Bergen County residents and employees celebrated National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 5, as a way of increasing awareness of women’s heart disease.

This national awareness campaign seeks to inform women about their risks for heart disease and provides tools for women to take proactive measures against the disease. A report from the Committee on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases in 2006 states that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. women—killing 500,000 each year, which amounts to about one death per minute.

Risk Factors. High blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, smoking, high blood cholesterol, being overweight or obese, and physical inactivity are risk factors that men and women can address. Other factors include age (55 or older for women) and having a family history of early heart disease.

Tips for Heart Health:

• Avoid smoking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that cigarette smokers are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.
  
• Aim for a healthy weight. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the risk of death rises with increasing weight. An estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.
  
• Get moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity seven days a week if possible.
  
• Eat for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
  
• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose.