THE HEART TRUTH ROAD SHOW
VISITS MIAMI APRIL 30-MAY 2
First Lady Laura Bush’s Red Dress on Tour for
First Time
From April 30-May 2, The Heart Truth Road Show—a
traveling exhibit about women’s heart health, sponsored
by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)—will
visit Miami’s Aventura Mall to deliver an urgent
heart health wake-up call to local women.
Complete with free risk factor screenings for heart
disease and educational materials, the traveling exhibit
features a magnificent display of The Heart Truth’s
Red Dress Collection—which includes designs
by Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, and
Mrs. Bush’s Oscar de la Renta red suit, on tour
for the first time. The Heart Truth’s
Red Dress is the national symbol for women and heart
disease awareness. It is a red alert that heart disease
is the #1 killer of women—and an urgent reminder
to every woman to care for her heart.
"The Heart Truth Road Show takes important
messages about heart health directly to women in local
communities so they can learn about their personal
risk factors for heart disease-and understand that
heart disease is a woman's #1 health threat,"
said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.
In Miami, The Heart Truth Road Show will provide
more than 1,000 women with free heart disease risk
factor screenings and testing for diabetes, high blood
cholesterol, high blood pressure, and body mass index.
Heart disease risk factors include those that are
beyond a woman’s control and those that can
be changed. Those that can’t be changed are
a family history of early heart disease and age (55
and older for women). The risk factors that can be
controlled are smoking, high blood pressure, high
blood cholesterol, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity,
and diabetes. While having even one risk factor is
dangerous, having multiple risk factors is especially
serious because risk factors tend to “gang up”
and worsen each other’s effects.
"It is important to encourage every woman to talk
to her doctor about her risks for heart disease and
to start taking action to lead a heart healthy life,"
said Barbara Alving, M.D., Acting Director, NHLBI.
The Heart Truth Road Show exhibit will be
at the Aventura Mall, Center Court (19501 Biscayne
Blvd, Biscayne Blvd. & 196th Street) and will
be open to the public on:
• Friday, April 30 from 3:00-9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 1 from 12:00-6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 2 from 12:00-6:00 p.m.
Research shows that women are more worried about cancer
than heart disease—especially breast cancer.
According to a survey commissioned by the American
Heart Association, only 13 percent of women believe
heart disease is their greatest health risk—35
percent of women put breast cancer as their top concern.
Yet, heart disease, which includes coronary artery
disease, congestive heart failure, angina, and other
conditions, is the leading cause of death in American
women, accounting for 366,000 deaths in 2000.
Johnson & Johnson is the presenting sponsor of
The Heart Truth Road Show. National sponsors
include: LifeWiseTM by RadioShack, Johnson & Johnson
Reach® Dental Floss, and Cordis Corporation.
The Heart Truth Road Show community partners
include: American College of Cardiology, the American
Heart Association, the DHHS Office on Women’s
Health, and WomenHeart: the National Coalition for
Women with Heart Disease.
“Johnson & Johnson is pleased to help focus
public attention on heart disease through efforts
such as The Heart Truth Road Show,”
said Nancy Snyderman, M.D., Vice President, Medical
Affairs, Johnson & Johnson. “Too many women
are unaware of their risk factors and the prevalence
and preventability of heart disease. We are committed
to increasing awareness among women and those who
love them,” added Snyderman.
As announced by First Lady Laura Bush at the White
House on February 2, 2004, the Road Show cities also
include: Philadelphia (March 19-21), Chicago (March
26-28), San Diego (April 2-4), and Dallas (April 16-18).
The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign
for women about heart disease, sponsored by the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National
Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The campaign first introduced the
Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart
disease awareness during American Heart Month at Fashion
Week in February 2003.
For more information about The Heart Truth
and its Red Dress symbol, please visit www.hearttruth.gov.
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