Go Red for Women

Go Red for Women Passion. Purpose. Power. That's what it means to Go Red for Women. Join us as we unite to fight against the No. 1 killer of women, cardiovascular disease.

Together, we can make a lifesaving impact for every woman, everywhere.

Claudia was driving with her kids when she started feeling lightheaded and tingly. She knew something was wrong and pull...
05/29/2026

Claudia was driving with her kids when she started feeling lightheaded and tingly. She knew something was wrong and pulled into a pizzeria.

Another customer – a nurse – found Claudia unresponsive and called 911. The mom of three was having a stroke at 40 — and didn’t know it.

When Claudia woke up in the hospital, she could only slightly move her left side. She also had severe sensory sensitivity and no short-term memory. For several months, Claudia felt depressed and angry. But she stuck with her physical, occupational and cognitive therapies.

Three months after the stroke, she walked without a walker. About 11 months after, she’d regained her mobility and started driving again. The neurologist called her recovery “miraculous” and credited Claudia’s drive and determination.

Three years after the stroke, Claudia still has sensory sensitivity and avoids crowds. To ground herself, she does breathing exercises daily and regularly hikes and runs. Her short-term memory hasn’t returned to what it was, so she writes a lot of notes to herself.

She also prioritizes her health.

“In my mind, it was selfish to take care of myself,” she said. “The stroke was literally a smackdown with myself. I realized I needed to pay attention to my body, not only to heal, but always.”

Knowing the warning signs of stroke can save a life. Remember B.E. F.A.S.T. Balance loss, eye or vision changes, face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty, it’s time to call 911.

Read Claudia’s Story From the Heart: http://spr.ly/6189B8X6NU

Dr. Thu H. Le is a nationally respected physician and scientist and a leading voice on kidney disease, hypertension and ...
05/29/2026

Dr. Thu H. Le is a nationally respected physician and scientist and a leading voice on kidney disease, hypertension and cardiovascular health. As chair of the American Heart Association’s Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, she is helping advance research and care that improves outcomes for patients at high cardiovascular risk.

05/28/2026

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the country. But with advancements in research and science, children born with heart defects—like these members of the Go Red for Women Class of Survivors—are growing up to be adults with heart defects. They face unique challenges along the way.

Rajini Poth tried to convince herself her headaches and fatigue were from allergies. As a busy medical school profession...
05/28/2026

Rajini Poth tried to convince herself her headaches and fatigue were from allergies. As a busy medical school professional and mom in Ohio, she kept delaying a doctor visit.

Then one morning in 2016, while driving to work, she started driving erratically.

“The light was red, but I went flying through the intersection,” she said. “I thought something was wrong with my car. I thought, ‘It’s my car, it's not me.’”

She got a flat tire but kept driving for 15 minutes. At work, her usual parking spot was taken, so she parked in back and turned off the engine.

“I remember putting the car in park and then that was it. I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed,” she said.

Stuck in her hot car, only able to move the left side of her body, she sat for over two hours before sending a jumbled Facebook message that alarmed her sister, a nurse.

“Never in my wildest dream did I think about calling anybody for help,” she said. “I didn’t want to call my husband, call the university, like nobody, because I didn’t want to bother people.”

Her sister recognized the stroke signs and alerted Rajini’s husband, who called campus police to find her.

“I remember hearing the ambulance,” she said. “By then, I couldn't walk. I had lost all bladder control. I lost all movements. I couldn't talk. They had to carry me into the ambulance.”

Doctors confirmed a stroke likely started as she left home. A clot on the left side of her brain paralyzed her right side, making it hard for her to drive.

“It was really hard to accept that I had a stroke because I thought I’m too young, way too young,” she said. “I was just in shock. I couldn’t believe this happened to me, and then my life just changed from there on.”

Rajini, now 60, limits stress, says “no” more often, and puts her health first.

“Putting myself first is really empowering,” she said. “I don’t mean in a selfish way, but I tell people, ‘Look, I went through hard challenges with my stroke, and I really apologize. I can’t do this, but here’s why.’”

