Wear Red for Heart Disease Awareness
February is American Heart Month. Wear red the first Friday of February each year to help raise awareness about heart disease. Make health your best accessory!
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. A woman’s risk for heart disease rises between the ages of 40 and 60, but heart disease can begin early, even in the teen years. No matter how old you are, you can take steps to lower your risk!
Get physical activity.
Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. Remember, you don't have to get physical activity all at once. Spread activity throughout the week or into smaller chunks of time during the day.
Eat healthy.
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol content. Choose healthy snacks such as trail mix, an apple, or low-fat cheese. Check out Fruits and Veggies Matter for healthy recipes!
Be smoke-free.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke (inhaling other people's smoke causes health problems similar to those of smokers). Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. Within 20 minutes after smoking that last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continues for years. If you think you're ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and visit http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/.
Send a heart health-e-card.
Put up a heart health poster where you work and play.
More Information
- Women and Heart Disease Prevention
- Women's Health Heart Health E-Cards
- All Heart Health E-Cards
- Heart Disease Prevention: What You Can Do
- Ask CDC: Women – Be Smart About Your Heart (
2:08 mins) - Tips for a Healthy Life
- The Heart Truth Campaign, National Institutes of Health
- Go Red for Women, American Heart Association
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