Red About You

Go Green for Red

2010-03-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

This past week I was reading an article about more and more women (New York Times Magazine) who are raising their own organic gardens, hanging their laundry out again, and raising chickens in order to leave a little less carbon footprint. Their purpose is also to take care of their bodies and their family's health because they know the source of their food and what's in it. The article went on to discuss how many women are tired of the mass food industry and endless shopping they endure, especially grocery shopping, not to mention not knowing what's in a lot of processed foods.

Although we live in an abundant country, many of us eat poorly, and our heart health reflects it. Our food is high in bad fats, salts, and highly processed. We drink way too much caffeine when there are excellent decaf substitutes. I can't miss my Starbuck's House Blend Decaf.

During Go Red, find ways to improve your diet for your heart and that of your family.

And remember that Spring is around the corner. It's not to late to consider a modest organic garden of your own. Plus, the exercise of working in a garden is another excellent way to take care of yourself, your family and teach your kids or grandkids something about self-sufficiency, good diet and healthy living.

Secondhand Smoke and 13-year-olds

2010-03-04T09:09:00.001-08:00

Results from a new study were released on Monday that shows that even low levels of exposure to tobacco smoke are harmful to children's heart health. Frequent exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among 13-year-olds is associated with an increased risk of future blood vessel hardening and greater risks of other heart disease factors, according to new research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association. The study of 494 children showed that those with higher levels of exposure to secondhand smoke from ages 8 to 13 had, by age 13, significantly increased blood vessel wall thickness and functioning problems, both of which are precursors to arterial structural changes and hardening.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that secondhand smoke has objectively measurable effects on children’s heart health.

“These findings suggest that children should not face exposure to tobacco smoke at all,” said Katariina Kallio, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and research fellow at the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland. “Even a little exposure to tobacco smoke may be harmful for blood vessels. We need to provide children a smoke-free environment.”

Skating for Red

2010-02-25T14:27:00.000-08:00

Canadian Olympic figure skater, Joannie Rochette, lost her mother, Therese, last week when she died suddenly of a massive heart attack in Vancouver. Commentators, Canadians and all those watching the Olympics have watched the young woman continue to compete and admire her ability to carry on, probably in tribute to her mother's love and support. By all reports Rochette was very close to her mother. It would be hard to imagine not given the incredible amount of time and commitment it would take not only from an Olympian to compete at that level, but from a parent of an Olympian.

I have four small children, and heart health has become very important to me since I had congestive heart failure after my triplets delivery. I cannot take my heart health for granted. There is too much to look forward to.

Thus I tell every woman within ear shot, particularly those with a family history, high cholesterol, or who are over 35, to consider a cardiology work up, or consultation with a cardiologist.

I can't help but wonder if Therese Rochette had experienced any symptoms of heart disease, or if she had even had a cardiology exam. The reality is that most women are so busy loving and giving to their families that they are not aware that heart disease is the number one killer of American women.

I will be thinking of Joannie Rochette a lot this week. Everyone who has heard this story is heart sick, but perhaps the tragedy might encourage others who have been putting off caring for their health, especially their hearts, to take time to make sure that they are doing well. Women owe it themselves and to their families.

Take 2 To Save 2

2010-02-24T07:49:00.001-08:00

Think about two people you love who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes or family history of heart disease. These risk factors may lead to stroke. Now, take 2 minutes to save 2 lives by texting “Take2” to “64244” or visit http://powertoendstroke.org/take2 and send your 2 loved ones special health messages via text, Twitter or other format.

Then, talk to your doctor to determine if you have health risks and follow the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 to prevent a stroke. The seven steps — found at www.heart.org/mylifecheck — are: Get active, eat better, lose weight, stop smoking, control cholesterol, manage blood pressure and reduce blood sugar.

Share Your Heart

2010-02-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Now that I am a heart patient with young children I tell the story of my heart failure not to frighten other women, but to encourage them to take care of themselves.

I was a young 46 when I got pregnant with my triplets. I had no serious medical problems except a mitral valve prolapse, which many American women have and which was not symptomatic.

I thought I took pretty good care of myself, but if I had it to do over again, there are a few things I would have been more diligent about. It must be noted that my heart failure occurred because of a cardiomyopathy and there may have been nothing I could do to stop such a virus from making my heart vulnerable. Still, I'd do it differently.

First, about four months before I tried fertility again, I had a stress test. It was required because of my age. My cardiologist told me that my heart sounded fine during the exercise, better than my resting heart; therefore, he suggested that I exercise more regularly. He thought my resting heart would be improved by more regular exercise. Up to that time in my life, I had always exercised: running, walking, aerobics, and weightlifting. But after my first child was born, it became harder, and I let it go for a couple of years. I wish I'd been in better shape when I got pregnant the second time. Now that I've had this experience I workout no less than 4-5 times a week. Very rarely do I miss, and I give myself the weekends off. If I can exercise with four small children anyone can.

