The Town of Decatur proclaimed on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, that February is American Heart Month to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among women.
In the proclamation signed by Mayor Max Anderson, it states that cardiovascular disease claimed more lives than all forms of cancer combined among women, yet only 44 percent of women recognized it as their greatest health threat. The document noted that nearly 45 percent of females aged 20 and older lived with some form of cardiovascular disease and that less than half of women entering pregnancy in the United States had optimal cardiovascular health.
“By increasing awareness, speaking out about heart disease and empowering women to reduce their risk, we can save thousands of lives each year,” the proclamation stated. It also drew attention to the fact that heart disease was the number-one killer of new mothers and that complications during pregnancy—such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes—elevated a woman’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
The proclamation referenced national statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association. In 2020, stroke was responsible for the deaths of 90,627 women, accounting for about 56.5 percent of total stroke deaths. It also highlighted that women were less likely to receive bystander CPR, partly due to concerns about inappropriate touching or potential injury during aid.
Since its inception in 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign aimed to close the awareness and clinical care gaps for women facing cardiovascular disease. The proclamation noted that women had historically been underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, with only 38 percent of participants being female as of 2020.
Residents of Decatur were encouraged to mark the day by wearing red in support of efforts to educate the community about lifestyle changes—such as increasing physical activity, eating healthfully and managing blood pressure—that can help prevent heart disease and stroke.
