Women are urged to take charge of their heart health Middlesex County women are facing a silent epidemic — cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases kill more than 500,000 American females every year — more female lives every year than the next five causes of death combined and almost twice as many lives as from all forms of cancer combined. I’m a Middlesex County resident, a survivor of a heart attack at age 51, and an official New Jersey spokeswoman for the American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaign launched nationally Feb. 4. My heart attack resulted from two blockages in arteries to my heart. It was not a pleasant experience and I am a lucky survivor. I was rushed to the hospital. I received a cardiac catheterization, angioplasty procedure, and two stents were placed in the arteries to open them up and improve blood flow to my heart. Nearly 15,500 New Jersey females die annually from heart disease and stroke — the number one and number three killers of New Jersey females. The American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaign urges women to take charge of their cardiovascular health, make it a top priority and live a stronger, longer life. American Heart Association Go Red for Women provides women with the hope, information and resources to take charge of their heart health. I urge all Middlesex County women to take charge of their live and their cardiovascular health by visiting American Heart Association Go Red for Women at www.americanheart.org/women or by calling 1-888-694-3278, then join me and other New Jersey women May 4 at the New Jersey Go Red for Women luncheon. Women from all walks of life throughout the garden state will be attending the May 4 Go Red for Women luncheon in Princeton, which combines a champagne reception, auction, lunch and educational program featuring internationally renowned academic physician, author, lecturer and specialist in women’s health, Dr. Marianne Legato, and moving New Jersey female survivor stories to raise awareness about the number one health threat facing women today — cardiovascular disease. If you are a woman or there’s a woman in your life you care about — such as your mother, daughter, sister, grandmother or best friend — take charge of your heart health and call the American Heart Association Go Red for Women hotline at 1-888-694-3278. Join us at the New Jersey Go Red for Women luncheon May 4. Jane Kaplan spokeswoman North Brunswick American Heart Association Go Red for Women