Libin Wears Red
Help us raise awareness about women's heart health: Wear Red on Feb. 13
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death in Canada, taking a life every 16 minutes. Yet women are under-studied, underdiagnosed, under-treated and under-aware when it comes to their heart and vascular health.
The good news is cardiovascular disease is largely preventable. Wear Red Canada is celebrated annually on Feb. 13 to raise awareness and empower women to take charge of their cardiovascular health.
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute urges you to wear red on Feb. 13 to further awareness and discussion about women's heart health.
What's Happening?
Wear Red Canada Activities in Calgary
Click image to learn more
Heart Attack Warning Signs for Women
Half of women who experience heart attack have their symptoms go unrecognized. Heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases often go undetected in women because their symptoms can differ from men’s.
The most commonly reported symptoms in women are:
- Chest pain or discomfort (for example, pressure, tightness or burning)
- Pain in the jaw, neck, arm or back
- Abnormal excessive sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain or discomfort, or feelings of nausea or indigestion
Other accompanying or associated symptoms include:
- Unusual weakness or fatigue
- Back, shoulder or right arm pain
- Sleep disturbance
- Dizziness or lightheadness
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
If you feel that something is not right, seek medical attention immediately.
Lichtman JH, et al. Circulation. 2018;137:781-790
Her Heart Matters
Watch a series of educational videos from the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance. These videos highlight a variety of topics relating to women’s heart and brain health.
Local Researchers & Clinicians Are Advancing Women's Heart Health
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute's Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative is advancing women's heart health by close this gap in research, training and care, enabling the best possible outcomes for women.
Learn more about this important initiative by clicking on the button below.
A huge thank you to our community partners for their support
- Aerie CrossIron Mills
- Calgary Tower
- UCalgary Women's Resource Centre
- UCalgary Working our Way to Wellness Initiative/ Kinetix Gym
- Vivo for Healthier Generations
- Mount Royal University
- Women’s International Forum
- Mosaic Primary Care Network
- Red FM
Join the Wear Red Canada Club
The Wear Red Canada Club is a UCalgary student-run club dedicated to raising awareness about women's cardiovascular health. If you want to make a difference and connect with like-minded individuals passionate about women's health, visit the link below.
Meet the Local Team
Wear Red Canada Graduate Trainee Lead
Nabilah Gulamhusein is an MSc student in the Dept. of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on cardiovascular risk and vascular function in postmenopausal women and women with chronic kidney disease. Her commitment to women’s health through research and advocacy has been recognized provincially through a Women in STEM scholarship from the Government of Alberta in 2022.
Dr. Sandra M Dumanski, Central Physician Lead
Dr. Sandra M Dumanski, MD, MSc, FRCPC is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Dr Dumanski’s program of research merges her scientific training in translational physiology and vascular health outcomes with her clinical expertise in kidney, cardiovascular, and reproductive medicine, and endeavors to advance equity in cardiovascular research and care. Dr Dumanski sits on the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Advocacy Committee, and is the Central Physician Lead for Wear Red Canada.
Wear Red Canada Undergraduate Trainee Lead
Elaha Niazi is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Calgary. Elaha's primary research interest lies in the intersection between female cardiovascular and reproductive health. She is currently investigating the effect of exogenous sex hormones on the cardiovascular health of females undergoing in-vitro fertilization. Elaha sits on the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance Regional Planning Committee, where she is involved in community advocacy efforts for Wear Red Canada Day to raise awareness about women's heart health.
Trainee Lead for Health Professional Engagement
Simi Juriasingani is a medical student at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. She has earned a PhD from and several Ontario Graduate Scholarships for her research at Western University which was focused on improving organ preservation to optimize kidney transplant outcomes. She has advocated for women’s health and wellness as a liaison at a women’s shelter in Ontario prior to joining the Wear Red Canada campaign's Calgary team.
Community Partnership Coordinator
Sarah Blaney, RN, BN, is a Registered Nurse who works in Internal Medicine in Calgary, Alberta. She enjoys working in an acute and complex medical environment which encompasses many body systems as it requires the fast implementation of higher-level thinking and possess a large degree of variation. Her practice has grown her passion for health promotion, specifically at the level of community prevention. Sarah is the Community Partnership Coordinator for “Wear Red Canada” and works closely with local organizations and larger corporations.