Little Red Riding Hood: W h y
S h e
W o r e
R e d
Also starring the Big Bad Wolf in the role of Heart Disease
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O nce upon a time, a heart-healthy woman named Little Red Riding Hood was headed to visit her sick Granny. She wore red to remind
herself that the wolf (otherwise known as heart disease) was always close at hand.
Poor eating habits lead to risk factors for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity.
Heart Survivor: Shayla Shepherd
Little Red Riding Hood packs a basket of some of her favorite heart-healthy treats like raisins, walnuts, apples, and yogurt — all low in saturated and trans fat.
By Anita Oldham and Tiffany White / Photos by Melissa Donald / Illustrations by Silvia Cabib / MAKEUP BY HOLLY OYLER
www.iamtodayswoman.com / www.facebook.com/todayswomanmagazine / @todayswomannow
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As Little Red Riding Hood walked to her Granny’s, she tried to keep a quick pace and only had to stop and rest once. Walking for 30 minutes a day five times a week is an easy way to improve your heart health and increase your longevity.
Heart Survivor: Gina Davis
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“Heart disease loves cigarettes and how smoking increases your risk. The American Heart Association says nicotine may also be a contributing factor that leads to a heart attack.
Today’s Woman
Little Red Riding Hood did stop to enjoy the sights along the way. Heart disease feeds off of chronic stress which can increase your heart rate and blood pressure which could damage the artery walls.�
Meditating, laughing, and not worrying are great ways to keep you and your heart happy.
Heart Survivor: Allison Schnell
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Today’s Woman
Finally, Little Red Riding Hood sees her Granny’s house. Be aware of your genealogy. If your sister, mother, or grandmother had a heart attack before age 65 then you may be at risk too.
Heart Survivor of risk factors: Rebecca Pehlke
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Putting a blindfold over your risk factors doesn’t help you know if your heart needs special attention. If heart disease is hereditary in your family, make sure you know your health numbers.
Today’s Woman
Little Red Riding Hood visits with her Granny, but she doesn’t realize that she is actually talking to the Wolf.
Many women ignore the signs that they are having a heart attack and wait too long to seek professional help. A woman’s symptoms of a heart attack can be mistaken for stress or a minor illness.
Heart Survivor: Lisa Whyte
Common symptoms in women are shortness of breath, nausea, back or jaw pain, and left arm pain.
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Today’s Woman
FP Ad AHA
Little Red Riding Hood has escaped the jaws of the wolf by seeking proper, professional help. Little Red Riding Hood wasn’t afraid to seek help even if it meant she might be embarrassed. If you begin to have symptoms of a heart attack, see your doctor immediately. Little Red Riding Hood knows about the importance of taking care of her heart in every way possible. Treat your heart right and when you wear red, remember your heart health and remind others around you.
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Today’s Woman
www.iamtodayswoman.com / www.facebook.com/todayswomanmagazine / @todayswomannow
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THE MORAL OF THE STORY Like Little Red Riding Hood, know your risk factors, make good choices, and no matter what, don’t be fooled if the Big Bad Wolf of heart disease visits you. Know the Signs of a Heart Attack • 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. •P ain 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. •A s 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. If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away. Know the Signs of Stroke • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination • Sudden severe headache with no known cause Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. Research from the American Heart Association has shown that if given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. More women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. But 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made the right choices for their hearts involving diet, exercise, and abstinence from smoking. Source: American Heart Association, www.heart.org
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Today’s Woman
Shayla Shepherd
Allison Schnell
Age: 37
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taying active and maintaining healthy eating habits had been easy for Shayla Shepherd. She ran five days a week without any problems and never suspected that her heart wasn’t functioning properly until last year. Shayla had tried to run in two 5K marathons, but became ill and couldn’t finish either race. Concerned about her recurring symptoms, Shayla spoke with a doctor who suggested that she take a tilt table test. During the procedure, Shayla says her heart stopped beating twice. After the test, Shayla had a pacemaker put in to regulate her heart. “When I see my scar every morning, it reminds me how lucky and blessed I am to be here with my family.” Shayla is wearing: cape from Dillards, $20; earrings from Macy’s, $16
Age: 42
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llison Schnell doesn’t underestimate the impact heart disease can have on a person’s life. Both of her parents have it and her maternal and paternal grandparents died from the disease. Allison, like her mother, was recently diagnosed with hypertension, but says she is taking proactive steps to protect her heart. “I have uncles with the same health issues. Two of them have severe circulatory problems with their legs and need physical therapy.” She adds, “I see how it limits their lifestyle and know when I have swelling that I need to keep up with my exercise plan.” Allison takes a beta-blocker to manage her hypertension and focuses on keeping her stress levels low. “I don’t sweat the small stuff.” Allison is wearing: cape from Lisa International, $59, available
at Macy’s.