Second, I've always tried to eat pretty healthily. I was a vegetarian for about 15 years. I did eat fish on occasion, but no other meat. I eat some turkey now, but no beef or other meat. I use olive oil for most cooking, although I use real butter sparingly. I make my own salad dressing using olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a little lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard and sugar thrown in. The low salt is important in my diet and salad dressings and sauces are loaded with salt. I select heart healthy prepackaged sauces and options when given the opportunity, but try to make most meals fresh. It may sound crazy, but I eat multi-grain cheerios and skim milk almost every morning. I do have the occasional treat of toast with a little butter or donuts one day on the weekend, but knowing that my breakfast is no fat allows me flexibility the rest of the day. I dropped my cholesterol sixty points without medication, just by exercising and eating more healthily.

I also avoid caffeine and alcohol. My doctor said I could have a glass of wine a day, but that is not something I want regularly. I do like a glass of white with dinner now and then. I am aware that caffeine and alcohol are stimulants that affect my level of energy and my rest. I am trying to do better about drinking water. That will be one of my Lenten observations this year! Water for purity!

Third, rest is crucial. We Americans, particularly women, are multi-tasking ourselves into oblivious exhaustion. I am still learning how to balance my lifestyle, but I know that if my body says you need more rest, you need a nap, or an extra hour of sleep, I have got to take the time to recharge, or my family will suffer.

Fourth, emotional well-being is heart well-being. Taking care of yourself in your relationships and in recharging your batteries by doing the activities you love also helps make us healthier. It's so important to love and be loved.

Finally, for those of us who are already heart patients, take your medicine, whether it's your cholesterol medicine or your beta blocker. I learned that switching from nitrates to the beta blocker and ace inhibitor (something I resisted because my babies could not receive breast milk with me on a beta blocker) helped my blood pressure almost immediately. I resisted taking the medicine my doctor recommended at first and probably should not have done so. I don't think I did any damage, but I was so concerned about my babies getting breast milk that I neglected myself terribly. (Nursing for three is really difficult!) Now, I'm very committed to taking my medicines, and because I'm better, the doctor has actually reduced my medicine some months back.

These are the ways we women can share our heart, by telling others, especially on Valentine's Day, how important it is to take care of ourselves.

Happy Wednesday!

2010-02-10T08:12:00.001-08:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! I made it through my military weekend. It was looooong to say the least but I had much fun!

I shared with you on last Thursday some of my reasons for joining the Go Red Movement. Heart disease and Stroke are VERY prevalent in my family. Now I am affected because of my blood pressure.

I have some goals that I want to meet that I feel will help the quality of my life. In my last blog I told you everything that I'm involved in but I didn't tell you how much of a struggle it is to do the things that I really enjoy. For starters, my quality of sleep is down the drain, my weight is not at MY preference. Although I don't look anorexic anymore and look human, I believe it is a contributor to the increase in my blood pressure. I'm always fatigued.

My number one goal is to never have to take ONE blood pressure pill again. Currently I take two and my doctor just added a diuretic to the two that I currently take (one pill now includes the diuretic). Also, I don't want to end up like my mom and have to deal with the effects of stroke and congestive heart failure.

In learning about heart disease and high blood pressure, I learned that the quality of sleep is a major factor in all of this. Sleep - or the lack thereof- affects soooooo much. Therefore, I am going to begin there.

Then, I'm going to hit the gym again. The Army is not forgiving in this area so that will be a big motivation for me to get back in shape. I joke with people all the time by telling them I have a shape but I'm not in shape. I know I have to be in shape for the military but the benefits will be immeasurable to me. I want to lose weight not for vanity but for health. The lower my weight the lower my blood pressure. The lower my blood pressure is, the sooner I can get off of these meds. You know, I hate to talk about weight because I'm not one of those people that cares about the outward appearance of others. I love God's people just the way they are. I just wanted you all to know that my mention of weight or size in this blog is about me personally and what I feel I need to do to feel better for myself.

Last but certainly NOT least, my spiritual health. My Heavenly Father is soooooooo gracious to me. There is too much work to do in His Kingdom that I can't afford to be Missing In Action (MIA).

I have one life to live and one chance to positively affect as many lives as possible. So, I guess I better get a move on. Here I go......

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

p.s. Looks like I'm gonna be a grandmother sooner than thought. My daugther is already dilating. The baby's name is Dominick (a boy). I can't wait to hold him! Another wonderful reason to get myself together.

