Pick Your Promise
Heart disease is the number one killer of women, but it doesn’t have to be so.
Join the Go Red campaign and Pick Your Promise to help decrease your personal chance of heart disease
and lower the overall percentage of women who are affected by it. What will you promise?
FIND YOUR HEALTH STATISTICS

Age
Weight
Height
 
Waist Size
Find A Cardiologist
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BMI
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WAIST/HEIGHT
RATIO
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DAILY
CALORIES
TARGET HEART RATE
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BPM

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Your Body Mass Index (BMI), based off of weight and height, is a number designed to give you an accurate indication of whether or not your weight is healthy in comparison to height. This number, however, does not take in to consideration a person’s muscle mass, thus an overweight BMI may still actually be in the healthy range if you are a person of more muscular build.

Target Heart Rate

Working out not only trains your muscles, but your heart as well. Your Target Heart Rate is the number of heartbeats per minute you want to aim for during your workout in order to avoid either under or over exercising. This number is directly correlated with your age and fitness level, thus it will change over time.

Daily Caloric Intake

Calories are the fuel your body runs on. Running on too few or too many calories can have a negative impact on your body, especially if you’re doing so on a consistent basis. It’s important to have a solid idea of what your caloric intake should be in order for your body to function at its optimum levels. Your age, height, weight and activity level all factor in to your daily caloric intake.

Waist-to-Height Ratio

As our personalities differ, so do our bodies. The Waist to Height Ratio determines what is a healthy distribution of body fat based on waist circumference and height.

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Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty-like substance found in your blood and body cells. An excessive build-up of cholesterol results in the development of plaque that clings to artery walls, thus reducing blood flow and increasing your chances of a blood clot, heart attack or stroke. It is important to note that our bodies naturally produce enough cholesterol to function properly, which is why it is a good idea to be aware of any extra cholesterol we intake.

Cholesterol Types

LDL (bad) cholesterol: This type of cholesterol tends to stick to the walls of your blood vessels and causes blockages. Higher levels of LDL increases your risk for a heart attack stemming from a blood clot in a narrow artery passageway. While naturally present in your body, higher levels of LDL can be inherited. Diets high in saturated and trans fat can also contribute to an increased level of LDL cholesterol.

HDL (good) cholesterol: This type of cholesterol acts as your body’s broom, moving through the bloodstream sweeping away bad cholesterol (LDL) from where it doesn’t belong (your arteries). Higher levels of HDL cholesterol can help reduce your risk of heart disease, but too little can increase your risk.

Triglycerides: Triglycerides are a form of fat in your body, found in your blood, used to provide energy to your body. A more sedentary lifestyle or a higher intake of carbohydrates and excessive tobacco or alcohol use has the potential to impact and raise total cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol by the Numbers

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure (HBP), if not detected, can be a silent killer. A high blood pressure number indicates the overworking of your heart as it pumps blood through your body. Failure to detect HBP over a prolonged period of time can have a negative effect on your heart, blood vessels and kidneys, resulting in damaged arteries, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and other problems.

Blood pressure is determined by two variables: systolic and diastolic.

Systolic: the pressure in arteries when your heart beats
Diastolic: the pressure in arteries in between heart beats

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Learn about the movement

About The Movement

Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.

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Women & Heart Disease

Get facts about women's health and learn about your risk of heart disease.

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Why Go Red?

There is great opportunity for women to take control of their lives and make heart healthy decisions for themselves and their families.

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Healthy Recipes

Pork and Green Onion Tacos
View Recipe
View All Heart Healthy Recipes

Heart Healthy Tips

Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more women than the next five causes of death combined - almost twice as many as all forms of cancer. Fortunately, the risk for cardiovascular disease can be greatly reduced if you start with small, simple actions like these:

Exercise. Step, march, or jog in place for at least 30 minutes most days of the week - you can even do it while watching TV.

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Take Action

Prevention

Know your numbers. By knowing your numbers and assessing your risks now, you can work with your doctor to significantly reduce your chances of getting heart disease tomorrow, next year, or 30 years from now!

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Go Red February

Saint Thomas Health will Go RED during the month of February, particularly on National Wear Red Day, February 7. Find out how you can participate and help educate your family, friends and community.

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Real Stories

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