The first Friday each February, American Heart Month, the nation comes together, igniting a wave of red from coast to coast. From landmarks to news anchors, neighborhoods to online communities, this annual groundswell unites millions of people for a common goal: eradicating heart disease and stroke.
One Is Too Many
Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of 1 in 3 women.
This Friday, February 4th, the YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester will help raise awareness because losing even one woman is not an option. This year we will be honoring one of our own, Mrs. Margarita Pineiro.
One Friday morning in September, Margarita was getting ready to go to work, and she said she felt completely off. She felt a burning in her chest as if she had terrible heartburn, pain down her left arm, and jaw pain. Listening to her body and knowing something was wrong, she went to the ER. The doctors ran an EKG and checked her vitals. As she waited and waited, she knew something was wrong. After the 3rd EKG, her worst nightmare happened. She was informed that she had just had a heart attack and would be going to the Cath lab. You may be asking yourself, “How did they not catch it on the first EKG?” She had no preexisting conditions, her vitals were good, she ate well and exercised. Yet she just had a heart attack. Margarita was diagnosed with SCAD, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, common in women ages 30-50. She could have done nothing to prevent it, and the stress test she just took a few months back would not have detected it either.
Margarita is on the road to recovery and doing well. She is thankful to be alive to raise her children alongside her husband. We are sharing Margarita’s story with you all in hopes it helps increase women’s heart health awareness and serves as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.
Join us by wearing your best red this Friday, February 4th! Please share with your staff and families to help us raise awareness.