Awesome AHA OHH Press Conference, OKC

2010-02-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!
Today was an awesome day for me, as I shared my "heart story," at a press conference, jointly sponsored by the wonderful American Heart Association, and the new South Campus Oklahoma Heart Hospital.

As I spoke, and looked out into the faces of many of the staff persons at the SOHH, it was a "deja vue" moment for me, flashing back to May 7, 2007, when my first and second Sudden Cardiac Arrest episodes happened, and my wonderful recovery happened at the NOHH. Ironically, among the medical personnel there was a nurse who was working at the NOHH when I was admitted, and she remembered me. We shared a big hug.

Although it was a day filled with joy, I was a little saddened because Ryan Stallings, my hero who gave me "by-stander CPR," which literally saved my life was not there. I believe he has moved out of the state, but wherever he is, I hope he gets the message that he will forever remain in my heart for saving my life.

My good friend Conna Wilkinson, who was walking with me in the mall, and dialed 911 received a plaque and recognition for being by my side when the SCA occurred. Jane Braden of the Gooden Group sent me some wonderful pictures of the event that I will try to down load tomorrow.

The other honorees with very compelling and inspirational stories of survival were Julie Avants and Amy Garza, whose husband Albiono and daughter Jolie were named the Oklahoma Heart Hero of the year! I was quite honored to be among the 3 persons who shared their stories.

On Feb. 8, 2008, after surviving 4 SCA's, I received the ICD Surgery, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, and will celebrate my 2nd "rebirthday," on that day. It is working well in my body, no false shocks, no more SCA's, and I give God thanks every day that I am still here. I want to tell my story as often as possible in the hopes that lives will be saved. The ICD is the only medical therapy that WILL save the life of someone experiencing SCA. The survival rate in the general population is 5%, but in my African American Community, it is less than 1%.

Three of us shared our stories of rescue and recovery, and I am blessed to have been included in that number.
Blessings! Rev. Loyce

Happy Wear Red Day!

2010-02-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

This year, 1 in 3 women will be affected by heart disease and stroke. That could be your mother, your sister, you friend...you. Wear red today to show your support for the fight against heart disease and stroke. Then Speak Up!

Women are speaking up about the No. 1 killer of women -- heart disease. The good news is that by taking action, we can beat that statistic. There are so many ways you can become an advocate of women’s heart health. Taking care of you is the first priority. Get empowered with the facts, find a community of support, make healthy changes to your diet and exercise. Start with the Heart CheckUp. Then speak up to your doctor about having a lipo-protein blood screening.

Spread the word to those you love -- your neighbor, your friend, your mother or sister. When you speak up, you help save their lives.

Heart to Heart

2010-02-04T21:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

My name is DeCarla Steele. I'm a 40 year old (soon to be 41) African American Female. I am currently serving in the Army National Guard with 6 years to go to retirement. I have one son biologically and he is on Active Duty in the Air Force. I have 4 wonderful children by marriage (they are my babies). My oldest daughter is going to have a baby in about a month so I'm looking forward to being a grandmother. My husband and I coach little league basketball the OKC Royals. Currently we have a boys 5th/6th grade team and will probably establish a girls high school tournament team this summer. Last but certainly not least, God called me to minister to teenagers and under the direction of my pastor and youth minister, I am the youth director for my church. I'm also a student of evangelism because I decided it was time to do what God asked me to do a long time ago :) All of this in addition to a full time job. As you can see, I stay busy.

I'm not really sure where to start so I guess I'll start from my childhood. Growing up, the only thing I remember is that both my parents were heavy smokers. I remember vividly asking my mom to stop smoking. She always promised me that she would. I didn't really know anything about health risks I just knew that something that smelled that bad wasn't good. When I was 13 years old my father died of lung cancer. When I was 21 years old my mother had a stroke. She was only 54 years old at the time. It was quite devastating for her. My mom was a very independent and strong woman. After the death of my father, she made sure I didn't miss anything. My stopped smoking after she had her stroke but it was short lived. She picked it back up again to my dismay. Fast forward 10 years my mom ended up having a heart attack and was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure. That was the turning point that began to really change her life and mine. As she got older, her heart began to fail her little by little. Eventually I would become her caretaker. In 2006 my mother passed away at the age of 70. She had to live the remainder of her life so limited by the effects of the stroke that paralyzed her body. Eight months after she passed away, my aunt (my mom's sister) passed away from heart failure and two days after, their cousin passed away as well. I don't fear death but I don't want to live the rest of my life limited when I have the power to do something about my quality of life.

