February is American Heart Month, and MTSU once again participated in the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign.

The MTSU community gathered Friday, Feb. 2 — National Wear Red Day — for a short program and heart-shaped photo opportunity for attendees assembled in the Liz and Creighton Rhea Atrium.

Those attending learned about risks and symptoms of heart disease in women and men, too. Heart disease affects millions of Americans each year; heart disease and stroke kill 1 in 3 women, but it is nearly 80 percent preventable.

Four MTSU students shared how they deal with heart-associated health issues. They include:

• Maureen Norris of Murfreesboro, a foreign language major in the College of Liberal Arts, who has congestive heart failure, a pacemaker and defibrillator.

• Adia Moody of Dyersburg, Tennessee, a sophomore accounting major in the Jones College of Business, who has neurocardiogenic syncope.

• Lauren Davis of Clarksville, Tennessee, a junior multimedia journalism major in the College of Media and Entertainment, who has atrial septic defect.

• Mackenzie Carroll of Murfreesboro, sophomore health administration major in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, who has cardiogenic syncope.

Forming the shape of a heart for a group photo, nearly 90 people from the MTSU community attend the 2018 National Wear Red Day Feb. 2 in the Liz and Creighton Rhea Atrium in the Science Building. The American Heart Association event promotes awareness for women’s heart health. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Norris, 49, has survived a congenital heart defect, mitral valve prolapse, two strokes two heart attacks, congestive heart failure, a pacemaker and defibrillator and other medical issues.

“Doctors have given me six months to live, then three months to live after the pacemaker. I’m still here,” Norris said. “Here I am, in my senior year of college.”

Moody said she experienced dizzy spells as an eighth-grader and eventually saw cardiologist Paul Jackson.

“I was scared because I didn’t really know what to expect,” Moody said. “Dr. Jackson took great measures to make sure I knew everything about my condition and what to do if I ever had an episode. … After all the testing and my diagnoses, I have learned that the sky is the limit as long as I monitor my condition.”

Davis’ mother had heart surgery when Lauren was 8, and doctors tested the little girl for possible genetic condition. No problems surfaced. Then, at age 10, a breathing problem surfaced that her family believed to be asthma-related. She returned to the doctor, who discovered heart trouble.

“I had a hole in the upper chamber of the heart, and it was two times larger than it was supposed to be,” Davis said. “I had to undergo open heart surgery, where they found I had a pulmonary vein going to the wrong side of my heart, adding an extra two hours to my surgery.”

A lifelong athlete, Carroll said she “knew something was off” when she passed out while running at track practice. Two weeks later, she collapsed before choir practice. She visited her doctor, who referred her to Vanderbilt Pediatric Cardiology.

“It was life-changing and it’s challenging, even though I’ve been living with my condition for five years, but a bright side is I am allowed to always eat in class, and I’ve learned to pinpoint my symptoms to where I don’t pass out everywhere any more.”

Wear Red Day at MTSU is sponsored by MTSU Health Promotion, Student Health Services, Raider Health Corps and Alpha Chi Omega.

MTSU has more than 240 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

To learn more about the national movement, visit www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Rick Chapman, left, director of MTSU Student Health Services, introduces honorees Mackenzie Carroll and Lauren Davis to the crowd attending the 2018 Wear Red for Women Day at MTSU Feb. 2 during the national drive to promote public awareness for women’s heart health. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU students Mackenzie Carroll, left, and Lauren Davis make heart gestures during the annual Wear Red for Women campaign at MTSU to promote awareness about heart problems. They were among four students who have overcome heart-related conditions to be honored Feb. 2 at the Wear Red event. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)