Jefferson County Wears Red for Heart Health on February 3, 2017

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) kills more people in the United States, Colorado and Jefferson County than any other disease. Each minute, someone in the United States dies from a heart disease-related event.¹

To raise awareness about heart health, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is hosting a photo opportunity for National Wear Red Day at 9:00 am on February 3, 2017 at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building Atrium, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Download the flyer for event details - please join us and wear your favorite red apparel!

The Wear Red Day event also serves as a launch for JCPH’s new heart health blog, “Change of Heart.”  The blog consists of various posts featuring stories from Coloradans affected by cardiovascular disease, as well as information about the lifestyle changes we can all make to help reduce the risk of heart disease. 

JCPH’s updated 2014-2018 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)  and its accompanying data portal shows that cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke)  continues to be a leading cause of death in Jefferson County.  High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease.  According to the a 2015 report from the American Heart Association, half of Americans (49%) have at least one of these three risk factors. ¹

JCPH works to address known risk factors and lifestyle choices that can put people at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including: diabetes, overweight and obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.  Everyone is encouraged to learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke and call 911 immediately at the onset of symptoms.

For more information on heart disease and prevention, please visit:

•          American Heart Association
•          Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jefferson County Public Health is dedicated to improving the health of our communities by providing education and preventive resources on a number of topics, including heart health. For more information on the health department, its partnerships and the services it offers, visit jeffco.us/public-health.

Citations:

1.      Mozzafarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, et al. on behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2015 Update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;131:e29-e322.S