At one point in my life I thought I was invincible. I was young, petite build and active. Never had a health issue in the world. Life was great! Then in 2004 I couldn't get my blood pressure down. My doctor kept watching it but never would go down. Eventually, I had to take pills to stabilize it. I was totally in denial. I'm the sort of person that people look at and never would think that I have high blood pressure. I'm still small. Most people don't believe that I am my age and when I go places with my son they think I'm his girlfriend (which he hates). People have always placed a sterotype of someone with high blood pressure and someone overweight and that looks unhealthy. Not so but I'll share more about that in another blog.

After getting over myself and being in denial about my blood pressure, I've accepted the fact that it is a part of my life but I refuse to let it be a part of my life forever. I have some current struggles but I won't share all tonight.

I look forward to sharing more with you all. It's now 11:48 p.m. and I have to rise at 3:30 a.m. for my weekend military duty. Have a wonderful Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Rev. Loyce

2010-02-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody,

I am Loyce Newton Edwards, a walking and talking "miracle," 65 year old African American female. I am blessed and thrilled to be alive after surviving 4 Sudden Cardiac Arrests in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma between May 07, 2007, and February 8, 2008!

Today, many of the survivors/volunteers/staff/and Oklahoma pageant winners gathered at the St. Capitol in Oklahoma City, to honor this special day, "2010 Go Red for Women." A Proclamation was read on the floor of the St. House of Representatives honoring this day. It was a special honor for me to be invited to participate as a SCA survivor and an AHA volunteer.

I have spent many years in ministry, and am now a retired, ordained United Church of Christ Associate Pastor, Kansas-Oklahoma Conference. I remain active in ministry, and I'm a member of Mayflower United Church of Christ, OKC, OK. I've formerly worked as a Social Worker, Juvenile Probation Officer, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology @ Rose St. College, Midwest City, OK.

Prior to my first SCA, I didn't know what a SCA was. I thought, like so many others, that all heart conditions were classified as heart attacks, and involved previously diagnosed heart problems, including, but not limited to clogged arteries. There is as much difference as night and day between heart attacks and SCA's. With heart attacks, it's the "plumbing system" of the heart, clogged arteries etc. With SCA, also known as Sudden Cardiac Death, it's the "electrical system" of the heart, irregular or chaotic heart rates. Conna Wilkinson and Ryan Stallings are the first of many "angels" who saved my life May 7, 2007, following the first SCA. There will be more on them tomorrow!

Today I want to just check in to the blog, but tomorrow I want to share "my heart story" as told at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital South Campus Press Conference, to celebrate 2010 Go Red for Women.

Those who experience SCA in the general population have about a 5% survival rate, but in the African American communities, our survival rate is LESS than 1%. Part of the problem with low survival rates for all populations is the lack of knowledge of CPR by family members/friends/ and by standers; the second challenge is having AED's available. So, having survived 4 SCA's, in a population that generally barely survives the 1st SCA by less than 1%, I am among a very tiny "grateful" segment of the population that survived 4 and "lived to tell my story! WOW. And tell my story, I will, and always honored to have an opportunity to do so.

I am in the 41st year of being married to Archie L. Edwards. We have 2 marvelous adult sons, one wonderful daughter-in-law, and 4 fabulous grand children.

Tonight I am putting the finishing touches/editing my 5 minute "heart story" for tomorrow mornings AHA/Oklahoma Heart Hospital Press Conference.

I have never met another SCA survivor, if you're out there, I'd love to hear your stories of rescue and recovery too.

Blessings,
Rev. Loyce

A Red Story

2010-02-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

Two years ago my husband presented me with a simple silver chain. There were several charms on it: a cross, a heart and a pretty shiny disc with my little boy's name engraved on it. It was shorthand for the important things in my life: faith, love, and hope. When you have children you must have hope about the future. And so I had lots of hope.

For that reason I wanted another child. That doesn't seem like such a big deal, but I was 46, and my husband was 60. It was a big commitment, but I felt strongly that our first born needed family long after we were gone. I have 3 brothers and 1 sister, and I can't imagine my life without them through the years. I hoped that giving our oldest a sibling would provide him a shoulder to lean on in mid-life when we most likely would be at the end of our lives, and that's speaking optimistically, even hopefully.

So we decided to go through in-vitro one last time. I got pregnant again. Joy! And we were pretty certain we had twins. We had put in the remaining 2 embryos, and my hormone level was dramatically elevated. But on the final ultrasound before we were released to our regular OB, the fertility doctor spotted an intruder. Somebody had split their embryo in two, and we now had triplets on board.

I cried for a week. How will we raise them? How will we afford college for four--and at our age? How will we make sure everyone feels they haven't been slighted? I told my husband I was sure I had ruined his life, but he hugged me and said that it was part of the adventure we had begun when we got married in middle age.

