Why Go Red
- In 2005, roughly half of the 17.5 million victims of heart disease and stroke - the world's biggest killer - were women.1
- Heart disease and stroke kills more women each year than cancer, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.2
- Women experience coronary heart disease differently from men. Frequent symptoms are chest or stomach pains, nausea, breathlessness and unexplained tiredness.
- Women are more likely than men to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.3
The Go Red for Women campaign is implemented in countries by national heart foundations and societies of cardiology. Check with your national heart foundation for more information.
1 World Health Organization. Preventing chronic diseases: A vital investment. Geneva, 2005.
2 World Health Organization. World health report 2004: Changing history. Geneva, 2004.
3 Willingham SA, Kilpatrick ES. Evidence of gender bias when applying the new diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction. Heart, 2005, 91(2):237-8.
Doyle F et al. Gender differences in the presentation and management of acute coronary syndromes. Euro J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2005 Aug;12(4): 376-9. Di Cecco R, Patel U, Upshur RE. BMC Fam Pract. 2002 May 3;3:8.
Women can take action now to reduce the number of deaths and disability from heart disease and stroke.
Among other things, women can reduce their risk of heart disease by not using tobacco, eating healthily and taking more exercise. Learn more >
Are you a survivor of heart disease?
Please submit your personal story and picture for posting on our web site.
