February is National Heart Month and this Friday is National Wear Red day to raise awareness about heart health amongst women nationwide. Heart disease and strokes are responsible for one in three deaths among women each year, but this rate could be vastly improved through proper awareness, education and lifestyle changes.

National Wear Red day was created in 2003 and we’re already seeing the difference. According to GoRedForWomen.org, more than 50% have increased their exercise, six out of 10 have changed their diets and nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day as a result of the increased education and awareness.

• Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women's deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
• 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
• An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases.
• Optimal blood pressure level for most adults is less than 120/80 mm Hg

Some of the steps you can take towards maintaining a healthy heart include:

• Active Lifestyle

  • Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to combat heart disease. Make a point to get outside regularly – even if it means taking a 10 minute break to get up from your work desk and take a walk around the building.

• Healthy Diet

  • Cook heart healthy meals that are low in saturated fats and low cholesterol to help maintain your heart’s health.

• Explore any genetic predispositions

  • While maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can drastically reduce your risk of heart disease, it’s important to understand your family’s heart health history to check for any genetic predispositions to heart disease in your family. The U.S. Department of Health and Human services has a great tool to help you build your family’s health history that can be found at: https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/FHH/html/index.html

• Talk to your doctor

  • For some people, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and control risk of heart disease. Your doctor may need to prescribe medications to help you achieve your goal.

This Friday, show your support and commitment to reducing risk, improving health and saving women’s lives but putting on your favorite red dress, red shirt, or red tie.

National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.