Today, Friday, February 5th, marks the 8th annual National Wear Red Day. It's all part of The Heart Truth, a national awareness campaign designed to alert women about their risk of heart disease and motivate them to take action. Beyond symbolizing the heart, red is a color that demands attention. It shouts Stop! Pay attention, in this case, to the signs of heart disease and the measures you can take to prevent it.
When the campaign first launched in 2002, the public perception of heart disease was that it was primarily a male condition. Although significant progress has been made in increasing awareness that it affects as many women (actually, more) there's still a disconnect among women about their personal risk for developing the disease. The fact is heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country. But by taking charge of your health, making simple lifestyle changes, you can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease.
Addressing the Issue
Each year, a coalition of non-profits, including the American Heart Association and Women's Coalition for Heart Health, corporate sponsors such as Campbell's Soup and Macy's, and a bevy of celebrities and fashion designers pitch in to raise funds and public awareness that women need to tend to their own hearts by recognizing the risk factors and symptoms of heart disease and taking measures to lower their risk. (Go to Have a Heart to learn more.)
