I have had the honor to be apart of two national pageant organizations, both choosing to focus on heart health for women: The Heart Truth Campaign of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Go Red For Women of the American Heart Association.
As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I was the voice of The Heart Truth Campaign of The National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The institute is part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To make women more aware of the danger of heart disease, the (NHLBI) and partner organizations have formed this campaign to give women a personal and urgent wake up call about their risk of heart disease. The campaign is especially aimed at women ages 40 to 60, the age when a woman's risk of heart disease starts to rise. But its messages are also important for younger women, since heart disease develops gradually and can start at a young age-even in the teenage years. Older women have an interest too—it's never too late to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease. Even those who have heart disease can improve their heart health and quality of life. The Heart Truth Campaign leads the nation in a landmark heart health AWARENESS movement which is embraced by millions with the common goal of improving heart health for women.
Now, as Miss Louisiana International 2013, it is my duty to promote and partner with the Go Red For Women movement of the American Heart Association (AHA). To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health in 2004. Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. In 2010, the American Heart Association set a strategic goal of reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and strokes by 20% while improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% by the year 2020.
So what's the difference between the two??
Scientific research is and always has been the cornerstone of the American Heart Association's mission. Research provides knowledge that leads to lifesaving treatments and cures, thus making the organization a leading FUNDING source for advances in heart health. The organization has funded more than $3.3 billion in lifesaving cardiovascular research, second only to the federal government. The American Heart Association's scientific statements, guidelines, and medical publications are the most authoritative sources in the field.
A united front...By working together to advance this important cause, the American Heart Association, NHLBI, and other women’s health groups will have a greater impact than any one group could have alone. The NHLBI introduced the red dress as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and the American Heart Association adopted this symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting this
cause.
I am honored to serve the American Heart Association throughout the state of Louisiana on their Speaker's Bureau. Today I met with the capital area events coordinator to begin planning appearances throughout my reign as Miss Louisiana International 2013, including the National Wear Red Day ad that I posed for today! Look for it soon in a mailbox near you! Want me to speak at your event about heart health?? Shoot me an email.
The American Heart Association celebrates 10 years of Going Red by Wearing Red on February 1, 2013!
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