A triplet pregnancy is tough. It's on tough on mom and babies. Woman aren't made for multiples, try as we might. Premature labor and preeclampsia (elevated blood pressure) are 2 of the risk factors preventing the babies from getting larger and taking mom to delivery before she and the babies are ready. Since I'd already had a 9 pound, 7 ounce boy and neither problem, I was hopeful. But there were months to go.

At about 29 weeks, I developed preeclampsia. I went to bed rest immediately. My blood pressure was elevated, but with bed rest the doctor hoped to keep my babies in to grow for at least another month. By the third week I had a horrible upper respiratory infection. That's when I think I might have developed a cardiomyopathy, that little virus that gets in the heart muscle and weakens it. However, at the time, I didn't know anything about a weakened heart muscle. I simple continued bedrest and tried to eat and sleep and, well, incubate.

On Sunday, December 7, I began having uterine cramping. We went to the hospital. I was admitted and monitored. The next day the doctor said he thought our babies were large enough to enter the world, so he scheduled a c-section for the following day. Three amazing little boys came into the world on December 9th, and I was doing well. The boys weighed 3.15, 4.10, and 4.15. They were admitted to the NICU, but doing great. I set about pumping my breasts to allow the milk to come in so that I could give them the best supplement they could have.

But 3 days later, the day I was scheduled to be discharged, I was having trouble catching my breath. I was given lasix, a diuretic, the entire day. I was better, but still having some problems with breathing. Nurses moved the flowers out of my room, thinking I was having an allergic response. When discharged I was told to take the lasix if my legs looked puffy. I didn't take it because they didn't. By the following Wednesday I had not slept at all. My lungs were full and my heart could not pump it off. Every time I lay down I was drowning.

We went back to the hospital, and I was given a chest x-ray to confirm fluid in my lungs, and then a cardiologist was called. I also had a leaking valve because my heart was enlarged, so my normally non-leaking mitral valve was now leaking. I was hauled down to the CCU, where the doctors considered intubation so I could breathe, but I fortunately responded to the oxygen. Believe it or not, I was still pumping breast milk too.

It was right before Christmas, and I was not sure what was going to happen. The cardiologists told me that 1/3 of women get worse and need a heart transplant, 1/3 get better, and 1/3 stay about the same. I had 4 small children now. I had to be in the 1/3 who get better, but I was scared. Really scared. After another 5 days in the hospital, I went home, and waited for my babies to join me. I was overwhelmed, but tried to set my sights toward the future and to have hope. I listened to my doctor and began to do everything I could to get as normal as my heart will ever get.

And that's what I want to tell all women. Women are strong enough to fight heart disease. We do countless difficult tasks, many much harder than adopting the steps it takes to fight the number 1 killer of American women.

Here's my addendum: it's been a year since I began exercising again. I work out about 1 hour on my elliptical machine 4-5 times a week. It makes me emotionally and physically stronger. I do better with my entire day when I exercise, and since heart patients are subject to depression, it helps me keep a positive outlook. I don't feel as if I have no control over my health. I also watch my salt, caffeine, alcohol, and fat, and I take my medicines, now half the dose of what I used to take. I lowered my cholesterol from 245 to 181 with diet and exercise alone. I've never smoked, and that was in my favor when this health crisis occurred. So if you're a woman who smokes, please stop. And if you plan to become pregnant, it wouldn't hurt to have a cardiac workup, particularly if you are overweight, smoke, are older or may have infertility with the possibility of multiples: all these are risk factors for a maternal heart failure.

This is only one Red Story. Unfortunately, there are too many. That's what Go Red is all about, decreasing the number of heart health crises and deaths of women. Tomorrow, my entire family will be kicking off Go Red at the State Capital Rotunda. And we will all be wearing red! I hope to see you there!

For more info, go to GoRedForWomen.org.

Go Red From Toe to Head!

2010-02-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Trichology Salon in Oklahoma City is Going Red in a big way. Head on over there on Wear Red Day (Friday, February 5, 2010), and get that beautiful red hair you've always wanted! Anyone who has their hair "go red" receives the color portion of the appointment for free.

Check out AHA staff member Debbie Hite - who went red a day early. You can also follow Trichology on Twitter and Facebook to find more deals and beauty tips.

The Go Red Dance is Catching On!

2010-02-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

People are Going Red all over! Check out this video created by Texas Health Fort Worth employees. (The Administration montage is worth the watch!) Then pass on the link to others to help spread the word about heart disease and stroke.

Looking for a cute way to show your red off?

2010-02-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Check out this super stylish Red Heart Tee from New York & Company. Right now you can buy this cute tee for $6.95 with any purchase or for the regular price of $19.95. Two dollars from the sale of every Red Heart Tee will be donated to the American Heart Association.

