January 27, 2006

"Go Red for Women" campaign celebrates healthy hearts

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing approximately 500,000 females each year. To give women the tools, information and support they need to help prevent cardiovascular disease, the MGH Heart Center will host a variety of heart-healthy activities Jan. 30 through Feb. 3 as part of the AHA's "Go Red for Women" campaign, an annual effort that promotes better heart health for women of all ages.

Below is the schedule of activities:

Jan. 30 — The campaign's kickoff celebration will be held from 10 am to 2 pm
in the Main Corridor, where visitors can receive an official "Go Red" pedometer. Participants are invited to wear the pedometer during their regular daily activities, and on Feb. 3, all participating MGH employees can e-mail the total steps taken to MGHGoRed@partners.org. The individual with the highest number of steps will receive an Apple iPod.

Jan. 31 — A self-care massage class will be held from noon to 1 pm in the Walcott Conference Rooms. Michelle Connolly, a massage therapist with The Clubs at Charles River Park, will teach techniques to manage stress and reduce muscle tension using everyday household items.

Feb. 1 — Information tables providing facts about heart disease, healthy eating and exercise will be located in the Main Corridor from 11 am to 3 pm. Visitors also can receive free blood pressure screenings.

Feb. 2 — A lunchtime program "Women and Heart Health: Know Your Numbers," will be held from noon to 1 pm in the Thier Conference Room with presenter Stephanie Moore, MD, an MGH cardiologist. A light lunch will be served.

Feb. 3 — MGHers are invited to wear red clothing in honor of the official "Go Red" Day. Employees with uniform restrictions and all others interested can receive a red dress pin.

All participants are invited to pose for a group photograph at 10:30 am in the Main Corridor near Coffee Central. The department with the most employees who wear red and pose for the photograph will win a catered lunch. In addition, each day during the week, the Eat Street Café will serve a heart-healthy entree. For more information, visit www.massgeneral.org/GoRed.