Laredo Goes Red for Women! Helping Women Live Longer, Healthier Lives
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Feb 4, 2014, Comments Off
Courtesy City of Laredo Health Dept.,
Laredo, TX –Friday February 7, 2014 in support of the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s celebration of American Heart Prevention Month the “City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) Goes Red For Women” and throughout February we are highlighting HEART HEALTH MONTH.
This will increase awareness on how women can make a positive lifestyle change that will help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in women and more deadly than all forms of cancer. In Laredo, deaths in women due to cardiovascular disease are at an alarming rate. “All women need to make healthier choices for better health outcomes, especially to reduce the risks of heart disease and hypertension,” said Hector Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Health for the City of Laredo Health Department. “During pregnancy this is more critical as it puts both mother and child at high risk of complications and premature birth” said Nora Martinez, MPH, IBCLC, RLC, Chief, Health Promotion & Nutrition Services.
Laredo Goes Red encourages women to take charge of their heart and over all cardiovascular health by learning about preventative steps that can reduce their risk of heart disease. Dr. Zaida Gonzalez, Health Educator for the Department added, “Risk reduction steps such as reducing salt intake, checking your blood pressure, taking small dose aspirin as prescribed by a physician, eating healthier, stop smoking and control you glucose levels, can save lives, especially for women.”
To further promote heart prevention month the CLHD, through its Heart & Stroke Initiative and in coordination with many partners such as Laredo Medical Center Hospital (LMC), Doctors Hospital of Laredo, the City of Laredo Fire Department (LFD), both School Districts and the Laredo Health Coalition will start the month’s activities with Go Red Day on Friday February 7, 2014 at 9 am, at the health department’s Healthy Learning Center. Attached is a list of the month long activities (for February 7, 13, 20 and 28). We urge all women to join us as well their family to learn more about heart disease and women; all participants will receive a voucher for free Buena Vida screening (diabetes and heart).
For more information on heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke please call your doctor, local hospitals, the American Heart Association or the City of Laredo Health Department at 956-795-4918.