The Red Heart Tee will be available in every New York & Company store and online, and will be available for the entire month of February, while supplies last.

Get fashionable and help fight the number one killer of women.

image from New York & Company

Ooooohhh! One More Cute Red Shopping Deal!

2010-02-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

The latest trend this February? The LRD.

Macy's has created a Little Red Dress that is perfect for a Little Valentine's Dinner or a night out on the town. It's available at select Macy's, including locations in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as on macys.com.

The dress retails for $69.00, with 10% of the sale price of the dress going to the American Heart Association and the Go Red For Women movement. The Little Red Dress will be available from January 31-March 21, 2010.

And don't forget about the Macy's Wear Red Sale Event on Febrary 3-7. Wear anything red--lipstick, your Red Dress pin, clothing, shoes--and get a 10-20% discount on select merchandise.

Go Shopping & Go Red!

2010-02-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

National Wear Red Day is just around the corner (February 5, 2010 - this Friday), so now is the time to start thinking about what great red item you're going to put on to show your support. Will it be that sassy red dress, or the comfy red sweater, or that stylish red tie? If you can't decide...well, now might be the time to get something new to wear!

Macy's (a national supporter of the Go Red For Women movement) is having a sale! Go shopping at Macy’s to get a new red sweater or shirt during their Go Red five-day sale Feb. 3-7. Customers visiting the stores wearing anything red can receive an extra 20% or 10% off most sale and clearance purchases throughout the store. Customers not wearing red can purchase a Red Dress Pin for $2 and get the extra savings.

Then head on over to your local Ross Store to get more savings. Ross Stores are selling Red Hearts and pins through February 14 in an effort to raise $2 million for the AHA. Help out their efforts by finding bargains and then purchasing a Red Heart to show your support.

Happy Shopping!

Go Red let's Go Red!

2010-01-25T08:21:00.001-08:00

February will be upon us before we know it and we have begun making plans for Heart Month. In 2008, International Pageants affiliated with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. Although each of our titleholders has their own platform that they are passionate about, we encourage them to become involved in the National platform - Go Red for Women.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. One in every three women will die from heart disease. For these two reasons, it's a good bet that every one of us has been affected personally by heart disease.Last year, Oklahoma International titleholders were responsible for signing up over 1,200 women to the Go Red movement. We reached a large number of these women at the Tulsa Women's Living Expo.

We will again be staffing the Go Red for Women booth at the Expo this coming February and our titleholders will be the models in a benefit fashion show. Our ladies will wear red outfits donated by Macy's and auctioned to the highest bidder at the show. The proceeds will go directly to Go Red.

The expo will take place February 12-14, 2010 at the Quick Trip Center in Tulsa.Our titleholders will be on hand on Feburary 4th at the Oklahoma State Capitol for Go Red Day at the Capitol. And on February 5th, dressed in crowns and red gowns, they will be participating in a Go Red event at the South Oklahoma Heart Hospital.

Although we make a big deal about heart health during the month of February, we should all be mindful of our numbers and the things we can do every day to keep our hearts healthy. We invite you to visit the Go Red for Women website and check out their new BetterU program. Go Red BetterU is a FREE 12-week online nutrition and fitness program that can makeover your heart. Each week will focus on a different area and provide step-by-step guidance.So heart your heart and let's Go Red!

Renting a Car? Breathe Easier Now...

2009-09-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Budget and Avis just announced that they're about to go smoke-free. Apparently the number one request they get is a smoke-free car (go figure!). As of October 1, all cars in both of their fleets will be officially non-smoking vehicles.

Turns out it's a win-win situation as vehicles that have been smoked in require extra cleaning, as well as being out of service for a longer period of time.

Thank you Budget and Avis!

Read more at USAToday.

Buy a Lipstick, Support the AHA

2009-08-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

"Go Red for Women" with Charity Buxom—Bare Escentuals limited-edition pout plumper with a cause all to her own. Show your support for the American Heart Association by wearing Charity—and they'll show you theirs with a donation through our BE Cares philanthropy program. Charity Buxom is certain to capture the hearts and lips of those she meets. Together, we have the passion and power to fight heart disease, the #1 killer of American women.

Buy the lip plumper, or find more information here.

Perot Systems Supports the Dallas Heart Walk!

2009-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Perot Systems is proud to sponsor the American Heart Association’s Dallas Start! Heart Walk for the third year in a row. Contributing to our community and caring about the well-being of our associates are part of our core values, and participating in the Heart Walk provides a perfect opportunity to put those values into action.

