News Release

World heart federation TO Take

THE “Go Red For Women” campaign global

February 16^th 2004 , Orlando, USA - The World Heart Federation, supported by its member organisations in 100 countries, will take the “Go Red for Women” campaign global from February 2006. The campaign has significant potential to dramatically reduce the number of women dying and becoming disabled from heart disease and stroke.  This announcement will be made at the 2005 International Conference on Women, Heart Disease and Stroke, organised by the American Heart Association (AHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Heart Federation.

The “Go Red for Women” campaign was created by the American Heart Association in 2004 to empower American women with the knowledge and tools to take charge of their heart health.  Red was chosen as a bold colour to draw attention to women’s risk.  Heart disease and stroke kills more women globally (over eight million) each year than all type of cancers, HIV Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

The “Go Red for Women” campaign has captured imaginations and reached hundreds of millions of American women and their loved ones.  Millions of red dress pins are worn by women across the US, healthcare professionals are being educated on how to implement the AHA’s primary and secondary prevention guidelines for women, numerous companies design and donate proceeds from sales of red items to fund research into heart health, famous monuments are lit in red and celebrities who have worn specially designed red dresses for fashion shows include Venus Williams, Sheryl Crow and Sarah Ferguson.

“Women are seriously neglecting the health of their hearts,” said Dr Valentin Fuster, President of the World Heart Federation. “The Go Red for Women campaign will help women to better understand their greatest health threat,” he added.

“Half of all female deaths and disability from heart disease and stroke could be cut through a combination of simple, cost effective national efforts and by women themselves to reduce major risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.  By taking the campaign global we have the opportunity to support women in both developed and developing countries and help them to live healthier, longer lives,” said Dr Fuster.

The campaign will also aim to increase the focus and attention on heart disease and stroke in women amongst the medical community. “There is no doubt that women with heart disease are under-treated,” said Sania Nishtar, Chairperson of the Foundation Advisory Board for the World Heart Federation.  “For example, nearly six in ten physicians believe men are more likely to die from stroke, whereas more women die (11 per cent) than men (8.5 per cent).  We must correct the dangerous misconceptions that heart disease and stroke are only seen in middle aged white men and focus on recognition, treatment and diagnosis of the disease among women,” she added.

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation, a non governmental organization based in Geneva , Switzerland , is committed to helping the global population achieve a longer and better life through prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries.  It is comprised of 180 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe , East Mediterranean , the Americas and Africa . For further information visit: www.worldheart.org

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association supports research, public and professional education and community programs.  The organization includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters who carry out its mission in communities across the country.  The association is the largest non profit voluntary health organization fighting heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, which annually kill more than 945,000 Americans.  For more information visit: americanheart.org.

  (18/2/05)