding world-class cardiovascular research, guidelines for health professionals, informing the public and assisting people with cardiovascular disease. As a charity, the Heart Foundation relies on donations and gifts in wills to continue our lifesaving research, education and health promotion work.

For more information please contact: Sophie Cooley NSW PR Officer Tel: 02 9219 2487 or Mob 0417 421 683


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