Each year, Perot Systems looks for ways to encourage our associates to participate in the Heart Walk and make healthy lifestyle choices by hosting fun events and competitions on our DFW campuses. These events are a great way for associates to have fun together while supporting a great cause. This year we have held several events to promote the Walk and raise funds for AHA including a Start! Walking campus event with our executives, a Root Beer Float Party, a Salsa Cook-off, Breakfast events and much more. One of our most popular competitions has been our Heart Walk T-shirt Design Contest. The official design of our T-shirt is chosen by popular demand and showcases the creative talents of associates.

The 2009 Heart Walk is shaping up to the best yet, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We look forward to seeing everyone at Victory Park in downtown Dallas on September 12!

The Music in this video is written and performed by Perot Systems employees.

Thinking About Quitting?

2009-08-16T21:49:00.001-07:00

Want a fast way to save a few bucks during the recession? Quit smoking. Forbes.com just posted a great slide show about how much money the average consumer in individual states would save by quitting smoking. They estimated these numbers using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, including the state taxes on a pack of cigarettes and the average price of a pack in each state. They then used the per-capita packs bought in 2007, as calculated by the CDC, to approximate how much the average smoker spends per year on cigarettes.

In New Mexico, where the number of packs sold per capita was only 34.6, the annual savings for the consumer was just under $172. In Texas, you'd save close to $290 each year - that's almost enough to buy a Kindle, so you could read more health stories and the news. In Arkansas, you'd save an average of $345 a year - which is enough to buy a brand new Wii and a Wii Fit off Amazon.com. And in Oklahoma? Go out an buy a pair of iPhones for yourself and a friend to exchange fitness apps and healthy restaurant reviews with your $440 in savings.

MSN News covers more of this article in an in-depth story and an interesting video.

We're Going Crazy for Gown Crazy!

2009-08-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

GOWN CRAZY, starring Johnathan Kayne, will air on TLC Friday, August 14th at 10: 00pm (Eastern Standard Time). The show is about the craziness that happens at the Johnathan Kayne Studio in Norman, Oklahoma. It features Kayne's staff and summer interns as well as a number of clients and two charity events during the week of filming which culminated with the Miss Oklahoma Pageant in Tulsa. One of the charity events just happens to be our 2009 Oklahoma City Go Red For Women event. For those of you in Oklahoma, tune in to spot yourself in the Go Red crowd!

Can't watch the show tonight? Here's where you can find other air times: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=2.14417.56115.0.0

Why do You Walk?

2009-08-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

This is part one of a series in support of the American Heart Association's Start! Heart Walk (look for a list of upcoming walks to your right in the "Find an Event" section, or visit our website). This year, more than 1 million walkers will participate in more than 450 event, raising funds to save lives from this country's No. 1 and No. 3 killers -- heart disease and stroke. We've asked volunteers, walkers, and sponsors to tell us why they walk. Safety-Kleen is a sponsor of the Start! Dallas Heart Walk which is being held on September 12.

I’m proud that Safety-Kleen continues its support of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in 2009. This year marks our sixth consecutive year of financial support for the life-saving work of the AHA, and we’re firmly committed to meeting and exceeding our fundraising goal of $100,000. Safety-Kleen has also been designated as a “Fit Friendly” company by the AHA, thanks to our year-round participation in the Start! Program.

Beyond the money we work to raise across Safety-Kleen, I have also challenged my executive team to step up to the plate and commit themselves to an extraordinary level of participation in fundraising. In this way, our leadership sets the bar high for charitable giving and hopefully serves as a good example to the rest of our employees.

Our commitment goes beyond fundraising, however. As a company, we’re focused on wellness and healthy lifestyles and encourage our employees to participate in as many ways as possible. We have created a walking route around our Plano campus, which many of our employees take advantage of. We host a wellness fair every year for employees to meet with health and wellness vendors to help make changes in their lives for the better. We have added healthy options for meals and snacks in our building. We offer corporate discounts at national health club chains. It can be challenging to meet the health and wellness needs of 4,000 employees spread out all over the U.S., but we are passionate about keeping our employees healthy, happy and working at Safety-Kleen!

In all, we at Safety-Kleen are glad to be able to contribute what we can to support the American Heart Association through the Heart Walk campaign. We look forward to this year’s walk and to many years of future support and participation.

Fred Florjancic
President & CEO, Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.

The 30 Worst Foods In America

2009-08-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, we're almost out of swimsuit season. But that's not reason to stop the battle of the bulge. Think of your heart! With that in mind, Men's Health has put together a pretty...well, pretty full list of the 30 worst foods in America. They've included everything from "Worst Supermarket Kids Lunch" to "Worst Side Dish For Your Arteries" to the "Worst Dessert". In their words,

"It doesn’t matter how religiously you diet. It doesn’t matter how intensely you exercise. And even if you try to make the smartest choices, pick the healthiest foods, and watch what you eat at every meal, all it takes to sabotage your weight loss goals is one simple mistake. That’s why we’re here to help you – a little bit of awareness can make those mistakes never happen.