Rebecca Pehlke
Gina Davis
Age: 53
Age: 56
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ina Davis is choosing to stay vigilant about her health. Ten years ago, at the age of 46, Gina was experiencing hot sweats, nausea, and discomfort in her left arm. She talked to two cardiologists about her symptoms but neither of them thought she was having symptoms of a heart attack. “One of the cardiologists told me that I had acid reflux disease and wrote me a prescription for Nexium.” Gina’s gynecologist referred her to another cardiologist who discovered that she had 80 percent blockage in her right coronary artery. Gina says she was surprised as she was only in her 40s, but realizes that her family history of heart disease and lifestyle had put her at a higher risk. “I was a former smoker, I was overweight, and I had high cholesterol and was borderline Type 2 diabetic.” Now, Gina doesn’t smoke, eats healthier foods, and exercises regularly. “I want to be here for my grandchildren.” Gina is wearing: cape from Louise Cecil, 817 South Floyd Street,
502.589.6707.
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ebecca Pehlke’s mother — who was a diabetic — died from a heart attack because her blood sugar was too high. People who have diabetes are at an increased risk for developing heart disease if they don’t manage their blood sugar levels properly. “She was 55; just two years older than me when she died.” She adds, “This was a sudden event, and I feel like it can happen to anyone and in this case it was preventable.” Rebecca isn’t a diabetic, but her doctor told her she has a higher risk of developing diabetes and heart disease because of her mother’s health history and a previous bout of rheumatic fever. To keep herself healthy, Rebecca goes to the doctor annually, runs five miles every other day, and has adopted a lifestyle based around preventative measures that are good for her heart. Rebecca is wearing: cape by Ellen Tracy, $80, available at Macy’s.
Lisa Whyte Age: 44
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isa Whyte survived not one — but two heart attacks and says she feels blessed to have a second chance to be with her family. While attending a friend’s party last year, “I started feeling nauseous, dizzy and very clammy. I started finding it difficult to catch my breath and then crushing chest pains started.” After she was admitted into the hospital, Lisa learned that she’d had a heart attack, but couldn’t believe it happened to her. A cardiac cath test showed Lisa had 90 percent blockage in her main artery. “I was told I was very lucky to have survived.” Three hours later, she had another heart attack but says prayer helped her get through the terrifying experience. “I knew God was with me, and I was going to be okay.” Staying healthy for her husband and children has become Lisa’s main priority.
Lisa is wearing: cape by Collection 18, $40, available at Macy’s.
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Today’s Woman
Circle of Red/Red Tie Society
Left to right, standing:
Left to right, sitting:
Not pictured:
Mary Zappone, President & CEO, RecoverCare LLC
Leigh Pittman, Circle of Red/Red Tie Society Chair, Vice President, Brown-Forman
Judie Parks-Gornet, Broker/Owner, Prudential Parks & Weisberg
Debbie Reiss, Owner, Fashion Consultant, Carlisle
Karen Bolin, System Vice President, Patient Care Services Chief Nursing Officer, Women’s Services, Norton Healthcare
Lynn Von Hoene, President, Project Appraisals, Inc.
