• Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause death of women in Kansas. In 2008, 4,252 women died of cardiovascular disease in Kansas—that's about 33 percent of all female deaths.
• Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include tobacco use, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity physical inactivity, poor diet and diabetes. Among adult women 18 years and older in Kansas
• 16% are current smokers
• 29% have high blood pressure
• 38% have high blood cholesterol (among those tested)
• 27% do not participate in any physical activity
• 26% are obese (BMI 30 or higher)
• 76% do not consume fruits and vegetables at least 5 times per day
• Women with diabetes have increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• About 8% of adult women 18 years and older in Kansas had diabetes in 2008.
• The prevalence of high blood pressure is significantly higher among adult women with diabetes (69%) compared to women without diabetes (25%).
• Disability
• The prevalence of high blood pressure is significantly higher for women living with disability (46%) compared to those without disability (23%).
• The prevalence of coronary heart disease is almost 5 times higher among adult women living with disability (7.4%) compared with those without disability (1.4%).

For more information, please visit the website at:
http://www.goredforwomen.org/WearRedDay/kit/index.html

Please submit success stories and pictures of events to Misty Jimerson at:
MJimerson@kdheks.gov