Hundreds of babies born at Abrazo Community Health Network hospitals in February will receive little red hats to help the American Heart Association raise awareness about heart disease.
The little red hat is a simple reminder for parents to talk about the future health of their newborn babies and make sure that they and their loved ones are screened for cardiovascular diseases.
“I think it’s a great idea to use these cute hats as way to share information with families about heart disease,’’ said Briana Davis whose baby was one of the first at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus to receive a red hat.
As part of the American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign, volunteers crocheted and knitted red hats for newborns at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, Abrazo Central Campus, Abrazo Scottsdale Campus and Abrazo West Campus.
Congenital Heart Disease is an abnormality in the heart’s structure in which a person is born with. At least eight of every 1,000 infants born each year have a heart defect, according to the American Heart Association.
There have been many advances in medicine and surgical techniques. Many babies that once died of congenital heart disease are now living healthy lives well into adulthood. While these advances have been made, and many heart defects can be repaired, special attention to heart care is still needed as an adult, according to the American Heart Association.
Cardiovascular disease, or heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans. But heart disease can be prevented through education and healthy lifestyle choices.
Although heart disease is often thought of as a health problem for men, more women than men die of heart disease each year. An estimated 42 million American women live with cardiovascular disease, but many are unaware of the threat they face. One challenge is that heart disease symptoms in women can be different from symptoms in men. Women can take steps to understand their unique symptoms of heart disease and begin to reduce their risk.
“Years after the American Heart Association launched the Go Red For Women movement, heart disease remains the leading killer of women – killing more women than all forms of cancer combined,” said Cayci Oliver, Executive Director of the Greater Phoenix Division of the American Heart Association. “Most women don’t notice the symptoms of heart disease until it’s too late, which is why heart disease has been called the silent killer.”
During February’s American Heart Month, Abrazo has also established for Valley residents an online assessment tool to check their risk for heart disease, at: www.AbrazoHealthCheck.com/Heart. For more information about heart disease, go to heart.org.
Upcoming events
Feb. 24: A free seminar regarding the signs and symptoms of heart attacks for men and women will be presented from 6-7 p.m. at Abrazo West Campus, 13677 W. McDowell Road in Goodyear.To register, call 1-855-292-9355.
March 19: Abrazo Community Health Network is a major sponsor of the March 19 Phoenix Heart Walk to raise money for the American Heart Association. Last year, Abrazo employees raised more than $53,000 and more than 400 Abrazo employees walked in the Phoenix Heart Walk. For more information, go to PhoenixHeartWalk.org.
