THE HEART TRUTH ROAD SHOW VISITS
CHICAGO MARCH 26-28
First Lady Laura Bush’s Red Dress on Tour for
First Time
From March 26-28, 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 Chicago
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 Chicago, 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 River Oaks Center in Calumet City, Illinois
(96 River Oaks Center, 159th Street & Torrence
Avenue) and will be open to the public on:
• Friday, March 26 from 3:00-9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 27 from 12:00-6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 28 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, Cordis Corporation, and Jewel-Osco.
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), San Diego (April
2-4), Dallas (April 16-18), and Miami (April 30-May
2).
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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