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The 16th November saw the second edition of the RED runway show – organised by the charity Sauvez le coeur des femmes . Hosted at Le Marriott on the iconic Champs Elysées, the event reunited the biggest names in style & celebrity in a bid to raise awareness of female cardiovascular disease. Proud partners of this year’s show, L’Exception slipped behind the scenes for a chance to interview the exceptional women taking part & highlighting this lesser-known but important issue.

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Set at the stunning Parisian hotel in the heart of the city’s historical 8th arrondissement, the vibrant red theme reflected the strong message behind the show. More than twenty stars took to the stage to support the cause – we met up with three of them during the show
the first of which was Annie Lemoine , a journalist at BFM Business dressed by REALITY STUDIO

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L’Exception : Tell us how you came to take part in this year’s show for Sauvez le Coeur des Femmes?

Annie Lemoine : « Working at BFM Business, it was Christelle Crosnier and Isabelle Weill that approached me and of course, I accepted. It’s a cause that’s really important and doesn’t get enough coverage. Cardiovascular diseases kill more than eight times more women than breast cancer. It’s also important to note that young women are more at risk than any other demographic : with increasing numbers of women taking the contraceptive pill and smoking, it can lead to irreversible cardiovascular disease. For those already affected, cardiac stents ( a tube-shaped device placed in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, to keep the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart disease ) are actually designed for men. In fact, stents currently in use can actually worsen the condition in women. There are very few who know about that, making it even more important.

Why do you think cardiovascular disease is considered more of a men’s health issue?

Maybe it’s because women have the tendency to put men first. They are usually the caregivers in some capacity of family life, whether that be a partner, husband or father and tend to put their needs second. It’s particularly important to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women specifically, as the symptoms aren’t the same. .»

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Can you tell us about the symptoms for women?

« The symptoms are much more varied for women than they are for men. Cardiovascular problems can manifest as sickness, stomach ache or even a migraine (a feeling of pressure in the head).. These signs are much harder to notice than the classic warning signs in men.»

What should we do if we suspect a problem? Go and see our GP?

« Bien sûr ! Mais l’idée c’est déjà d’ Yes! But prevention is always better than cure, for example, stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet and doing regular exercise can positively affect your health and lower your cholesterol – whatever age you are. Seeing your doctor will always be beneficial. Stress can also be a big factor, especially in big cities where life is dominated by a busy work schedule. It’s just as important to relax and enjoy some ‘me’ time as it is to watch what you eat and listen to your body and care for your mind.»

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Passionately and deeply committed to the cause, the second woman we spoke to was Cyrielle Hariel , a journalist for Ushaïa Tv , Europe 1 dressed by LIU CHAO.

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L’Exception : Tell us how you came to take part in this year’s show for Sauvez le Coeur des Femmes?

Cyrielle Hariel : « It’s a cause that’s really close to my heart (literally)! I’ve been supporting the charity for several years. Working as a journalist with a focus on social media and influencers ( @cyriellehariel ). In 2014 my life changed whilst reporting in Bangladesh with Action Contre La Faim who was helping feed the increasing numbers of Rohingyas crossing the border from Myanmar. Having an emergency heart operation to insert a 3cm heart prosthesis, I quickly realised as a 27-year-old woman how misinformed I was about cardiovascular disease!

Did you notice any symptoms?

« Nothing at all! I’ve always been really sporty and considered myself in good health, but I learnt 7 out of the 10 people that develop my condition are women! I set about learning more about cardiovascular disease; I even wrote a book about it which will be released in March called Faire battre le cœur du monde . In it, I write about how my life changed at 27 and why I went from being a journalist to a journalist/activist. Looking back, I did notice that I was more out of breath than usual, but I didn’t take it seriously because I was still able to keep up with my regular exercise routine. My heart problem was actually discovered by fluke, it was during a routine vaccination that the stethoscope picked up a heart murmur . When I came back from my mission in Bangladesh, I went to see a specialist, and three weeks later I was in intensive care and had emergency open heart surgery.»

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What advice would you give women who worry they might have a heart condition?

« A female ultrasound. From 12 years old you should take your children to see a cardiologist and screen for heart irregularities by using not just an electrocardiogram, but also ultrasound. It was only by sonogram that the doctors were able to see that I had an abnormally sized heart. Thanks to the ultrasound test, they were able to diagnose and treat the birth defect in less than three weeks – closing the 3cm hole in my heart. My life changed at 27, it was hell. But thanks to this experience, I always look for the soul in every subject I report, and try and find the story behind every person I interview. It’s become the heart of my work.»

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A woman that has met and interviewed the president of the charity multiple times as part of her show, ‘Sans Tabou’, Véronique Mounier , Journalist, ( dressed by ETIENNE JEANSON. ) has become a proud patron of the event. We chatted with the journalist backstag.

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L’Exception : Tell us how you came to take part in this year’s show for Sauvez le Coeur des Femmes?

Véronique Mounier : « I trained as a pharmacist, issues concerning health have always been of close importance. I first met Isabelle Weill when I invited her on my show on Chérie 25 called sans tabou , which has a large female following. Since then, I have interviewed her multiple times and she finally asked me to be part of the adventure, taking part in the RED runway show. We’ve been asked to speak about the charity a lot because of its significance. Women are unaware of how lifestyle choices can have an impact on cardiovascular problems. Even if women are less affected than men, they are statistically more likely to die, more so than breast cancer.’»

What is your advice for avoiding this kind of disease?

« ‘Don’t shy away from screening, notably in your 40s and 50s. After and during the menopause, women are no longer protected by hormones. Women are drinking and smoking more than ever, our natural hormones aren’t enough to protect us from illnesses like heart disease. I’m always encouraging women to go and get screened regularly. We have the tendency to think of cardiovascular problems as a male issue, when in fact it affects both the sexes equally. Only the symptoms of cardiac diseases differ, with it being harder to diagnose in women and the telltale signs less well known.»

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Tell us, what are the signs?

« With men, pain in the arm or chest is recognisable as a heart problem. In women, it can be far more general like stomach pain or tiredness… Even the medical profession is less informed on spotting and diagnosing the signs of cardiac issues in women. It’s important to add that women, who are more likely to put the health of their family first, must learn to look after themselves and not put off important screening opportunities.

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Working in partnership with Sauvez le Coeur des Femmes for the month of November, L’Exception has donated 10% of the proceeds from our RED collection to charity. The RED runway show which was run and organised by exceptional women from across the industry has helped to raise awareness and spread the word about female cardiovascular disease for another successful, consecutive year.
@sauvezlecoeurdesfemmes
Sauvez le coeur des femmes by AJILA

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