SIKESTON -- When women in the local community think of red this February, Contours Express wants them to think about more than red roses and Valentine's Day; instead, think about the heart.
The local women's fitness franchise is celebrating American Heart Month this February by hosting events throughout the month to educate women on the importance of heart health and how heart disease can affect their lives.
"Just think of the power the heart holds: passion, love, energy. Many women take their heart health for granted and we're dedicated to helping them understand the threat of heart disease," said Lisa Neumeyer, owner of Contours Express of Sikeston, located at 227 North Main Street.
"There are so many opportunities for women to 'put their heart into' the fight against this disease and Contours Express wants to help empower them to do so."
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women -- one in every two women may die from the disease, while one in every 30 women may die from breast cancer. Therefore, Contours Express is inviting Sikeston women to come in for a free fitness assessment, blood pressure screening and educational materials.
Neumeyer said cardiovascular disease can be prevented with proper diet and through a customized workout plan, and encourages women in the community to find out how Contours Express can help them make changes to their daily life's habits in a fun and friendly, no-pressure environment.
"Maintaining a proper diet and exercise routine goes beyond just losing weight: it's also about taking action to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke," Neumeyer said. "We hope to unite women everywhere and wipe out heart disease through understanding it, one woman at time."
In effort to make women more aware of their heart health, Neumeyer offered a few classic symptoms of a heart attack:
* Pain in the chest and/or radiating down the arm.
* Pain in the middle of the back or abdomen.
* Pain in the jaw, neck or shoulder.
* Tightness in the chest.
* Feeling nauseous, lightheaded or dizzy.
* Feeling indigestion or having gas.
* Sweaty, clammy feeling.
* Shortness of breath.
* Extreme fatigue.
* Disruption of sleep.
If you have these symptoms, you may want to contact your doctor. For more information on Contours Express of Sikeston and their fight against heart disease, please contact Neumeyer at 573-471-3151.