N.C. State will make wearing red healthier on Feb. 7 with it’s support of “Go Red for Women,” a campaign sponsored by the American Heart Association.

“Go Red for Women” aims to raise awareness about heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among women, more so than any other cancer put together, according to the campaign’s website.

Lisa Eberhart, dining and catering operations dietician and a member of the AHA Mission Committee for the Triangle, said that because the University already asks students to wear red on Fridays, it made sense to support the campaign’s message by holding events heart-disease-related events throughout campus on that day as well. WRAL and North Carolina A&T State University will also support the cause.

“A lot of the students probably don’t think about heart disease a lot because it usually affects people in their fifties, sixties, seventies and so forth,” said Michelle Borges, University Dining Nutrition Department Coordinator. “But you can still make a lifestyle change in your twenties to extend into your old age.” 

Heart disease develops when plaque accumulates in the arteries, thereby restricting blood and oxygen to the heart, according to the AHA. Though men often see the blockage in their coronary arteries, women usually have the disease in tinier arteries, which can cause pain in their jaws and arms instead of the usual chest pain associated with the disease.

“Lots of times, women will die from heart disease because they ignore the symptoms, and the symptoms for women are a little bit different from the symptoms for men,” Eberhart said. “For some reason, women are less likely to call an ambulance themselves, so they wait too long, and that’s when they die of heart disease.”

A lot of people also believe breast cancer is the number one killer of women, which “is not even close,” according to Eberhart, who said society needs to recognize the dangers of both of these killers.

“People don’t realize how common [heart disease] is among women, and they don’t realize how preventable it is, and they don’t realize they need to be watching for the symptoms in women,” Eberhart said.

To reduce your risk of heart disease, the AHA recommends people learn about their family history of the disease, stay physically active, don’t smoke, drink in moderation and eat healthy, balanced meals.

To support the campaign, walk through the freshly painted red Free Expression Tunnel and stop by any one of these events or places on campus:

“Know Your Numbers”

Student Health Services will check your body mass index, weight circumference and blood pressure in the Recreation Center’s lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to Borges.

Dining Halls

University Dining will highlight heart-healthy menu items to students eating in Clark and Fountain dining halls in addition to offering low-fat, pink ice cream and water with a watermelon twist, Eberhart said.

Carmichael Gym

Students who wear red to the gym will receive prizes in order to remind them how forty minutes of exercise three to four times a week can reduce their risk of heart disease, Eberhart said.

Brickyard

University Dining will pass out red apples and give tips about how to be “heart-healthy,” manage stress, work out more and eat better. This will be taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Borges.