Heart disease is the number one killer of American women (and men), but it's a disease that in most cases can be prevented. Help the Schliemann Center for Women’s Health Education (SCWHE) kick off American Heart Month and “go red” on Friday, February 2! It's National Wear Red Day®, celebrated on the first Friday of February each year. Through local community events and awareness activities, thousands across the country wear red to unite in the national movement to give women a personal and urgent wake-up call about their risk for heart disease.

National Wear Red Day serves as a reminder to every woman to care for her heart! On this day, men and women can participate by wearing a red dress, shirt or tie. The Schliemann Center is encouraging our community to wear red, take a photo, and share it with BRMC on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #GoRed and #TeamBRMC.

American Heart Month promotes awareness of heart disease, its risk factors and symptoms. Heart disease takes the life of 1 in 3 women each year and kills more than all forms of cancer combined. This means we're losing women at the rate of one per minute! But we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.

• Get Your Numbers: Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.
• Own Your Lifestyle: Stop smoking, lose weight, be physically active and eat healthy.
• Raise Your Voice: Advocate for more women-related research and education.
• Educate Your Family: Make healthy food choices for you and your family. Teach your kids the importance of staying active.
• Donate: Show your support with a donation of time or money, locally or nationally.

Also in celebration of American Heart Month, the SCWHE is hosting Girls' Night Out: Heart to Heart featuring a heart health panel led by cardiologists Patrick Tobbia, MD, and Dr. Otis Warr, MD, on Thursday, February 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the BRMC Lagerborg Dining Room. This is a free event, and dinner will be provided. Space is limited, and reservations are required. To register, enroll online, call the SCWHE at (870) 508-2345, or email Stefany Isham, SCWHE Coordinator, at sisham@baxterregional.org.

For more information about women's heart health, visit www.goredforwomen.org or www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/hearttruth/.

Help us spread the word! Download the SCWHE Go Red and Girls' Night Out flyers.

National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.