Organizations Join Forces to Launch Mississippi Heart Truth Campaign, Educating Women that Heart Disease is Their #1 Killer

January 29 2004--The truth is, heart disease is the number one killer of women, and it's the number one killer of women in Mississippi. Statistics show one of every three American women is dying of heart disease. To help change this, Baptist Women's Heart, a division of Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. developed a partnership with the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, Mississippi Nurses Association, Mississippi Nurses Foundation and the American Heart Association, Mississippi Affiliate. The partners are launching the Mississippi Heart Truth campaign for 2004.
This awareness effort is part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and partner organizations' sponsorship of the national campaign called The Heart Truth. The goal is to give women a personal and urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease.
    "It's alarming to know that every day Mississippi women are affected by heart disease," said Mississippi First Lady Marsha Barbour, honorary chair of the Mississippi Heart Truth. "I commend these organizations for working together to educate women about how to have a healthy heart. I encourage all women to learn their personal risk for heart disease and take action to lower their risks."
    Members of the business community have committed to participate in this wellness effort. Twenty organizations are corporate partners, and approximately 30 Mississippi hospitals have joined the campaign. Throughout 2004, the Mississippi Heart Truth partners will work to educate women in Mississippi to identify risk factors and help them understand steps to reduce heart disease.
    "Our mission is to promote and protect the health of all Mississippians. Through this campaign, we want to motivate women - with the help of their health care professionals - to take an active role in their heart health," said State Health Officer Brian W. Amy, MD, MPH, MHA.
The creative centerpiece of The Heart Truth is the Red Dress Project. The Project is a collection of 19 red dresses from America's most prestigious designers. The dresses serve as the national symbol of

women and heart disease awareness with the message that "heart disease doesn't care what you wear."
    For the Mississippi Heart Truth campaign, Mississippi will have its own Red Dress. Sponsored by Cardiovascular Associates and the Cardiovascular Surgical Clinic, the Mississippi Red Dress is a Hamilton Kennedy creation by Mississippi designer Donna Kennedy Sones.
    The Mississippi Red Dress and dresses designed by Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Badgley Mischka, from the Red Dress Project, will be on display at Northpark Mall Saturday, January 31, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Participants who have their blood pressure checked can enter to win a $500 shopping spree to Northpark Mall.   
    For more information about The Mississippi Heart Truth, visit www.mshearttruth.com.
   
So far, businesses and health care organizations that have joined the Mississippi Heart Truth include:
Adams and Reese, LLP, AmSouth, BankPlus, BellSouth, Cellular South, The Clarion-Ledger, Eaton Aerospace, Entergy Mississippi Inc., Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Jackson Heart Study, L3 AeroTech, LoveComm, Medtronics, Mississippi College, Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Health Partners, Mississippi Press Association, The National Coalition of 100 Black Women/Central Mississippi Chapter, Parents & Kids Magazine, Schering-Plough Corporation, Tougaloo College, Trustmark National Bank, WLBT, American Heart Association - Mississippi Chapter, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi , Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Bolivar Medical Center, Central Mississippi Medical Center, Claiborne County Hospital, Crosby Memorial Hospital, Forrest General Hospital, Garden Park Medical Center, Gilmore Memorial Hospital, Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital, Health Management Associates-Mississippi Division, Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, King's Daughters Hospital, King's Daughters Hospital, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Nurses Association, Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi State Hospital, Mississippi State Medical Association, Natchez Community Hospital, Natchez Regional Medical Center, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Ocean Springs Hospital, Rankin Medical Center, River Oaks Health System, River Region Medical Center, Rush Foundation Hospital, St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Singing River Hospital, South Central Regional Medical Center, Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, South Mississippi State Hospital, University of Mississippi Medical Center, University of Southern Mississippi/College of Health, and Wesley Medical Center.

Press Conference:
A press conference will be held at 11:30 a.m. on January 30, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 200 East Amite Street, Jackson, Miss.




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