American Heart Month: Go Red for Women

February 5th is National Wear Red Day, designated by the American Heart Association as a day to wear red in order to spotlight the unique challenges women face with heart health. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. 1 in 3 women in the U.S. die of heart disease, and National Wear Red Day Aims to change that.

Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease

While nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, cardiovascular disease continues to be a woman's greatest health threat. But this threat can be reduced by understanding your risk factors and acting on them. You can do this by:

• Learning Family History and Hereditary Risk.
• Exercising Regularly and Staying Active.
• Quitting Smoking.
• Knowing Your Numbers.

Know Your Numbers: There are 4 important numbers to learn in order to understand your heart disease risk:

1. Blood Pressure.
2. Total Cholesterol.
3. Blood Sugar.
4. Body Mass Index (BMI).

Schedule a screening with a medical professional to learn your numbers and what they mean for your heart health!

Heart Attack Symptoms by Gender

Did you know that heart attack symptoms can present themselves differently in women? Many of the familiar symptoms of a heart attack are ones affecting both genders, but it's not uncommon for women to show symptoms that don't seem cardiovascular in nature. Know these signs and consult your doctor if you're experiencing them.

How You Can Get Involved in Wear Red Day

The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women's movement is the trusted, passionate, relevant force for change to end heart disease and stroke in women all over the world. For 15 years, Go Red for Women has provided a large platform for women to join together, raise awareness, fund lifesaving research, advocate for change, and improve the lives of all women everywhere.

So, how can you show your support and participate in women's health?

• Wear red to raise awareness about heart disease, and let people know why you're wearing red.
• Make a donation to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association either online at GoRedForWomen.org, at your local CVS pharmacy now through March 6, or online with CVS.
• Take action for your heart health: get screened by a medical professional.
• Encourage the women in your life to become educated and advocate for their own heart health. Encourage them to get screened, learn their family history, and take preventative measures against cardiac events. 
• Join the conversation on social media by using #WearRedDay, #GoRedForWomen, and #HeartMonth on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Show your support for women nationwide, and help celebrate Go Red Day and American Heart Month!