On Friday, February 5th, Southern Surgical Arts sponsored the 2nd annual IgniteRed event in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day.
During this informal evening of entertainment and networking, more than 200 of Chattanooga’s women gathered in support of a common goal: to raise awareness about heart disease. It’s a topic of vital importance to everyone, but especially to Southern Surgical Arts and the event’s attendees.
Some of Chattanooga’s top executives, health care professionals, and civic leaders enjoyed an evening of live entertainment and delicious hors d’oeuvres, as well as the knowledge that they were helping to spread the word about how prevalent heart disease is in women, and what can be done to cha
nge that fact.
Jennifer Deal, Marketing Director for Southern Surgical Arts and Circle of Red member said, “Heart disease is the number #1 killer of women, but we are hoping to see that decrease through education and awareness campaigns. As many as 80% of cardiac deaths can be prevented with lifestyle changes, regular trips to your physician, and becoming mindful of things like your blood pressure, your heart rate and your risk factors. We want to encourage women to be advocates in their own healthcare, get the facts, and know their numbers.”
Dr. Carey Nease was pleased to see how many turned out for the event. “It’s gratifying to see so many community members here to support the goal of bringing awareness and education to women in our community about heart disease. We’re honored to be able to provide a venue where people can come together to make a difference. Women’s heart health is important to Southern Surgical Arts, and it’s clearly important to the people of Chattanooga.”
Throughout the course of the event, women were able to connect, network, and socialize while listening to New Orleans-style jazz singer Gino Fanelli. Attendees to this invitation-only event also enjoyed sushi and dessert bars and were able to hear Dr. Chad Deal and Dr. Carey Nease discuss their commitment to the cause.
Dr. Chad Deal said, “We want to promote awareness, not just about the prevalence of deaths due to heart disease, but that there is so much that can be done to reduce risk factors and improve cardiac health. It’s tragic to think that so many are affected every day, and many women still may not realize it’s something they need to worry about. We want to help change that.”
IgniteRed is not Southern Surgical Arts’ only contribution to the cause. They will also be sponsoring the 2016 Go Red for Women Luncheon as well as this year’s Heart Ball. Additionally, the practice will donate $100 to the American Heart Association for each breast procedure performed during Hearth Month this February.
Special thanks to others who helped make this event possible: Dish T. Pass, Victoria Love Events, Sound Force, Imbibe, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Flintstone Baking Co., The Clay Pot, FEMIN-OL-GY PR, American Heart Association Volunteers, Ashley McAdoo, Gino Fanelli, and Vivifi Creative.
Southern Surgical Arts would also like to thank the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women for all they do in Chattanooga and elsewhere to save lives every year.
If you would like to learn more about reducing your risk (or helping someone you love lower their risk) of developing heart disease, check out some of our blog posts for more information:
- Heart attack symptoms in women may be harder to recognize than the classic signs we’ve come to know for men. Learn how to recognize the signs because minutes saved may mean a life saved.
- So much of heart health is reliant upon healthy nutrition. You can make small changes every day that add up to a significant lifestyle change—one that can have a huge impact on your heart health as well as overall well-being.
- Exercise is key to health in general, and especially cardiovascular health. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking of taking up an exercise routine, but there are endless ways to add more movement into each day, and it all adds up.
We are so excited to see how important women’s heart health is to the people of Chattaooga. We know that we can make a difference when we all work together to increase awareness. We encourage our patients and readers to talk with their physicians, and to encourage all the women in their own lives to do the same.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in raising awareness about women’s heart disease in your community, please let the American Heart Association know!