Today’s food marketers have loaded many of their offerings with so much fat, sugar, and sodium that any single food in this slideshow can destroy all your hard work and best intentions. Welcome any one of these nutritional neutron bombs into your diet just once a month, and you could add nearly 7 pounds of flab to your frame in the coming year. Luckily, Eat This Not That has rounded up equally delicious alternatives at much lower caloric cost. Make these monster swaps each time you eat out, and you could lose 10, 20, or even 30 pounds in a year!"

Check out the list...make smart decisions eating-wise. If you need help, check out this website for some healthy-eating tips. Your heart will thank you!

Meet Wonder - One of Our Survivor/Writers

2009-07-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

My heart story began in the fall of 1997. My husband had taken our two sons hunting for the weekend and our two daughters were home with me. We decided that while the guys were away, we were going to have a movie and snack night.

While watching the movie, I started to feel a heaviness in my chest and became short of breath. I changed positions thinking that would help, but it didn't. I thought I was laughing at the movie too hard and was just out of breath.

As time went on, I started to feel light headed as if I would pass out. I kept thinking I was having an asthma attack...but I didn't have asthma. After a few more minutes of feeling this way, I told my oldest daughter to go call for help.

My youngest daughter helped me to get dressed. When my mother-in-law arrived, she helped me into the car and rushed me to the hospital emergency room. I was seen almost immediately by the doctor. I was afraid, I didn't know what was happening to me. The doctor came in and told me had I arrived 10 minutes later, I could have died. I remember thinking that I was hearing him all wrong. He told me that I would have to stay in the hospital for them to try to find the problem and then he left the room.

My head was spinning and I was terrified. The only thing I could think of was what if I had died at home with just me and my babies. What if I don't make it out of the hospital? Will I see my family again? My doctor came back in and explained to me that I was in Congestive Heart Failure. The tears came again, this time even heavier. All I heard was heart failure and in my mind that meant death. I didn't know that it didn't have to mean that. My doctor was very patient with me and answered as many questions as I could ask that night. I was in the hospital for a week. In that week, I learned more about my condition, the symptoms and the treatment. Three more times, I would find myself in the hospital for Congestive Heart Failure. Each time trying to figure out what was going wrong. I'm not a smoker and I don't drink. "What's going on with me?" I asked. My heart had sustained so much damage that it was taking a while for my medicine to take effect. In the meantime, I had to make some decisions. My doctor told me point blank that I had to change my diet, lose weight and exercise.

It was hit and miss for me until that last hospital stay. I remember being in so much pain from a three day old migraine and crying because I was afraid. The nurse came in and prayed with me and I finally calmed down. I started to pray again. This time I prayed for a change. I promised God that I would make changes in my life if He would allow me to go home to my family. That was in 2003.

I've volunteered for the American Heart Association for the past 6 years and I'm happy to say that on my last annual checkup, my doctor told me that my heart has gone back to its normal size and is functioning well. I am still fighting to keep my weight under control, but I am determined to do it. I'm not ready to leave my family.Looking back, I can see the warning signs. I was a fulltime student, mother of four, a wife, working two parttime jobs and volunteering at my kids school when I had a chance. My diet was a mess and I barely exercised. I would have to stop and take a break most days when I would walk across campus for class. I had gained a lot of weight during each of my pregnancies and I didn't get enough sleep. I was tired all of the time, experiencing shortness of breath and headaches regularly. I attributed everything to my busy schedule. I kept telling myself that I was just doing too much.

Later, I found out that all of these things were signs that my heart was in trouble. Another factor that played a huge part in this was my family history. After I was released from the hosital, I started questioning family members about our health history. What I learned was shocking.

Relatives as far back as my greatgrandfather and my great aunt had died of heart disease. I knew that my mother, who died November 6, 2007, had it but I never thought past her. My maternal grandfather and maternal grandparents all died from heart disease. Two of my cousins have died in the past four years. Several cousins have been diagnosed and are living with this disease. My now 90 year old great aunt, had two heart attacks within a week when she was 87. She now has a pacemaker and so does her 61 year old son. I've lost a very good friend from church also.

If I can offer any advice to women, it is to know your body, listen to your body, know your family history, change your diet, get plenty of exercise and if you smoke - stop! Please get your annual checkups and ask questions. Know how to advocate for yourself and your family, it can be a matter of life and death. Early detection and treatment is the key. Until next time, stay healthy and love your heart!