#Go For Red: It's National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 5

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Feb 01, 2016 06:08 AM EST

The first Friday of February has been dubbed as the "Go Red Day for Women." This is to encourage women to be more aware of the leading cause of death in the United States: heart disease and stroke.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the Untied States, Idaho State Journal shared. In fact, there are more women who die from heart disease compared to men.

Fortunately, this can all be changed as 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with awareness and action. This is how AHA created the "Go Red Day for Women" campaign.

The Times divulged that almost two-thirds of women who die from coronary artery disease had no warning signs. Approximately, one in every three women dies of heart disease each year; that's one woman dying every 80 seconds. To reduce the risk and save more lives from heart disease and stroke, AHA encouraged women to know the risk factors that you can change.

Most of the risk factors that you can change involve a lot about your lifestyles such as smoking, alcohol drinking, an unhealthy diet that increases high blood sugar, LDL blood cholesterol and triglycerides and weight, sedentary lifestyle and high levels of stress.

More so, WFLA gave you an easy to remember guideline to help you improve your health and promote awareness about the disease to others as well.

Get your Numbers. A single well-woman visit can give you an overall health analysis. Schedule this prevention check-up to know your biometric levels like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Let your doctor check you for any signs of heart disease, stroke and other diseases. It is also important to know you family health history so your doctor can give you a clear diagnosis.

Own Your Lifestyle. As mentioned, most of the risk factors are part of your lifestyle. AHA encourage women to stop smoking, lose weight, by physically active and eat healthily. As ISJ reports, cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Meanwhile, when you lose weight, you reduce unnecessary burden on your lungs, heart, blood vessels and skeleton. It is recommended to have an active lifestyle so you can lower your weight and blood pressure.

Raise Your Voice. Help advocate for women-related research and education especially with regards to heart disease.

Educate. The best place to start awareness is within your family first. Lead a healthy lifestyle that your kids can follow.

Donate. A donation of time or money will help organizations in their aim to raise awareness about the number one killer of men and women.

Participate in "Go Red Day for Women" by wearing red on Friday or by having your employees donate $5 on Friday. You may also decorate your workplace red. To learn more about the "National Wear Red Day", contact Sarah Baker at sarah.baker@heart.org.

Be inspired and check out the video below:

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