Sagicor promoting right choices for heart health

Heart disease is the number one killer of women across the globe, which is why Sagicor is encouraging all women to make the right choices to preserve the health of this vital organ.

The leading health insurer is spreading this message with its support and promotion of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign, which is designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.

Sagicor nurse and champion of the campaign, Rosanna Springer, made the point that the awareness level among women relative to the impact of heart disease is quite low, despite the alarming global statistics. This is why the company is promoting the campaign across its social media channels, as well as erecting a display in its Client Experience Center in Collymore Rock.

“Women have a one in three chance of dying from heart disease, which is not as surprising a fact as people may initially think, given that 90 per cent of women have at least one risk factor that could potentially contribute to the development of heart disease,” Springer said.

Smoking, age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, poor diet, family history of premature heart disease and physical inactivity are the known risk factors that can contribute to heart attacks and heart disease in women. As a result, more women than men are dying each year and the gap between men and women’s survival is continuing to widen.

“According to the American Heart Association, women’s symptoms can be different to men’s, while African American women have almost two times the risk of stroke than Caucasians and are more likely to die at an earlier age.

We are therefore calling on all women, regardless of age, to make the necessary adjustments in their daily lives in an effort to reduce the risk of stroke or heart disease, such as eating healthy and controlling their portion sizes, exercising and losing excess weight, going for regular medical check-ups, along with adequate self-care in the form of good sleeping practices and managing stress levels,” Springer added,

Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sagicor Life Inc., Paul Inniss, echoed Springer’s statements, stating that it was very important for women to“know their numbers”.

“By following through on regular visits to their personal physician, individuals can properly monitor and track key health indicators, such as blood, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and weight, high levels of which increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other serious health complications. Between visits, individuals can utilize home glucose and blood pressure monitors, along with scales to stay-on-top of their numbers and seek professional medical advice and assistance if they start to notice a significant change,” said Inniss.

“As a health insurer, we see first-hand the impact of cardiovascular diseases on women here in Barbados, and therefore fully support and will continue to champion the ‘Go Red for Women’ initiative and its effort to raise awareness in the fight against these preventable diseases,” Inniss added. (PR)