CLEVELAND — Feb. 5 is National Wear Red Day, not only an excuse to bust out your best red dress, but also to consider making a donation to the American Heart Association.
Executive Director Valerie Hillow Gates said heart disease kills one in three women in America, making it the number one killer of women in the country. The Association's Go Red for Women effort aims to raise awareness about the problem and make sure women know their risks. So far, it seems to be working.
"Over the years of Go Red For Women we've really moved the needle on women realizing they're at risk rather than just thinking of heart disease as an older white men disease," Gates said.
It's a risk across the spectrum, too. Gates said "women of all ages, all communities, and all colors are being impacted and dying from heart disease."
She encouraged women, famous for putting everyone around them first, to firmly place their own health at the top of their to-do lists. Keep in touch with your health care provider, and if you don't have one, find one.
Gates said heart disease is 80% preventable. Making some heart-healthy changes can be as simple as going for a walk or filling your plate with a rainbow of vegetables.
The American Heart Association is hosting virtual events and community conversations throughout the month. You can learn more here.
