Dressed in red, staff in the Department of Cardiology at Nassau University Medical Center took part in the go Red for Women campaign on Feb. 3. go Red for Women was initiated by the American Heart Association in 2004 after statistics revealed that more than 500,000 women die from heart disease each year, claiming more lives than any other disease, including cancer.

To raise awareness and promote a heart healthy lifestyle, cardiology staff members gathered in the lobby at NUMC and offered free blood pressure screenings.

Staff members and a heart disease survivor also spoke about their experiences. Guest speaker Sylvia Martin said she was diagnose with congestive heart failure at NUMC after a car accident last October. “I was going to the doctor all along,” she said,” but nobody every detected it.”

Martin’s road to recovery was slow and she was at NUMC for nearly two months due to injuries sustained during the car accident, but eventually agreed to undergo surgery and a defibrillator was inserted on Jan. 27. The electronic device will constantly monitor her heart rhythm and will help her heart beat normally. “I can see by the spring I’ll be blossoming again,” Martin said.

Some staff members also attended a videoconference with the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, who offered a special presentation for go Red for Women.

During the conference, numerous specialists discussed the importance of making proactive heart-healthy choices, including Dr. Jennifer Mieres, senior vice president of North Shore LIJ’s Office of Community and Public Health. “Remember to make a promise to yourself beginning today,” she said. “Most importantly, listen to your body. if something is different, if you’re not feeling right, if you’re a little bit out of sorts, do not just write it off.”

Mieres told the audience to start with small steps like making a more colorful plate by adding vegetables, laughing for at least ten minutes each day, walking more and getting at least seven hours of sleep each night. “Making that commitment out loud will ensure sustainability on the road to heart health,” she said.

Administrative Director of Cardiac Services at NUMC Lorinda Bauer said that most women don’t pay attention to their bodies and emphasized that men and women do not present with the same symptoms. She said the most common heart attack symptoms in women are indigestion, exhaustion, anxiety, back pain and jaw pain. She added that women should know their baseline cholesterol and blood pressure and have a routine electrocardiogram, EKG, performed each year.