Support A Cause: Go Red
COCONUT GROVE (CBSMiami) – If you see plenty of women across South Florida in red Friday, and notice Downtown Miami's Freedom Tower is crimson, it's not a preview of Valentine's Day. Instead, it's showing support for the American Heart Association's National Go Red Campaign.
The campaign's goal is to educate people about the number one killer of women, heart disease. It also looks to empower women to take action and prevent the fatal disease.
CBS4′s Miami's Natalia Zea emceed the Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Breakfast this morning at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa to help kick off American Heart Month in South Florida.
Judy Sweeney knows how important this outreach is. She has survived 2 heart attacks. She was still in her 30s when the first one hit.
"It was in the middle of the night, I was asleep, I just thought I ate too much and who thought at 39 I'd have a heart attack?" she told Zea.
The second heart attack was just two months ago. She now carries around a personal defibrillator.
"It's battery operated and if I get too abnormal it will go off, and if I go unconscious it will give me a shock."
She came out to Macy's in Aventura to take part in the Go Red For Women campaign. She along with many other women are trying out to be a national spokesperson for the campaign. She has this advice for other women.
"See your doctor. Women are so much taking care of their family and other people they don't take care of themselves they don't see the doctor."
You can reduce your risk of contracting heart disease by 80% by eating healthy and exercising.
For healthy recipes and more information on the campaign click here: http://www.goredforwomen.org/index.aspx