February 1, 2006

State Employees to 'Go Red' to Promote Heart Health

State employees will join workers across the nation Friday in supporting an American Heart Association event aimed at increasing awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women.

Employees will sport the color red as part of Wear Red Day, a component of the heart association's Go Red for Women campaign to encourage women to take charge of their health. At noon Friday in the Capitol Rotunda, women executives will give a presentation on heart disease; lunch will be served.

" Wear Red Day is an opportunity for everyone to remember their female friends and family members who have suffered from the disease," said Diane Arave, wellness officer for the state Department of Administration. "It's also a time to think about your own heart and take charge of your health."

Arave said the state supports Wear Red Day because "heart disease affects so many of our employees' personal lives."

In conjunction with the heart association event and with National Heart Month, the Cardiovascular Health Program of the Department of Public Health and Human Services offers these heart-healthy tips:

• Visit your health-care provider for an annual checkup;
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure, cholesterol level, glucose level, and weight;
• Add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet; and
• Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your daily routine.

For more information on Wear Red Day, contact your nearest American Heart Association office, call 1-888-MY-HEART, or visit www.americanheart.org.

For more information on heart health, contact Chelsea Fagen, health educator with the DPHHS Cardiovascular Health Program at 406-444-4105.

Page last updated: 06/13/2006