MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- February is American Heart Month and a time when television personality Joy Behar, and her daughter Eve, reflect on their family history of heart disease and recommit to living a heart-healthy life. That's why they are teaming up with the makers of Bayer® Aspirin and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, to raise $100,000 for the fight against heart disease.
There are 42 million women living with or at risk for heart disease in the United States.[i] Throughout February, women and their families can help cut their risk by taking the ProHeart Pledge on Facebook () and committing to living a heart-healthy life. For each pledge, Bayer will make a $1 donation, up to a total of $100,000, to WomenHeart. WomenHeart supports community-based programs and local support networks that educate women about heart disease and inspire them to action. The ProHeart Pledge is a great first step on the road to becoming a heart health advocate and living ProHeart.
"Since heart disease is the greatest health threat to women, my daughter Eve and I urge women to take the ProHeart Pledge and get serious about their heart health," said Joy Behar. "I'm participating in American Heart Month by taking the pledge and meeting with the winner of the Bayer Aspirin Heart-to-Heart sweepstakes to have a conversation with her and a cardiologist about living ProHeart and fighting heart disease."
In addition to taking the ProHeart Pledge, visitors to the I am ProHeart Facebook page () can download heart-healthy tools and tips based on four weekly themes, including: learning their family history, eating heart-healthy, staying active, and maintaining the commitment to living a ProHeart lifestyle. The I am ProHeart Facebook page provides an online community where those affected by heart disease, and their loved ones, have a ready source of reliable information and can share and learn from others' experiences, so they never have to feel alone.
"Women have such busy lifestyles as mothers, caregivers, sisters, or daughters, and often find it challenging to commit to living a lifestyle that puts their health first," said Annabelle Volgman, M.D., FACC, and Medical Director, Rush Heart Center for Women. "But, each year, one in three American women who dies, dies from heart disease.[ii] One of the most important ways to be ProHeart is to ask your doctor about your risks for heart disease, and to be prepared. Being prepared means knowing to call 911 if you suspect a heart attack and having aspirin on hand, just in case. Taking aspirin during a heart attack – as directed by a doctor – can help reduce damage to the heart and prevent death. American Heart Month is the perfect time to start taking simple steps to live a heart-healthy lifestyle."
"Since heart disease runs in our family, I've always encouraged my mom to talk to her doctor about her risks and to live a heart-healthy lifestyle," said Eve. "Taking the ProHeart Pledge during Heart Month is a great first step in living a heart-healthy life. My mom and I hope that this pledge inspires women to start living ProHeart and recommit to fighting heart disease."
The Consumer Care division of Bayer HealthCare is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Bayer's Consumer Care division is among the largest marketers of over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements in the world. Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Bayer® Aspirin, Aleve®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bactine®, RID®, Phillips'® Milk of Magnesia, Midol®, Alka-Seltzer®, One A Day® vitamins, and FlintstonesTM vitamins in the United States, and, globally, Aspirin®, Flanax®/Apronax®, Talcid®, Rennie®, Canesten®, Bepanthen®, Bepanthol®, Supradyn®, Redoxon®, Berocca®, Cal-D-Vita/Elevit® and Vital 50 Plus®.Contact: