It’s estimated that 1 women per minute dies from Cardiovascular Disease and it’s not just older women. Once a women reaches the rip old age of 25 the tide turns and heart disease becomes her number 1 enemy. I don’t have to look far for proof of these statistics. The reality hits close to my own heart. Cardiovascular Disease killed my mother and grandmother.

In order to help raise awareness, the American Heart Association started the National Go Red For Women Campaign in 2004. This program is aimed at all women in the hopes of dispelling the myth that women are not at high risk for heart disease. Unfortunately this myth still flourishes among both medical professionals and the general public, but the Red Dress campaign is slowly turning the tide and raising awareness that will hopefully save lives.

There are a number of ways you can help the Go Red campaign for 2013. You can start by helping yourself and knowing your numbers. The American Heart Association offers a Know Your Numbers page which provides a list of what should be your goal numbers for cholesterol, blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index and fasting blood sugar levels.

You can improve your numbers by joining The BetterU program. This free online program offers a 12 week nutrition and fitness program to improve your heart health. Before you begin consult your family physician for advice on how to improve your cardiovascular health and ask if The American Heart Association’s BetterU Program is right for you.

If you want to get involved and spread the word there are many things you can do. The easiest is to wear red on National Go Red for Women Day Friday, February 1, 2013. Join the Go Red Campaign and the American Heart Association will send you a free Red Dress Pin to add style to your wardrobe while you show your support. Look for the “click here” link next to the red dress icon above the submit button. Fill in your address, click submit and a red dress pin should be on its way.

Websites that offer materials and advice on how you can help support the Go Red For Women Day cause include: GoRedforWomen.org, National Wear Red Day and The Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, Heart Truth.

The National Wear Red Day site offers the Wear Red Day Online Kit and the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute offers the Heart Truth Online Tool Kit between both sites you will have access to posters, newsletter articles, post cards, sample letters, down-loadable banners, articles and suggestions on how to utilize the available materials.