Women at Franklin Park advocate for women’s heart health through National Wear Red Day

The pin in Kim Leo’s costume is a sparkling accessory. It’s there to make a statement, but it’s not a fashion statement. She wears it to send her heartfelt message.

Shiny red jewelry in the shape of a dress American Heart Association Women’s Go Red National Wear Red DayIt’s time to raise awareness of women’s heart health.

Heart disease The main cause of death in women In the United States, about one in five female deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts say the effects of covid-19 are likely to affect cardiovascular health and mortality.

“Heart disease is humble,” said Leo, who had a heart attack 10 years ago in May this year and works for a local cardiac medical device company. “It’s not discriminatory.”

Residents of Franklin Park remembered arriving at her office in Harrisburg around 7 am. There she was working at Capital Blue Cross at the time. There was nothing unusual until she got to her desk that Monday morning. She felt extreme nausea and a tingling in her chest. She started to sweat her.

She called her husband, Ron, who worked for the same company. He warned one of the first respondents on the scene. One of her arteries was 99% blocked. There was a blood clot. She was ready for an emergency open heart surgery.

She was 46 years old. She didn’t smoke. She had a good meal.

She was taking medication for high blood pressure. She has a family history of heart disease.

The doctor told her husband that she had a 50-50 chance of surviving.

This Friday, we are united to raise awareness and help end heart disease.Are your clothes ready #WearRedDay?? pic.twitter.com/LVUNkmwSM9

— American Heart Association (@American_Heart) February 2, 2022

So on Friday, she wears a red dress pin in the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. This year’s theme is “Regaining Rhythm,” raising her awareness of the epidemic of heart disease in women.

The last two years have had a significant impact on women’s health, said Dr. Katie Burracher, UPMC cardiologist and medical director of the Maggie-Women’s Heart Program. Many women-owned businesses have been closed, and 2.5 million women have lost their jobs or left the workforce, Berlacher said.

“The pandemic had a cruel effect on women who had to take more responsibility at home,” Berlacher said. “There was a lot of additional stress when caring for others, which increased the episodes of the heart. Their level of anxiety is increasing.”

When Berlacher lectures in the second year of cardiology, she ends up with one assignment.

“I encourage them to call their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and daughters to check their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol,” she said. “It’s a grassroots effort. There are no NFL players in the Super Bowl who wear red gloves and cleats like wearing pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Do everything you can to spread the word. . Let’s scream from the roof. “

Communicating the message is important, agreed with UPMC cardiologist Dr. Aryan Aiyer. He said the pandemic has more for women to take care of everyone else.

“We cannot fully emphasize the importance of vaccination,” Aiyer said. “We observed in the hospital that vaccinated patients suffer less (covid-19). It’s never too late to get vaccinated.”

In a pandemic, women postpone their health examinations. They may be afraid to enter a clinic or hospital because of covid-19. Many people work from home and help their children with distance learning.

“It’s important to make those promises,” he said. “We can check everything and reassess the risk factors.”

Berlacher makes telemedicine visits or at least contacts patients to discuss their mood by phone or email.

“Don’t ignore the symptoms,” Leo said.

Courtesy of Kim Leo

Kim Leo’s granddaughter (from left to right), Bowen, Blakely, and Chloe, who live in Franklin Park, are wearing red dresses to support their grandmother who had a heart attack and needed open heart surgery in 2012.

Her experience has taken life into consideration. Her family is everything: her husband, her mother and stepfather, Ethelma Regionson and Terrizonson. Her daughter Rachel and her husband Ricky Kaiser, and their children Chloe, Blakely and Max. Her daughter Rebecca and her husband Rich Franceski, and their children Bowen and Theo.

“I don’t take anything for granted,” said Leo, who had undergone several months of heart rehabilitation. “I hadn’t thought for a million years that I wouldn’t go home that night because of a heart attack when I left home for work that day. I listened to my body and took action. There were so many emotions, from shock and distrust to anger and depression. I can’t believe this happened to me. When I finished my rehabilitation, I thought I was going to advocate for a woman’s heart health. I told you. “

Courtesy of Kim Leo

Rebecca Franceski (left) and Rachel Kaiser, daughters of Kim Leo from Franklin Park, attend a women’s luncheon at the American Heart Association in May 2012 to help mothers with heart attacks and open heart surgery. I’m on my way.

When she moved here five years ago, she contacted the Harrisburg American Heart Association, which linked her to the location of Pittsburgh.

“I love wearing red dress pins,” said Leo, who had surgery at UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg. “I have something with rhinestones. For me, that’s the power of that little red dress. It represents the determination from all the women around me. It embodies the message of that red dress pin. There is a strong line of females to do. The females in my family are the rocks of the family. They take care of everyone else. BPart of Go Red for Women is to pay it in advance. “

According to Berlacher, women’s health involves dealing with uninsured or uninsured issues. She said she would tell her that it would last longer because she only takes half the dose of the drug. Pregnant women are also a group of people to watch out for, as high blood pressure can harm mothers and babies.

According to Berlacher, women are thinking a lot now. Sometimes their symptoms are dismissed as anxiety. Pandemic changes in exercise habits can also contribute to health problems, Aiyer said.

“Wearing red sends a message that we are all together,” he said. “It’s a small symbol that can have a big impact.”

Like Leo’s red dress pin.