February 6th was National Wear Red Day, also known as Go Red for Women Day, when people were asked to wear red in order to promote awareness of heart disease and stroke in women.

February is American Heart Month and February 6 is National Wear Red Day, a component of Go Red For Women, the American Heart Association’s national campaign to make women aware of their risk of heart disease and learn how to make heart-healthy choices every day.

Cardiovascular disease kills more women than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, promoted the red clothing day to spread the message that "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear - It's the #1 Killer of Women," according to its Web site.
Both women and men should have routine checkups to monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight. Changes in those numbers could signal a risk for heart disease.

Efforts to improve awareness of cardiovascular disease has made some progress: In 2000, 34 percent of women knew that heart disease was their gender's No. 1 killer, and that figure had increased to 46 percent by 2003 and 57 percent by 2006, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

African-American and Hispanic women are at higher risk of heart disease and are less aware of its dangers than white women. A study published in Circulation in 2006 showed that when women are aware of their heart disease risk, they're more likely to take action to reduce risk by exercising, eating more healthfully, and losing weight.