Local women help raise heart health awareness

Members of A Woman's Work and the Longmont United Hospital Foundation braved the cold air Friday to bring awareness to American Heart Month. The women walked around Longmont United Hospital to raise awareness about heart health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the DIvision for Hearth Disease and Stroke Prevention is focusing this year's efforts to highlight hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension is the leading factor for heart disease and stroke, according to the CDC. 

Additionally, the CDC hopes to reach more communities that are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease by addressing barriers.

Heart disease can refer to several types of heart conditions and may go un-diagnosed until a person experiences a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia, according to the CDC. 

These women all dressed in red as they paraded around the hospital, hoping more women would think about their own heart health. The CDC website states the number one killer of women is heart disease and only 56% of women realize it.

Heart disease is the cause of 1 out of 5 deaths in women, states the CDC adding 1 in 16 women over the age of 20 suffer from coronary artery disease.

The CDC offers the following tips to lower the risk of heart disease:

• Manage stress levels by finding healthy ways to cope
• Check your blood pressure regularly
• Consult a doctor to see if you should be tested for diabetes which can increase your risk for heart disease
• Quit smoking or don't start, if you don't already smoke
• Exercise at least 2.5 hours each week
• Change your diet to include heart-healthy foods and drinks
• Limit alcohol to one drink a day