FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

First Lady Encourages Women to Be Heart Healthy

SPRINGFIELD - First Lady Melanie Blunt today addressed volunteers and community leaders at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon.  Mrs. Blunt is the Honorary Chair for Missouri’s campaign, which strives to raise awareness among women about the risks of heart disease.

“It is easy to let our health and well being take a back seat but I urge Missouri women to make a promise to be heart healthy,” Mrs. Blunt said in her remarks at the luncheon. “We all need to remember, small efforts make a BIG difference.   Small steps today pave the way to heart health and a healthy future.“

Mrs. Blunt related how she has spent the last year traveling Missouri attending Go Red for Women events and listening to women share their stories about Heart Disease.  She noted how many women’s stories are the same and that women often put their children and families before their own health. 

She called on women to take steps to prevent and lower their risk of heart disease.  She urged them to:

• Make a promise to be heart healthy. 
• Visit their healthcare provider to learn how to make heart-healthy habits part of daily life. 
• Know their numbers.  Track blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and weight and keep them in a healthy range.

For more information about heart disease and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign visit: http://www.goredforwomen.org/. 

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