MEDIA ADVISORY
Capitol Rotunda Display Reminds about
American Heart Month
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In anticipation of February - American Heart Month, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the American Heart Association, along with Macy’s, have put up a Go Red for Women display in the Capitol rotunda today to raise awareness about heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a “man's disease,” it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, and women account for 52.8 percent of the total heart disease deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The display will stay in the rotunda through Friday and consists of three mannequins wearing red dresses.
On Wednesday, February 4, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will be joined by the American Heart Association and the Conference of Women Legislators in the Blue Room at the Capitol to officially kick off American Heart Month. This is the first year Illinoisans statewide will observe February as Women’s Heart Disease Awareness Month after being added to the State Commemorative Dates Act this past summer.
WHO: Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director
Dr. Gregory Mishkel – Prairie Cardiovascular
Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) – Conference of Women Legislators
Rep. Sandra Pihos (R-Glen Ellyn) - Conference of Women Legislators
WHEN: Wednesday, February 4, 2008
10:00 a.m.
HERE: Blue Room – Capitol
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