Susan Allen, Advertising Director, Zion Publications
Lawrence Caruso, Sr.Executive Human Resources, GE Home & Business Solutions
Sara V. Haynes, Owner and Fashion Consultant, Etcetera-Sassy and Chic
Janet Smith, Medical Director, Norton Women’s Heart Center
Michele Coan, General Manager, Operations, Service Net Warranty, LLC
Dana Allen, Chief Marketing Officer, Norton Healthcare
Mary Littrell, Vice President, Private Banking, Central Bank
Laura Lagerstrom, Civic volunteer
Natalie Ingram, Executive Recruiter, Daversa Partners Tim Gornet, Manager, Rapid Prototyping Center, University of Louisville Kim Evans, Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist, Institute for Integrative Medicine Peggy Heuser, CEO, The Heuser Clinic Carole Christian, Partner, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP Cindi Sullivan, Host, Living Better, 84 WHAS Connie Steller, Executive Territory Manager, Abbott Vascular
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Kimberly Black Maffet, Associate Athletic Director and Special Assistant to the President, University of Louisville Doris McGuire, Senior Managing Consultant, IBM
The Circle of Red and Red Tie Society represents a group of women and men who have the passion, motivation and inspiration to influence change in their community and across the country regarding women’s heart health. Circle of Red Women and Red Tie Men help support the mission of Go Red For Women by making a personal financial commitment to the movement, while serving as ambassadors for the American Heart Association. For more information, please contact Jane Merman at 502.371.6014 or email jane.merman@heart.org.
Deb Moessner, President & GM, Kentucky, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield Shelley Neal, Vice President, Ambulatory Care, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare M. Trish Osborn, SVP, Market President, American Founders Bank Mary Jane Peebles, Diabetes DSM Evansville District, sanofi-aventis U.S. Sally Snavely, Civic volunteer Mary Ellen Stottmann, Civic volunteer Kim Tharp-Barrie, VP, Institute for Nursing and Workforce Development, Norton Healthcare Tierra Kavanaugh Turner, CEO, TKT & Associates, Inc. Cathy Zion, Publisher, Zion Publications
Today’s Woman
Go Red For Women Leadership Committee
Left to right, standing:
Left to right, sitting:
Not pictured:
Connie Steller, Program Committee Chair, Executive Territory Manager, Abbott Vascular
Stefanie Schlader, Vice President, The Private Client Reserve, U.S. Bank
Doris Abdallah, Civic volunteer
Nikki Cetrulo, Development Associate, American Heart Association
Kelley Bright, Table Sponsorship Committee Chair, Assistant Director Business Development, Ernst & Young
Dana Allen, Chief Marketing Officer, Norton Healthcare Gwen Walters, Director of Employee Training & Development, Premier Home Care, Inc. Jill Bell, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Passport Health Plan Jane Merman, Go Red For Women Director, American Heart Association
Shari House, Assistant Vice President, BB&T Insurance Services Jennifer Hunt, Kentuckiana Goes Red Co-Chair, System Analyst, Clark Memorial Hospital Ellen Cavanaugh, Open Your Heart Chair, RN, Infection Preventionist, Norton Hospital
Becky Beanblossom, Founder & President, Home Instead Senior Care Laura Douglas, VP, Corporate Responsibility & Community Affairs, LG&E and KU Energy Kimberly Black Maffet, Associate Athletic Director and Special Assistant to the President, University of Louisville Deb Moessner, President & GM, Kentucky, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
Rene Kendrick, Pharmacy Sales Manager, Kroger
Maggie O’Neal, Kentuckiana Goes Red Co-Chair, Certified Exercise Specialist, Clark Memorial Hospital
Peggy Heuser, Go Red For Women Executive Chair, CEO, The Heuser Clinic
Tiffany Cardwell, Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Papa John’s International, Inc.
Kristen Rutledge, Vice President Store Manager, Oxmoor Center, Macy’s
Kathy Renbarger, Metro Vice President, American Heart Association
Leigh Pittman, Circle of Red/Red Tie Society Chair, Vice President, Brown-Forman
Nina P. Seigle, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, ResCare
Harriet Lair, Vice President, Fifth Third Bank
Tierra Kavanaugh Turner, CEO, TKT & Associates, Inc.
Sue Davis, Dean Lansing School of Nursing and Health Services, Bellarmine University
Lynda Woods, Manager, Turf Club, Churchill Downs
Jill Burton, Executive Director, Frost Brown Todd, LLC
Cathy Zion, Publisher, Zion Publications
The Go Red For Women Committee donates their time, talent, and treasure to improve heart health in our community. Volunteers work to increase awareness and education, raise funds to support the mission and plan the Go Red For Women Luncheon in May. The Leadership Committee drives corporate funding and/or takes a leadership role. To get involved, please contact Jane Merman at 502.371.6014 or email jane.merman@heart.org. www.iamtodayswoman.com / www.facebook.com/todayswomanmagazine / @todayswomannow
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