UHS raises awareness for women's heart health
VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Across the country, people are wearing red today to draw attention to women's heart health.
Friday is National Wear Red Day dedicated to the prevention and treatment of heart disease among women.
UHS Faculty and staff held a news conference and turned the UHS main lobby into a sea of red this morning.
One speaker, Ms. Kintner, received a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure at UHS, also known as TAVR, and says she no longer feels like there is an elephant sitting on her chest.
The Vice President of Development at the American Heart Association, Jami Wood says women are less likely to receive life-saving CPR than men.
'Some people are afraid of hurting a woman when performing CPR or they have a misconception that it's harder to perform on a woman. But we can close that gender gap by getting as many people familiar with CPR as possible. If you see a teen or an adult collapse, one, you're going to call 911 and two, you're going to push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help can arrive,' said Wood.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. even more than all forms of cancer combined.
During the news conference, UHS and the Heart Association donated CPR training kits to local school districts and non-profits.
Wood says you can be certified in hands only CPR as early as 9 years old.
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