February is National Heart Month, and the American Heart Association is encouraging everyone to wear red today. The first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day. It's part of an AHA campaign meant to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women, and kills more women than men each year. The AHA says one in three women will die of heart disease. But did you know that 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if they make the right choices, including proper diet and exercise along with not smoking.

Only 65 percent of women realize heart disease is their #1 killer, and 420,000 women die each year from cardiovascular disease.

Common symptoms of a cardiac event include:

*uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes

*pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw or inside the arms or shoulders

*chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath

*anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin

*paleness or pallor

*increased or irregular heart rate

*feeling of impending doom

How can you make a difference? Show your support by wearing red today to spread awareness about heart disease. Tell five other women about the risk factors and how they can prevent heart disease. You can also volunteer or donate to help fund life-saving research and educational programs.

For more information about Go Red For Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART.