National Wear Red Day
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD
The first Friday in February is the day we all get to wear something red to work. What? Is our work attire now being dictated to us? Are we still in America? Why red? "It's just not my color!" you say. Well, yes, we are still in America and no, wearing red on that day isn't mandatory. It is however a great way for us to show support for the women in our lives by reminding them to get heart healthy.
Typically women tend to be all about the heart; we get involved in matters of the heart very easily, want to know where someone's heart is on an issue, we give our hearts away...and on and on. But do we know the heart truth? That heart disease is the number one killer of women. It's true, check it out at the hearttruth website. So why red? Red symbolizes many things - danger, heat, power, love, etc. - it indicates courage and is often used to incite people to make quick decisions (think "buy it now" button). Women tend to be the caregivers and nurturers, often putting their own needs behind all the other responsibilities they have. Here's a chance for us to honor the women in our lives whose hearts have touched ours and encourage them to get heart healthy - quit smoking, start a fitness routine, eat a healthy diet, get screened, etc.
The National Wear Red Day is an awareness campaign to inform women about heart disease; the word is getting out but for the most part women still need to wake up to the reality of the risk they are at, it's not just a man's disease anymore. Help spread the word, sound your own "red alert" and wear something red on February 2nd 2007, and tell a woman whose heart you care about that you did and why.
Photos Courtesy of Darwin Bell and Peter Kaminski's photos
6 Comments:
At Wed Jan 24, 08:33:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I have an exam that day so I'll definitely remember. Hmmmm...now to find something red in my closet.
Teide
At Thu Jan 25, 10:27:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I'll have to find some red to wear.
With heart disease in my family this is something that I'm glad was brought to my attention.
Teresa
At Thu Jan 25, 07:25:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
This is a good thing as heart disease in women is so underestimated in the general public. More women are dying of the disease but most people still think its a man's disease. Good job
Yetty
At Thu Jan 25, 08:15:00 PM 2007,
New Yorker said…
Sounds like a great idea. What is the best way to spread the word and have people know what it means?
At Fri Jan 26, 10:06:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Well said..but seriously I am not sure how man enough I am to wear red but my screen saver will be set to red on that day in support.
At Mon Jan 29, 10:59:00 AM 2007,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
The simplest way to spread the word would be to wear something red on that day for starters. Consciously make an effort to let people (particularly women) know that you're doing it that day not just as a fashion statement but to raise awareness about the risk and impact of heart disease in women. If you're uncomfortable with the idea of accosting strangers for their own enlightenment then tell your friends and family and have them tell their friends and family and so on. You can also go to hearttruth the site contains a wealth of information. Thanks for your interest and concern; it's a positive first step in getting the word out!
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