February is American Heart Month, and Friday, Feb. 3, is the third anniversary of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) “Wear Red For Women Day,” also known as National Wear Red Day or Go Red Day.

Go Red Day promotes heart health and heart disease awareness and is a nationwide movement to empower women to love — and save — their hearts through healthy lifestyle choices and actions. OU-COMers are invited to join together with hundreds of other companies and organizations across America to celebrate the day.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women,” says Janice Smith, certified medical assistant and Healthy Adult Project coordinator.

Heart disease takes the lives of almost 500,000 women each year, nearly double the number of women who die from every type of cancer in total.

“Many are unaware of these statistics, so Go Red Day is a way to inform women of the facts concerning heart disease. Women have just as many heart attacks as men, especially after menopause,” says Smith.

“The whole campaign,” says Ruth Dudding, health educator for Athens City County Health Department, “is used by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of heart disease. It encourages women to take care of their heart’s health.

“The symptoms of heart disease are not always the same for women as for men. Men might experience it as a crushing pain to the chest. For women symptoms might be nausea, pain in the neck or shoulders or difficulty breathing.”

Go Red Day has its own dress code, and on this day, you should “Go Red” in your own way. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory — a red blouse, a red dress pin, red lipstick — carry a fabulous red handbag or sport a red tie and red socks to show some heart for heart disease prevention. And men, show your support by wearing something red, too!

“People are taking the campaign into their own homes and offices. Businesses use the day to raise money for the AHA. Part of the campaign is to raise awareness among health-care providers of the risks of heart disease for women,” says Dudding.

Want to do more? You can help the American Heart Association support the ongoing research and education about women and heart disease with a donation.

To promote heart health during February for both women and men, the Healthy Adult Program will be holding cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screenings Feb. 3 and Feb. 24 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the ground floor of Grosvenor, adjacent to offices of Community Services Programs (CSP). The Health Adult Project is one of CSP’s premier programs.

“In recent years, we have screened typically 80 people at our two-day clinic,” says Smith. She is looking forward to screening more during this month’s two-day clinic.

OU-COMers can make appointments for a screening by calling (593-9127) or emailing Smith. Protect your heart’s health and contact Smith today!

And on National Wear Red Day, Go Red in your own fashion to show your support for women and the fight against heart disease.

Let your heart shine bright red, and help save women’s lives.