April 15--In a single year more than 8.6 women worldwide will die of heart disease, accounting for a third of all deaths of women.
On Thursday, more than 500 women and a few men in Lubbock participated in the Go Red luncheon, a national event, to help lower those numbers and raise awareness and money for the American Heart Association.
"We all fear cancer, but actually our No. 1 killer is heart disease," said Sharon Ivory, Go Red for Women chair and Covenant Health System vice president.
Ashley Harder, American Heart Association corporate marketing director, said in the past many women didn't realize heart disease was the No. 1 killer of women. Thanks to campaigns like Go Red for Women, they're learning, she said.
The event featured speakers, honored survivors and aimed to educate. Those in attendance could receive glucose, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings before the lunch began.
Dr. Ray Smith, a Covenant Health System family practitioner, reminded the sea of red gathered at the Civic Center what they could do to improve their heart health, from maintaining a nutritious diet to obtaining adequate sleep each night.
Those attending the event also honored several survivors of heart disease with a style show. Each survivor walked the runway dressed in red.
"This style show isn't about what the ladies are wearing," said Holly Kennedy Givens, Covenant media relations specialist and the event's master of ceremonies.
As each woman stepped onto the stage, Kennedy Givens told the crowd of the model's battles with heart disease. Among them, Annalise Winn, a 9-year-old born with congenital heart defects. Annalise had a series of open heart surgeries and takes medication every day. But her mother, Heather Winn, said Annalise has taken charge of her heart health, serving as an example for other women gathered at the event.
Annalise's fellow model Brinda Barnes presented a cautionary tale. Barnes had also attributed the pain she felt to a stomach ulcer, but in February she discovered one of her arteries suffered 80 percent blockage, putting her at high heart attack risk. She urged other women to visit their doctors at the first signs of symptoms.
After the style show, Nashville-based motivational speaker and author Carol Grace Anderson spoke on the dangers of stress. Anderson lost sight in one eye after suffering a small stroke. She talked to those attending about the importance of focusing on the positive.
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