Jeanna Barnard of Pasadena speaks out on women's heart health

Jeanna Barnard

In honor of the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day (Feb. 4),
the AHA gathered remarks on heart health from women across the Houston area.

Jeanna Barnard is CEO of Bayshore Medical Center and a Pasadena resident.
Here is what she had to say:

As women and mothers, we are always worried about everyone around us and we
dont necessarily take the time to worry about ourselves. Not only does The
American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement empower women to take
action for a good cause, but it also increases awareness about monitoring
your health and the importance of taking the time to schedule those regular
doctors appointments.

Having family members who have suffered from heart disease and their
implications, this is a topic that hits close to home with me. Heart disease
takes the life of 1 in 3 women each year, so it's critical that we help
women learn about their risk factors and how to take better care of their
hearts. Although there are some heart disease risks youre born with, there
are several that you can avoid by making the necessary lifestyle changes.

Each year I look forward to wearing red clothing and pins in support of Go
Red Day because it sparks conversations about all aspects of heart disease.
Whether it be needing advice on how to deal with a loved one or just
information about the warning signs or risk factors, it gives women the
opportunity to talk to other women about sensitive issues that are important
to discuss but hard to bring up.

For more information on the Go Red For Women campaign, go here.