NCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Launch Hearts on the Court Collective to Combat Cardiovascular Disease
TL;DR
The American Heart Association's Hearts on the Court Collective gives women a strategic advantage by providing essential tools to prevent cardiovascular disease through lifestyle changes.
The Hearts on the Court Collective educates women on tracking blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar while promoting healthy eating, exercise, and sleep habits.
This initiative empowers women to take control of their heart health, potentially saving thousands of lives and creating healthier futures for families and communities.
Nineteen NCAA women's basketball coaches are teaming up to raise awareness about heart disease prevention through the American Heart Association's new Hearts on the Court Collective.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, claiming more than 440,000 lives annually according to the American Heart Association. In response to this critical health threat, 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association women's college basketball coaches have joined forces through the newly formed Hearts on the Court Collective, marking the first time such a coalition has mobilized around women's cardiovascular health.
The initiative, led by Louisiana State University hall of fame head coach Kim Mulkey, aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease while empowering fans, peers, and student athletes to take control of their heart health. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement, which has been addressing women's cardiovascular health for more than 20 years, provides the foundation for this collaborative effort. According to Association CEO Nancy Brown, significant gaps persist in women's cardiovascular care, including underrepresentation in clinical research and lower likelihood of receiving lifesaving bystander CPR.
Throughout the women's college basketball season, the Collective will launch public service announcements highlighting Life's Essential 8™ for Women, a framework for heart health that includes knowing key health numbers such as blood pressure and cholesterol, embracing healthy eating, increasing physical activity, abstaining from tobacco use, and getting quality sleep. The initiative will also emphasize how unique life stages like pregnancy and menopause affect cardiovascular disease risk.
Coach Kim Mulkey, who chairs the Hearts on the Court Collective, emphasized the personal significance of this effort, stating that women need allies in fighting a disease that takes so much from them. The Collective includes head coaches from prominent NCAA programs across the country, including Katie Abrahamson-Henderson from University of Georgia, Courtney Banghart from UNC, Jennie Baranczyk from University of Oklahoma, and several other influential figures in women's college basketball.
Cardiovascular disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined, with approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes being preventable. Despite nearly 45% of women over age 20 living with some form of cardiovascular disease, only about half recognize it as their greatest health threat. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement addresses these awareness and clinical care gaps while providing science-backed health solutions. Resources to support women's heart health are available at https://GoRedforWomen.org.
The involvement of these prominent coaches brings significant visibility to women's cardiovascular health, potentially reaching millions of basketball fans and student athletes. By leveraging their platforms and influence, the Hearts on the Court Collective represents a powerful alliance between sports leadership and public health advocacy that could substantially impact prevention efforts and save countless lives through increased awareness and education.
Curated from NewMediaWire