Tracy Villar of “The Pit” spotlighted heart health at the acting awards.
Bilal, who plays hospital ward clerk Lupe Perez on the hit HBO Max series, wore a red American Heart Association dress pin to the SAG-AFTRA ceremony and gala to promote awareness of cardiovascular health.
Heart disease runs in Villar’s family. One of her grandfathers died of a stroke, her aunt and great-aunt died of heart attacks, and another aunt had open-heart surgery to repair a leaking valve.
“This is something you have to take really seriously,” Villar (pictured above with The Pit castmate Christel V. McNeil) told me on the red carpet. “I went to get tested and nothing was wrong, but I’m getting tested. I get it. I wasn’t taking it seriously, but now I’m taking it seriously.”
Villar worked with the AHA to promote Go Red for Women, the organization’s program to raise awareness of women’s heart health. According to the AHA, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women, but only about half of women recognize heart disease and stroke as their biggest health threats. Overall, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with stroke rising to fourth place. On average, someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, and more than half of people living in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease.
“It’s unpleasant to see a relative undergo heart surgery,” Villar said. His credits also include “The Maid” and “The House.” “It changes people. It changes families. We say, ‘Okay, everyone, everyone’s eating well. Everyone’s drinking juice. Let’s go!'” We take things for granted, but when something happens, we get very scared. That’s why I wanted to be here for the cause. ”
AHA recently held its annual Red Dress Collection Concert Gala for Women’s Heart Health at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Headliner Nicole Scherzinger spoke at the event about her mother surviving two strokes. “She has a mechanical heart,” the Tony Award winner said. “In 2002 she had a stroke and we had to have a double valve replacement on her. I won’t talk about this because it’s a little sensitive, but if you’re going to talk about it, this is the place to talk about it, right?”
