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Wear Red On Feb. 5 To Raise Awareness

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. It's not just a "man's disease." The American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" campaign aims to raise awareness of this health risk. Women all over the country will wear red on Friday, Feb. 5. See how you can get involved at the Go Red For Women website.

Paying attention to heart health is especially important for women ages 40 to 60. Younger women (even teenagers) need to learn about taking care of their hearts, too, because the disease develops gradually.

Women and men can lower the risk of having a heart attack with diet and exercise. A healthy diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, grains (particularly whole grains), fat-free and low-fat dairy products, fish, legumes (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, soybeans), poultry and lean meats.

A heart attack occurs when there is a severe blockage in an artery that carries blood to the heart muscle. Do you know what one feels like? Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women, though often women do not experience severe pain.  Other common symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, and pain in one or both arms. Learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack and treatment at the HeartHeathyWomen.org a website.