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Wearing red to spread awareness for women's heart health

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — February 7 is Wear Red Day, a day created by the American Heart Association to spread awareness about heart disease, the number one cause of death for American women. The day was created to try and combat the lack of research and education around women's heart health, and to hopefully bring more public knowledge on how to prevent heart disease and what the symptoms are. Dr. Kavitha Kalvakuri-Meduru is a cardiologist at OSF Healthcare's Cardiovascular Institute and pointed out some of those warning signs. 'Any discomfort around the chest location, if it is associated with exertion, is an important sign to recognize and get treated. The earlier the better,' she said. The signs can vary, as there could be nausea and vomiting involved as well. Kalvakuri-Meduru said when you're in doubt, you should get checked out. Other important factors to consider include knowing your cholesterol level, blood pressure, glucose levels, and any family history of heart issues. Rachel Klousnitzer is a communications director for the American Heart Association and shared some statistics about heart disease. Nearly 45% of women 20 years of age or older had some form of cardiovascular disease. There are significant biological differences between men and women, and clinical trials have not always adequately enrolled women or analyzed sex-specific differences in the data. Only 38% of cardiovascular clinical research trial participants are women. Women experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that can increase their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases over the course of their lifetime. You can prevent heart disease by eating healthy, limiting your alcohol intake, being physically active, quitting smoking, and optimizing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Getting a healthy amount of sleep can help as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.