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Pink
Goes Red
For Heart Health Day
(February is American Heart Month)
Special to The Truth
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® remains focused
on increasing health awareness of diseases that
disproportionately affect the African American community,
such as stroke and heart disease.
On Friday, February 6, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Zeta
Alpha Omega Chapter of Toledo, Ohio, in conjunction with the
National Wear Red Day Campaign by the American Heart
Association, made an important impact in the greater Toledo
community by emphasizing the risks of heart disease and
stroke.
Under the leadership of Chapter President Katina Johnson,
Program Chairman/Vice President Margaret Huntley and “Pink
Goes Red” Community Impact Day Chairman, Andrea Price,
posters and flyers were disseminated throughout Toledo
community churches, beauty salons, public libraries and
ethnic restaurants to educate the public on heart
disease, warning signs, and prevention. |
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The event kicked off at
Ruby’s Kitchen, a local soul food restaurant, to coordinate
the distribution of materials and to educate diners
on the risks of heart disease and stroke. The overall goal
is to reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease and
stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), cardiovascular disease - including heart disease,
stroke, and high blood pressure - is the leading cause of
death for women in the U.S. Annually, one in every
four women dies due to heart disease. For African-American
women, it is the leading cause of death.
Prevention is the key and Alpha Kappa Alpha members urge
everyone, especially African American Women and those most
at risk, to monitor their blood pressure, get
their cholesterol checked, adopt a healthy
diet, don't smoke or quit, and participate in regular
physical activity/exercise.
The official colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc are pink
and green, and members nationwide accented their colors for
the day by wearing red to highlight the importance of
preventing heart disease and stroke. |
