Media Release
December 5, 2020
On October 22, 2020, the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, announced the 2021 First Coast Go Red for Women Campaign Chair, Christina Clohecy, Chief Financial Officer of Web.com Group. Go Red for Women is designed to raise awareness of the number one killer of women: cardiovascular disease. The First Coast Go Red for Women Campaign is sponsored nationally by CVS Health and locally by Florida Blue, Baptist Health, Web.com Group and The CSI Companies.
Christina is honored to lead this year’s campaign saying, “I have been wanting to make an impact on our First Coast community and when I met with the team at the American Heart Association, I knew this was the right fit for me. I was shocked at the statistics, and the fact that women defer their own health needs really resonated with me. Women are making strides in so many areas, and women’s health cannot be left behind.”
While nearly 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented, cardiovascular disease continues to be a woman’s greatest health threat. One in three women live with some form of cardiovascular disease. To prevent cardiovascular disease, women should understand family health history, know their numbers and make lifestyle changes like moving more, eating smart and managing their blood pressure. Risk factors that are within women’s control include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity/overweight and diabetes.
This year marks the 17th anniversary of the American Heart Association’s launch of the Go Red for Women Movement nationwide and the 11th annual event on the First Coast. Go Red for Women is rooted in raising awareness among women that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women around the world.
Heart disease is not just a problem for “older” men. Heart disease and stroke can affect a woman at any age. Research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women. Considerable progress has been made by the Association to increase awareness in 17 years, reaching tens of millions of women and health care professionals with lifesaving resources.
New findings from an American Heart Association special report published in September 2020, analyzing 10-year trends in women’s awareness that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat, show critical gaps in awareness among younger women. The trend is prevalent in women ages 25-34 and Black and Hispanics of all ages. The First Coast American Heart Association and Go Red for Women are calling for more to be done. There is an urgent need for public health organizations, government, health care professionals and community organizations to join forces and provide solutions to improve awareness, especially among young women and Black and Hispanic women.
Women continue to be disproportionally affected by cardiovascular diseases and underrepresented in clinical trials which is the lifesaving research needed to better treat heart attacks and strokes. There is considerably more understanding of the biological differences between men and women including disease progression and treatment response. While strides have been made to close gender and racial disparities in research and within the health care system, women continue to be underrepresented and overlooked in the U.S. and globally. To combat this, the American Heart Association and Verily’s Project Baseline launched Research Goes RedTM to encourage women to sign up and participate in clinical trials.
For more information, please contact Allison Gubitz at [email protected] or visit firstcoastgoredforwomen.heart.org
About Go Red for Women®
The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For 17 years, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721).
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721).