February 18, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, (top row, center) stands in support with his colleagues in the Legislature to support Go Red For Women at the Massachusetts State House. Go Red For Women, which was held on February 2, is the American Heart Association’s campaign to raise awareness among women about heart disease, which kills one woman a minute. In fact, heart disease kills more women than the next five leading causes of death combined—including all forms of cancer. In addition, the direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular diseases in the U.S., including stroke, averages $475.3 billion annually. 

"'Go Red for Women' reminds us all of the importance of taking care of our hearts and our health, in general—but it's especially important for women to know that heart disease is the leading cause of premature death among women,” said Sen. Moore, who is Senate Chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “Smoking, unhealthy diets and the stress of daily life all combine to put women's hearts at risk, so my fellow legislators and I gathered at the State House to help remind the women of Massachusetts that we care, and that we want them to be heart-healthy."

The event featured remarks by Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, and Rep. Alice Wolf, D-Cambridge, co-chairs of the Caucus of Women Legislators, American Heart Association volunteer, Dr. Roberta Herman, and heart survivor, Marylou Depeiza. 

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of women over the age of 20, claiming the lives of over 460,000 women each year – about one per minute. That’s more lives than the next four causes of death combined, and nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. More than two-thirds of women are unaware that heart disease is their No. 1 health threat. 

The Go Red For Women State House proclamation is part of a series of events to kick off American Heart Month and raise awareness around women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please visit americanheart.org or GoRedForWomen.org. The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc. Go Red TM of AHA, Red Dress TM of DHHS.

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