AFSCME Local 2401 supports AFSCME Council 20's Women's Committee in this effort. 

The American Heart Association reports that:

1. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths, taking a woman’s life nearly every minute. 

2. Women are less likely to call 911 when they think they may be experiencing heart symptoms

3. Women are less likely to be referred for cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack

4. Women’s heart attack symptoms are different from men’s. Women may experience shortness of breath, nausea, palpitations, jaw discomfort, or overwhelming fatigue.

5. Women are less likely to receive bystander CPR in public than men (45% for men versus 39% for women). 

6. After the age of 65, hypertension is more common in women. 

We have to encourage women of all ages to get an annual physical, check their blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. It is recommended by the American College of Cardiology that blood pressure target be 120/80.