Spring Break
Club supports national effort to raise awareness of heart disease
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: News
02/06/09 - The American Heart Association has asked the University of Rhode Island's Nutrition Club to encourage URI students to participate in today's National Wear Red Day.
The event is meant to increase heart disease awareness. According to the "Go Red for Women" Website, 1 out of 3 women die of heart disease.
URI's Nutrition Club President, Alexandra Oppenheimer, said, "It's important for students to know their blood pressure and blood lipid levels because when they are out of control, you still may feel normal."
She said she believes living a healthy life at a young age will help reduce the risk of heart disease. "It is one of the most preventable diseases," she said.
Oppenheimer and the Nutrition Club are hoping today's campus will be filled with students wearing red.
The club advertised the day by creating a National Wear Red Day Facebook event, which currently has 371 confirmed guests. The slogan of the event is, "a day when Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart."
Along with the successful Facebook account, the Nutrition Club sold pins for $5 each in the Memorial Union on Tuesday. Approximately 34 of the 200 pins were sold, but Oppenheimer believes the unbearable weather had an effect on the sale.
She said they might continue to sell the remainder of the pins during the course of this month to support the cause. The money collected from the pin sales will go directly to the American Heart Association to support research.
"Getting healthier eating habits will help students carry them through their life," Oppenheimer said.
She said preventing weight gain is possible unless you are eating foods that are high in cholesterol and you are extremely inactive. Being overweight will increase your chances of heart disease, Oppenheimer said.
"If we don't take care of ourselves, we will be at risk. While we are young and active, we need to set standards now for how to live healthy," Oppenheimer said.
The event is meant to increase heart disease awareness. According to the "Go Red for Women" Website, 1 out of 3 women die of heart disease.
URI's Nutrition Club President, Alexandra Oppenheimer, said, "It's important for students to know their blood pressure and blood lipid levels because when they are out of control, you still may feel normal."
She said she believes living a healthy life at a young age will help reduce the risk of heart disease. "It is one of the most preventable diseases," she said.
Oppenheimer and the Nutrition Club are hoping today's campus will be filled with students wearing red.
The club advertised the day by creating a National Wear Red Day Facebook event, which currently has 371 confirmed guests. The slogan of the event is, "a day when Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart."
Along with the successful Facebook account, the Nutrition Club sold pins for $5 each in the Memorial Union on Tuesday. Approximately 34 of the 200 pins were sold, but Oppenheimer believes the unbearable weather had an effect on the sale.
She said they might continue to sell the remainder of the pins during the course of this month to support the cause. The money collected from the pin sales will go directly to the American Heart Association to support research.
"Getting healthier eating habits will help students carry them through their life," Oppenheimer said.
She said preventing weight gain is possible unless you are eating foods that are high in cholesterol and you are extremely inactive. Being overweight will increase your chances of heart disease, Oppenheimer said.
"If we don't take care of ourselves, we will be at risk. While we are young and active, we need to set standards now for how to live healthy," Oppenheimer said.
