Heart disease and stroke survivors share their power for World Heart Day
September 27, 2017
Columbia resident Beverly Buchanan announced as national spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® movement
Each year on September 29, World Heart Day, an initiative of the World Heart Federation, gives people the power to be heart healthy with the world’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD). The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, is honoring 11 women who are sharing their stories to inspire others as part of the 2017 Go Red For Women class of Real Women. The Real Women serve as national spokespeople for the movement. This year’s class includes Columbia resident Beverly Buchanan.
Buchanan complained of vague symptoms for months without resolution. With an overseas trip planned and symptoms worsening, the nurse at Dorn Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center pushed harder for answers and learned she would need open-heart bypass surgery. “As a nurse and a survivor, I encourage you to know your numbers,” Buchanan said. She now shares her story in her classes to encourage her colleagues and patients to know their numbers, take symptoms seriously and trust their medical providers.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Real Women represent a sisterhood of survivors who actively, urgently, and passionately participate in the movement to raise awareness of the issues connecting women and heart diseases and stroke. The World Heart Day campaign emphasizes that small changes can make a powerful difference, and as the often-surprising faces of heart disease, the Real Women share their power to inspire others through the changes they’ve made to improve their own health.
Nearly 16 women die each day in South Carolina from heart diseases and stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in women, taking one woman’s life every 80 seconds, but 80% of these deaths may be preventable through education and lifestyle changes. The American Heart Association, the Go Red Real Women, and the World Heart Federation know that small lifestyle changes can make a powerful difference to our heart health. By sharing knowledge, we can inspire each other to become more heart healthy.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Go Red For Women
In the United States, cardiovascular diseases kill approximately 1 in 3 women each year. Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. Cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Go Red For Women advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and CVS Health, with additional support from our cause supporters. For more information, please visitGoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).
