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Women are at as much risk for heart disease as men.
It's not a new message, conceded JoAnne Owens-Nausler, the keynote speaker at the third annual Go Red for Women luncheon Friday at the Sheraton Hotel in Iowa City.
"But it could be a lifesaver. But women usually don't get that," she told more than 300 people who attended the event.
Part educational seminar, part fundraiser for the American Heart Association, the luncheon was a chance to spread the message that heart disease, not breast cancer, is the No. 1 killer of women, said Diana Lundell, communications chairwoman for this year's event.
"We're raising awareness, and we're raising funds," she said.
Those who attend the lunch were able to bid in a silent auction on items, such as candle arrangements, fitness classes and theater tickets that could be used for Christmas gifts, Lundell said. She said she hoped to raise more than $40,000 through tickets to the event and the auction.
"Some people will give money straight out if they couldn't attend," she said.
Along with lunch, the attendees also heard stories of those who survived cardiovascular disease.
Gayle Nelson, an organizer of the luncheon, had a stroke at the age of 26. She experienced chest pains this year while vacationing in Tucson, Ariz. An examination revealed an 80 percent blocked left coronary artery that was repaired by an angioplasty and a stent in her chest.
"I'm trying to stay alive to see my children and grandchildren," said Nelson, 59.
Charlie Funk, president of Iowa State Bank & Trust, told the story about his wife, Connie, who suffered a stroke in November 2005. She has since recovered, an occurrence Charlie Funk said would not have happened without the work of doctors at University Hospitals.
"We're very lucky to live where we live," he said. "We're not sure we would have got the care we did if we didn't live in Iowa City."
Owens-Nauslar, the director of corporate and community relations for Walk4Life, a pedometer company in Plainfield, Ill., said the key is making sure women take care of their own hearts as they care for others.
"We often tell women to not ignore anything from the waist up," she said. "It might manifest as stomach pain, back pain, anything. We're so busy doing this for everyone else that (we) ignore (our) own health."
Reach Rob Daniel at 339-7360 or rdaniel@press-citizen.com .
Source: http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061202/NEWS01/612020313/1079
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