City officials hold “We Go Red for Women” event, share personal stories on heart disease

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women across the U.S.

City officials held its annual “We Go Red for Women” event at City Hall — aimed at raising awareness around the issue.

Nearly 100 attendees decked out in red gathered for a group photo at City Hall — all to encourage everyone – especially women- to take heart health seriously.

It’s an issue that’s personal to several women in attendance.

Like City Manager Teresa Wilson who says her family has a history of heart disease.

“With all the medical advances we have now, when I thought I was just having migraines, unfortunately I had to learn that I was in a-fib, and that first episode led me down a path of blood thinners and beta blockers for life but that’s ok! I would do that if that means I’m here and I’m present for my family and my daughter,” says Wilson.

It’s also personal for Councilwoman Gretchen Barron.

“My youngest son, Prez, or Hilton, I went into cardiac arrest having him, I don’t know how I could forget something like that. But as I was getting dressed this morning, he reminded me, ‘Mom I almost killed you!” she said to the audience.

Anjellica Davis developed a condition called postpartum cardiomyopathy after giving birth to her third child. Her most notable symptom was severe shortness of breath when lying down.

“I was told on the 20th that I had a heart and on the 21st they did it and I’m here!” she says to the attendees.

After the event, ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with Davis,  who says she considers every day a blessing.

“So yea to all the pregnant ladies and women out there, postpartum cardiomyopathy is real. It’s dangerous to say the least, even though it’s rare, it can happen to anybody. I never thought it would happen to me. I didn’t even know about it. So make sure that you ask questions if you’re pregnant now, ask your doctor, “Hey, what is this? How can I prevent it? What are the signs and symptoms?” says Davis.

Crystal Kirkland with the American Heart Association says those symptoms can look very different for each individual. She recommends checking out a full list of symptoms at www.heart.org.

“It can be things like jaw pain, left arm pain, stomach, sounds more like the flu. A lot of different symptoms look different for different people,” Kirkland says.

For more information visit AHA’s website here.