Eighteen years ago I loss my mother to heart disease.  She died from complications from a brain aneurysm that lead to stoke.  My mother’s death was unexpected.  She suffered from hypertension (something she was being treated for), but was under an unusual amount of stress around the time of her death.

My mother had been a smoker, but quit 10 years prior to her death.  Sadly the damage from being a smoker may have already been done.  In addition to being a cause of hypertension, the use of cigarettes may greatly increase the chances of a brain aneurysm rupturing.

Since her death I have been committed to finding out more about heart disease, its causes and treatments.  For many heart disease is preventable.  I joined the American Heart Association’s cure for heart disease and stroke prevention.  Today I thought I would some of the facts of heart disease and how you can reduce you risks.

Tomorrow is National Wear Red Day a day dedicated to draw attention to heart disease in women.  Here is some facts behind National Red Day taken from the Go Red for Women website.

In 2003, the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute took action against a disease that was claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year – a disease that women weren’t paying attention to. A disease they truly believed, and many still believe to this day, affects more men than women.

Stemming from that action, National Wear Red Day was born. It’s held on the first Friday in February every year to raise awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women.

This coming National Wear Red Day, Feb. 1, 2013, marks our 10-year anniversary. And looking back on all we’ve accomplished, we’ve really made tremendous strides. They include:

• 21 percent fewer women dying from heart disease
• 23 percent more women aware that it’s their No. 1 health threat
• Publishing of gender-specific results, established differences in symptoms and responses to medications, and women-specific guidelines for prevention and treatment
• Legislation to help end gender disparities

But despite our progress, women are still dying. They’re still unaware of their risks and the facts. And now’s not the time for complacency. It’s time to stand stronger, speak louder and join us in the fight this National Wear Red Day.

Please take moment to learn about heart disease here.  Read some of the common myths of heart disease here.  Learn the facts, causes, risks and prevention of strokes here.  Find out your risk of heart disease here.  And lastly, learn the symptoms of a heart attack here.

There is so much to know about heart disease/stroke and it’s prevention.  Prior to my mother’s stroke she exhibited all the symptoms of a stroke, but she and my family did know them at the time.  Perhaps if we had known medical care could have been gotten for her sooner and she may have lived.

If reading the American Heart Association’s information helps to educate one person and they make changes or help family members to make changes to reduce the risk of heart disease it will be worth it.

Please join me tomorrow by wearing RED to show your support the prevention of the number one killer of American Men and Women or consider making a donation for research.  If someone mentions anything about the red you’re wearing tell them to educate women about the dangers of heart disease.

I’ll be wearing red tomorrow in memory of my beautiful mother.  She loved color and would be proud to know I was wearing red in memory of her.