Lifeway Goes Red For Women
Feb
26Posted in [Women’s Health] By LifeWayKefir LifeWayKefir
2/26/2010 5:59 PM
Today, surrounded by a sea of red, seven of your favorite Lifeway employees gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago for the sixth annual Chicago Go Red For Women Event. ABC7 Chicago news anchor Cheryl Burton emceed the event, which was attended by over 500 women and men and generated $50,000+ in donations. Chicago Bears left cornerback Charles Tillman was the keynote speaker, and he shared his very personal story of how heart disease has impacted his life. In May of 2008, his then-three-month-old daughter, Tiana, was diagnosed with a condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy; by July 2008 of that same year, after spending months in the hospital hooked up to tubes and machines and awaiting a transplant, Tiana received a heart transplant. She, her parents and siblings just celebrated her second birthday this month.
Equally as moving was hearing from a handful of women sprinkled throughout the room who stood up and spoke out about their own unique heart health challenges – one went into cardiac arrest at age six; another almost lost her seemingly healthy (thin, non-smoking, exercising) dad to a heart attack.
Every year, 500,000 women die from heart disease, making it the #1 killer of women – more than breast cancer or the next five leading causes of death combined. That’s one female dying every minute from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Women experience different symptoms than men, which means what feels like a panic attack or indigestion could actually be a potentially deadly blockage in the heart. Common symptoms in men include chest discomfort or pain, pain or discomfort spreading beyond the chest to the shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth or jaw, and shortness of breath. While women may experience some of these same symptoms, they may also have none of the most typical heart attack symptoms. Be on the lookout for sweating, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain or "heartburn," lightheadedness or dizziness and unusual or unexplained fatigue.
We hope you’ll take a moment to share this information with a woman you love – email this link to your mother, sister, wife, best friend or co-worker. It could save their life.
At Lifeway, we were incredibly inspired by today’s stories of those who have overcome their battle with heart disease and stroke, and are committed to helping spread awareness. Information is key – you can make a difference.
Stay healthy, everyone!
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