Wear Red Day: Increasing Awareness Of Heart Disease In Women

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — As you were out and about Friday you may have noticed a lot of people wearing red.

Mike Schuh ties together the color with what's happening nationwide.

From the nurses at Sinai to the hospital workers and even the doctors--everyone's wearing red.

The American Heart Assocatiation declared Friday "National Wear Red Day."

It's a day for Carol Depest to get heart screening. She learned her pressure was a little high.

"Now that I know what my blood pressure is, I'm just going to go later on and check it out and have my husband check it out," said Depest.

And that's just the idea--getting women to pay attention to what they might have otherwise ignored.

"It's very important because we are trying to increase awareness of heart disease in women," said Dr. Mauro Moscucc, cardiac department chair.

Dr. Moscucc says these screenings generate an important number.

"By doing that, we can put together all those different variables and can estimate what is the risk of having a heart attack or developing heart disease within the next five to ten years," he said.

A good number to know, whether you're wearing red or not.

The American Heart Association says more than 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.

For more information on National Wear Red Day, CLICK HERE.