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Civil Rights

February is National Black History Month

Black history college
The History and Origins of National Black History Month

Black History Month had its origins in the United States and was the idea of African American Scholar and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson was one of the first Black Americans to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

In 1922 at the age of 47, he gave up his distinguished career as a university professor to dedicate himself to research and writing on the African American experience. Among Dr. Woodson's publications are The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861; History of the Negro Church; Negro Makers of History; African Heroes and Heroines; and perhaps his most famous book, The Miseducation of the Negro. Go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2006/020106/blkhistmo.html for more information.

National Wear Red Day

photo of morgantown staff in red February 3 was National Wear Red Day—a day when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women.

State Office staff wearing red.
Facts about women and cardiovascular disease
  • Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over age 25.
  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills nearly half a million women a year, about one per minute.
  • CVD claims more lives than the next six most common causes of death combined.
  • Only 13 percent of women are aware that heart disease is their No. 1 health threat.
  • Sixty-four percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
  • Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death for American women and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
  • Stroke kills more women than men. In 2002, females represented nearly 62 percent of stroke deaths.
  • Heart disease rates in post-menopausal women are two to three times higher than in pre-menopausal women of the same age.

Cardiovascular Diseases in West Virginia

Heart disease and stroke kill more than 960,000 people each year. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in West Virginia and last year alone 7,790 (or 37% of all deaths) were attributed to heart disease or stroke.

Tips for Heart Health
  • Don't smoke, and if you do, quit. Women who smoke are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smoking women. Smoking also boosts the risk of stroke and cancer.
  •  Aim for a healthy weight. It's important for a long, vigorous life. Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.
  • Get moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
  • Eat for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
  • Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.

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