Red dresses have become synonymous with women’s fight against heart disease, as the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association use the symbol to increase heart disease awareness.
On Friday, the two organizations are encouraging everyone to wear red.
National Wear Red Day is a way for people to show support for those suffering from heart disease, as well as a way to increase awareness of the deadly disease.
“Red is an alert. It’s meant to focus people’s attention that this is important. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women,” said Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, medical officer for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. “Hopefully it will compel people to action.”
Almost 500,000 women’s lives are claimed each year by cardiovascular disease, making it the No. 1 killer of women, according to The Heart Truth Campaign. But many women are still unaware of their risks. The Heart Truth Campaign, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is committed to helping people lower their risks of developing heart disease.
Although many college students see heart disease as something that only afflicts older people, Kayla Hardimon, an official spokeswoman for the Heart Truth Campaign and Miss Black Ohio, said it is important for everyone to have heart disease on their radars.
“What happens is the plans and habits you start now will show up in your life later,” Hardimon said. “If you don’t think about heart disease until you’re older, you have greater potential for getting it.”
The Heart Truth Campaign has been hosting Wear Red events such as the annual red dress fashion show during New York Fashion Week and National Wear Red Day for the last ten years. Because red is such a standout color, Hardimon hopes seeing people around campus wearing red will get people talking about heart disease.
“It’s a reality that a lot of people don’t realize so I’m hoping wearing red gets people’s minds thinking,” she said. “You might think why are people wearing red, go up and ask them about it and then find out the statistics.”
Seeing people wear red could open up dialogue about heart disease, agrees Elsa Heiner, a freshman studying biology, as long as people know what the red clothes are about.
“I think it’s a good way to increase awareness as long as it is advertised enough,” Heiner said. “As long as people know that’s why women are wearing red.”
Hardimon said that increasing awareness of heart disease would hopefully lead people to develop healthier lifestyles.
“The risk of heart disease is high for women and high for men, so it’s about finding out what can I do to stop that,” she said. “Do I need to work out more, eat healthier? Making small changes now can really help.”
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