Well, I got my wish last Friday at the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection, a super entertaining charity fashion show that was packed with celebrities and top designers—all there to raise awareness about heart disease, which is the number one killer of women. (The Heart Truth campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.)
When I tell you I have never had this much fun at a fashion event, I might even be underselling the exuberance of the experience. Every one of the celebs who walked in the show (check out the slideshow above) seemed genuinely joyful and thrilled to be there. It was amazing and fascinating to see women of different shapes, sizes, and ages strut the runway without self-consciousness or the unsmiling dourness that hangs over most shows. This was a group of females celebrating their femininity and sexuality, enjoying feeling glamorous and beautiful, and doing it all for a cause. And it was a rare delight.
I also learned a few things about women and heart disease, namely:
- One in four women in the U.S. dies of heart disease
- One third of women underestimate their own personal risk and continue to engage in behaviors that can be damaging to their hearts.
- Heart disease is largely preventable: By doing just four things—keeping your weight down, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and eating healthfully—women can reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as 82 percent.
- Women of color continue to have higher risk factors for, and are more likely to die of heart disease.