She spends more time with loved ones and lifts up other women.

“It’s extremely important for women to connect with other women because we need a sisterhood to support each other.”

Tell your story. Save lives. That’s the goal of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Class of Survivors. St...
05/27/2026

Tell your story. Save lives. That’s the goal of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Class of Survivors. Starting Monday, June 1, survivors can apply to be a part of our 2027 class. Applications close Friday, June 19. For official rules and application, visit our website.

Here are the 12 incredible women who make up the 2026 Class of Survivors, a sisterhood from all walks of life who serve as national ambassadors for the Go Red for Women movement.

Often the surprising faces of cardiovascular disease, these survivors share their powerful stories to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women and inspire others to take charge of their health and well-being.

05/27/2026

Stroke survivor Erin Adelekun reminds you to know B.E. F.A.S.T. and call 911 when the signs of a stroke are present.

B - Balance Loss
E - Eye (Vision) Changes
F - Face Drooping
A - Arm Weakness
S - Speech Difficulty
T - Time to Call 911

"It could save your life too by learning it."

Know your numbers. A healthy blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy reduces your risk of heart disease, strok...
05/27/2026

Know your numbers. A healthy blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke and other pregnancy complications. Talk to your health care team today about your blood pressure readings and how you can maintain healthy blood pressure levels while pregnant.

“Dracula” helping save a life? That’s a plot twist! But this hit by Tame Impala & JENNIE has the right beat for Hands-On...
05/26/2026

“Dracula” helping save a life? That’s a plot twist! But this hit by Tame Impala & JENNIE has the right beat for Hands-Only CPR. 🧛

🎵 My friends are saying, "Shut up, Jennie, just learn CPR" 🎶😉

If you see a teen or adult collapse, call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

Minnie feared her career as a portrait artist was over. A stroke had taken away her ability to recognize faces. She felt...
05/26/2026

Minnie feared her career as a portrait artist was over. A stroke had taken away her ability to recognize faces. She felt frustrated, defeated.

During stroke rehab, one of her doctors asked, “Why does your art have to keep looking like it’s always looked?”

Before her stroke, Minnie had dabbled in abstract art, painting houses, mostly. She enjoyed it before, so she followed the doctor’s advice and tried it again.

Over the next few years, Minnie created a series of abstract paintings telling her stroke story.

“I paint with inspiration,” Minnie said. “Some days, I just sit and look at the piece, and that’s a part of the process.”

When her rehab facility celebrated its 60th anniversary, 27 of Minnie’s paintings were displayed in the lobby. One painting, “Sanctuary,” recreated the building’s rooftop garden —a place of solace for Minnie during her stay.

Another painting depicted a face covered with chain-link fencing and barbed wire and chains. In “Left Brain, Right Brain,” the left side of the canvas is black and white; the right side in color.

In May 2025, through a partnership with the American Heart Association as part of American Stroke Month, one of Minnie’s paintings was turned into a mural on the side of a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. She supervised the installation and signed the wall.

Now 61, she hopes to have her work displayed in a museum. She’s working on a new genre, too: abstract portraiture.

“My art has definitely taken a turn,” she said. “Stroke has really opened up new expressions for me.”

Recognizing the warning signs of stroke — and acting quickly — allows you to take action when it matters. Learn the signs with B.E. F.A.S.T.: sudden Balance loss, Eye or vision changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness or Speech difficulty. If you notice any of these, it’s Time to call 911.

Read Minnie's Story From the Heart: http://spr.ly/6188B8pOJo

Strokes happen suddenly. Knowing what to look for and acting quickly saves lives. Learn the B.E. F.A.S.T. signs and if y...
05/25/2026

Strokes happen suddenly. Knowing what to look for and acting quickly saves lives. Learn the B.E. F.A.S.T. signs and if you see any of them, call 911 right away.

05/24/2026

Alex Wilson-Garza was a healthy 24-year-old emergency room nurse when her husband, a police officer, recognized that her slurred speech and face drooping were signs of a stroke. He rushed her to the hospital where she works.

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