Women: Choose to act against heart disease

We face choices every day. Some choices aren't important, while others are life changing.

But what if the seemingly unimportant choices were the ones that mattered? Like choosing to take the stairs, not the elevator? Opting for baked instead of fried? What if these choices influenced whether you were the one in every three women to die of heart disease this year? Women are dying of heart disease at the rate of almost one per minute. Luckily, this No. 1 killer is largely preventable. We simply have to choose to act.

l Visit GoRedFor

Women.org to find out your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke.

l Schedule a doctor's appointment each year and get a blood screen.

l Attend Go Red For Women luncheons in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 20 and Coralville on Dec. 10. These events raise funds for lifesaving research and provide women of all generations with tips and information on healthy eating, exercise and risk factor reduction.

l Support legislation that would improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women at HeartForWomen.org.

So women, let's choose to beat heart disease.

Debra Westhues

Marion