Oklahoma State fashion students' designs to be featured for heart disease awareness
From Staff Reports | Published: January 29, 2013 | Modified: January 29, 2013 at 4:22 pm
The annual National Wear Red Day for Women and Heart Disease Awareness campaign kicks off Feb. 1 and Oklahoma State University fashion design students are making a big statement of support for the cause.
A daylong event will be held at Oklahoma Heart Hospital South Campus, located at Interstate 240 and Sooner Road, and will feature special red dresses created by the students, which were inspired by real women's struggles with heart disease.
Wear Red Day is the time Oklahomans and Americans nationwide wear red to increase awareness of the impact of heart disease in women. The red dress pin has become the symbol of this day much as the pink ribbon is the symbol for women and breast cancer.
At the event the 2013 Oklahoma Heart Hero will be announced, cardiologist Dr. Christine Rattin will present the latest information regarding Oklahoma women and their risk of heart disease and Oklahoma artist Thomas Stotts will create a piece of art live at the event.
“Heart disease looks very different in women than men,” Rattin said in a news release. “Women's symptoms of heart disease and even heart attack are less about crushing pain in the chest as with men and more about subtle symptoms such as shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, pressure in the chest, arms or jaw, nausea and dizziness. Women have to take control of their own heart health by knowing their symptoms and their risk factors such as a family history, smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”
The event will continue into the evening at the First Friday Gallery Walk in the Paseo District where the featuring art and fashion inspired by Wear Red Day.
During February, the campaign will continue with displays of artwork by Paseo members at Oklahoma Heart Hospital's North (near Mercy) and South Campuses as well as Paseo Arts Space in the Paseo District.
This artwork will also be available for purchase with some of the proceeds going to the artist and the other portion split as a fundraiser for the Paseo Arts Association and the Volunteer Auxiliary Foundation at Oklahoma Heart Hospital.
