Common Folk Using Common Sense

Let’s look at two medical maladies that can kill women: Illness A and Illness B. Here’s how many deaths were reported among women in 2003 according to the CDC:

More women die from Illness A than they do Illness B. But while Illness B has it’s own “month” for focus, and while Illness B has countless media types and celebrities donating their time and money, and grocery stores carry specially-labelled items on Illness B, it is Illness A that kills more women.

Illness A is heart disease. Illness B is cancer (and not just breast cancer, but all cancers combined).

I’m sure you’ve seen all the people at the office wearing pink ribbons. I’m sure you’ve heard the local news stories about a breast cancer walk in your area. I’m sure you’ve seen the pink grocery items at your local grocery store. I’m sure you’ve heard celebrities talking about breast cancer. And, most certainly, breast cancer is a deadly killer that needs to be stopped.

But can you tell me when was the last time you saw a women wearing a “Go Red” ribbon? Or when did you last see Campbell Soup donating a portion of their sales to Heart Disease Awareness? How many celebrities do you see talking about heart attack, stroke, or high blood pressure? How many “buddy programs” are there for women to check their cholesterol? And yet heart disease kills more women year after year than any cancer, including breast cancer.

I already know the answer. Breasts are cool, hearts aren’t.

Let’s continue.

Once again from the CDC:

Ladies,

• you’re almost eight times more likely to die from your heart as you are your breast
• you’re almost twice more likely to die from a stroke as you are your breast
• you’re almost twice more likely to die from lung cancer as you are your breast
• you’re almost as likely die from diabetes as you are your breast
• you’re almost as likely die from as accident as you are your breast

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone at work wear a “Stop Diabetes” t-shirt, or a “Prevent Strokes” t-shirt, or a “Stop Smoking” t-shirt … or a “Prevent Accidents” t-shirt. But there’s all these people at work today wearing a “Stop Breast Cancer” t-shirt.

Don’t believe me yet?

• Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over age 25.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills nearly half a million women a year, about one per minute.
• CVD claims more lives than the next six most common causes of death combined.
• An American dies of CVD, on average, every 34 seconds.
• One in four females and one in four males in the United States suffers from a form of CVD.
• 64% percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
• Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death for American women and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
• Stroke kills more women than men. In 2002, females represented nearly 62% of stroke deaths.
• Only 13% of women are aware that heart disease is their No. 1 health threat, and that’s why I’m preaching so loudly here.

Nestle has all their candy wrapped in pink wrappers in October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Yet they’ve never had a Stroke Awareness label, or a Heart Attack Awareness label, or a Lung Cancer Awareness label.

Breasts are cool, lungs aren’t.

Many of you women have heard of the The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They sponsor many things and host many events. Quick! Chronic lower respiratory disease kills far more women every year, so name one of their foundations.

At the Pink Ribbon Shop I see: - Art Glass Pink Ribbon Necklace with Gold Accents - Breast Cancer Awareness Ladies Pink Ribbon T-Shirt - Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Hat - Pink Ribbon Antenna Topper - Pink Ribbon Post-it Desk Set - Pink Ribbon Scrunchie - Pink Ribbon Notepad - Pink Breast Cancer Band Bracelet - Pink Ribbon Clip-N-Go Umbrella

Heck, you may even own some of this stuff. But do you have any Red Ribbon stuff supporting Heart Disease research and awareness, even though heart disease will kill eight times as many women as breast cancer? Why not?

Ladies, what’s your total cholesterol? What is your LDL level? What is your HDL level? Triglycerides? Fasting glucose? Body mass index? Blood pressure? And most of these are controllable, meaning that much of heart disease – the #1 killer of women – can be controlled yourself. But are you doing anything about it?

Breasts are cool, hearts aren’t.

Now please don’t understand me. I DO want breast cancer stopped completely. Today would be a good day to do it.

But with all the fanfare and hoopla surrounding breast cancer we seem to forget that there are other killers out there, some of which kill far more women than breast cancer. And these go largely unnoticed and unsupported. How many of your friends have died of breast cancer versus how many have died of other cancers, or heart disease, or stroke, or diabetes? You already know the answer without having to look at the CDC’s data.

Sort of like worrying about a hangnail while forgetting about your broken arm. Just doesn’t make good sense to me, that’s all.

And this is very personal to me. My gentle bride has already outlived her father and uncles. They all died in their 30′s and 40′s due to heart disease. Chances are my best friend and only lover will die from heart disease. So I take this very personally. I don’t mind all of you donating $1 to breast cancer research – but how many of you would even think about donating a dime to heart disease research? All you ladies in your Pink Ribbon t-shirts – how many Prevent Heart Attacks t-shirts do you own?

Everyone can support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red on February 2 — National Wear Red Day. It’s a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke. By joining together with thousands of women, companies and organizations, and cities across America, you’ll help the American Heart association support ongoing research and education about women and heart disease. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory—a red blouse, a red dress pin, a fabulous red handbag —put on red lipstick, or sport a red tie and red socks. Go red in your own fashion to show your support for women and the fight against heart disease. Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women (and men), but the good news is heart disease largely can be prevented if only there were 1/10th the national (and personal) recognition and awareness that breast cancer receives.

I know: Breasts are cool, hearts aren’t. You would rather be half-dead with your breasts than alive without them.

I need some Scotch.

.set.Parameter : Sermon_Off

heart disease, breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, cholesterol

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