Go Red for Women

Yamille Luna, Yolanda McLeod-Terry, Kelly Edmondson, Kim Strong and Jeni Dzenis Live Fierce. Go Red!

GO RED

forwomen

Circle of Red members photographed by Christi Ashby at The Alfond Inn Losing one woman to heart disease and stroke is too many.

The Go Red for Women experience continues to be the cornerstone of the Go Red for Women movement in local communities. This empowering gathering focuses on preventing heart disease and stroke, sharing stories of people impacted by cardiovascular disease, and raises critically needed funds to save more lives.

Since 2004, the Go Red for Women movement has educated millions of women as to their No. 1 health threat: cardiovascular disease. But now we face a new challenge, younger women and women of color are not aware that this threat is real. We continue to innovate ways to ensure all women are aware of their greatest health threat, their risks, and what they can do to reduce them. Good health is a journey, not a destination, and we want to walk hand in hand with women throughout their lifetimes as their trusted wellness partner.

Go Red for Women has evolved into a global movement and is a driving force in the world of health equity. We accelerate science, advance public health policy, and address the multitude of gender and racial gaps for women in research, healthcare and more, all thanks to supporters like you.

The time is now. The need is real. Our strength is unmatched. There is no greater, more relentless force in the world than women united with passion and purpose.

Greetings Friends,

My heart overflows with gratitude to you for joining me in celebrating 18 years of improving women’s heart health through the Go Red for Women luncheon. The Go Red Movement is a hallmark of advancement and achievement in women’s heart health and the Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute is a proud sponsor. Revolutionizing cardiovascular care in Central Florida is our signature.

With my significant family history of heart disease, I am an avid advocate for women’s heart health. As a nursing executive surrounded by countless female patients and career women chronically prioritizing themselves last, I am passionate about improving women’s life expectancy and quality of life. In 2019, I attended my first Go Red for Women luncheon. I witnessed firsthand the expansive impact the Greater Orlando’s American Heart Association had on affecting change for the women of Central Florida. I knew I had to be part of the movement; my heart was convicted.

Although chairing anything of this magnitude and significance has its challenges, especially in a global pandemic, heart disease does not pause to allow us time. In fact, the sedentary and emotional impacts of quarantining during a time of high stress and great uncertainty threaten to worsen women’s heart health. Therefore, educating more women and mobilizing more households became a work of heart for me. I am so very thankful you joined me in this labor of love.

The Go Red for Women Luncheon raises awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke, bringing consciousness to associated risk factors. In fact, the Little Red Dress is a nationally recognized symbol because of the Go Red movement. Through life-saving research and prevention efforts, locally and nationally, women are increasingly aware of heart disease and stroke being our No. 1 cause of death. That is movement before monument, and the movement does not stop there.

The 2022 luncheon provides women a forum to stand together in discipline, in compassion, in wisdom, and in strength to confidently make a commitment to healthy lifestyles. In this 18th year, I hope the same spirit leads you to give generously to the American Heart Association. Give us a fighting chance of turning the tide on heart disease by enabling us to continue educating and empowering women to live and love longer.

From my heart to yours,

Kelly Edmondson, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Assistant Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital

Brittany Gruber, Christy Clelland, Sonja Nicholson and Julie Kleffel

Kari Fleck, Jill Schwartz, Christina Pinto and Gabriele Gannaway

CIRCLE OF RED

Circle of Red is a society of passionate individuals who are in the fight against heart disease and stroke in women.

The American Heart Association’s signature women’s 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.

It’s no longer just about wearing red; it’s no longer just about sharing heart health facts. It’s about all women making a commitment to stand together with Go Red and taking charge of their own heart health as well as the health of those they can’t bear to live without. Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone either, so grab a friend or a family member and make a Go Red Healthy Behavior Commitment today.

In communities throughout the United States, Circle of Red members use their influence, generosity and passion to help increase awareness of cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death in women — and to inspire women to take charge of their health. Circle of Red members are leaders in their communities and families. For many members, the fight against heart disease is personal.

As some of our greatest champions of the Go Red for Women movement, the Circle of Red members not only help save lives, but they are the heart of our mission.

CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS

Jeanne Adam Dr. Nitza Alvarez-Torres Christi Ashby Kimberly Bell Belinda Berman Dana Bledsoe Wendy Brandon Tere Brun Margaret Burns-Kohn Kari Conley Judith Conrad Dr. Megan Core Ellen Dadlani Oliver Dawoud Jeni Dzenis Candace Eden Kelly Edmondson Andrea Eliscu Cathy Engelman Camille Evans Kari Fleck Renee Friedman Gabriele Gannaway Vanessa Garner Dr. Francelis Gonzalez Brittany Gruber Shana Jackson Dena Jalbert Julie Kleffel Dr. Swathy Kolli Eva Krzewinski Krista Ledden Yamile Luna Andrea Massey-Farrell Yolanda McLeod-Terry Suzanne Menendez Kirsten Most Sonja Nicholson Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon Christina Pinto Cindy Reed Valarie Sanders Dr. Sumbal Sattar Jill Schwartz Beverly Seay Katie Seymour Cyndi Shifrel Mary Lou Sole Kim Strong Tracy Swanson Wendy Terry Kari Vargas Jayne Willis Dr. Nagi Youseff

HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN

If you have any of these signs, call 911 and get to a hospital right away.

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

LET’S WIN THIS TOGETHER:

HEART DISEASE IS THE NO. 1 KILLER OF WOMEN. SUPPORT THE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES THAT PROTECT THE WOMEN WE LOVE.

SAVE THE DATE: 2022 ORLANDO GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2022 10:30AM – 2PM

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa 14900 Chelonia Pkwy Orlando 32821 For sponsorship, tickets and general inquiries: OrlandoFL@heart.org 407-481-6300

Margaret Burns-Kohn, Andrea Massey-Farrell, Jayne Willis and Katie Seymour

Vanessa Garner, Christi Ashby, Eva Krzewinski and Tracy Swanson

WHY WOMEN SHOULD BE AWARE & ALERT

We’ve all seen the movie scenes where a man gasps, clutches his chest, and falls to the ground. In reality, a heart attack victim could easily be a woman, and the scene may not be that dramatic.

“Although men and women can experience chest pressure that feels like an elephant sitting across the chest, women can experience a heart attack without chest pressure,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association volunteer. “Instead, they may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, upper back pressure or extreme fatigue.”

Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly, especially if the victim doesn’t get help right away. Even though heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, women often chalk up the symptoms to less life-threatening conditions like acid reflux, the flu or normal aging. “They do this because they are scared and because they put their families first,” she explains. “There are still many women who are shocked that they could be having a heart attack.”

Some women experiencing a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them. Dizziness, lightheadedness or actually fainting are other symptoms to look for.

“Many women I see take an aspirin if they think they are having a heart attack and never call 911,” she says. “But if they think about taking an aspirin for their heart attack, they should also call 911.”

Dr. Francelis Gonzalez

MOST HEART DISEASE AND STROKE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES CONTINUE TO BE A WOMAN’S GREATEST HEALTH THREAT.