The University Clinical Center Tuzla (UKC Tuzla) marked Red Dress Day, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of women’s health, with a special focus on the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke.
Red Dress Day was launched by the American Heart Association in 2004 in the United States and later expanded worldwide with the support of the World Heart Federation. The red dress is the recognizable symbol of the campaign, representing women, while the red color symbolizes life, health, and energy, but also serves as a warning of serious health risks.
Special attention on this day is directed toward stroke, one of the leading causes of mortality and long term disability among women. Medical professionals warn that stroke symptoms in women are often atypical, which may lead to delayed medical attention and significantly affect treatment outcomes and recovery.
On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zejneba Pašić, Head of the Stroke Treatment Unit at the UKC Tuzla, emphasized the crucial importance of prevention, early recognition of symptoms, and continuous education of both healthcare professionals and the general public in reducing stroke related risks among women. “Today, February 6, we mark the Day of the Fight Against Stroke in the Female Population. Through this initiative, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of preventing this serious disease, which often results in a high degree of disability among patients,” stated Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zejneba Pašić.
She explained that, in addition to common risk factors such as age, smoking, diabetes, elevated blood lipids, and obesity, women are also exposed to specific risk factors, including the use of hormonal contraceptives and pregnancy.
As she emphasized, the primary goal of marking Red Dress Day is to reduce the incidence of stroke through preventive measures, while also improving the overall quality of life of women.
“A woman is the pillar of the family and society. Her health is of immense importance, because only a healthy woman can actively contribute to the creation and preservation of a healthy population,” Dr. Pašić added.
By marking Red Dress Day, the UKC Tuzla highlighted the importance of timely prevention, early recognition of stroke symptoms, and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, measures that can save lives.
