If you watched any football games on Sunday, you would have seen the players sporting some pretty pink accessories. This was to kick off a month long campaign by the NFL to raise awareness for breast cancer. Apart from being entertaining to watch a very masculine sport being played by men in pink, it is a noble cause, as many people have been affected by breast cancer in some way. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America. It is also the most feared disease by women. That being said, I want to point out another serious cause to consider: Heart disease. I don't want to detract from the seriousness of breast cancer, but instead raise some awareness of a more common cause for concern.
Here's the skinny:
-Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America
-1 in 2.7 women will die from heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases, while 1 in 30 will die from breast cancer (1).
Tip: You can fight cancer and heart disease at the same time. Lack of physical activity and being overweight are two of the risk factors for developing breast cancer (2). They are also two of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. So, to decrease your chances of getting both, try to get 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week and eat a diet low in saturated fat and high in fruits and vegetables.
