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Go red for women's heart health today

Posted at 10:29 AM, Feb 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-05 10:29:33-05

There's meaning behind the color: wear red today to spread awareness about a health epidemic.

It's "Wear Red For Women" Day.

The American Heart Association wants to raise awareness about heart disease, the number one killer of women.

Heart disease causes one in three women's deaths every single year, which is more than all cancer deaths in women combined per year.

Dr. Peter Burke, MD is an Interventional Cardiologist with McLaren Hospital, he says heart disease in women often goes unrecognized, and in turn not diagnosed.

"There's...a strong appropriate push for cancer awareness and there really needs to be an equal awareness and recognition for heart disease in women," says Dr. Burke, MD, "so they can make those educated changes."

It's time to learn about your family history.

"Knowing mom and dad, knowing their family history, knowing what's...what the prognosis is, really is important," he says.

Make simple diet changes and here's a key, get moving.

"When the weather gets bad," says Dr. Burke, "I always tell my patients: 'We're not bears, we don't need to hibernate.'"

Put on your red jacket and start exercising, you could save a life.

The doctor says screening is key as well. Every woman is encouraged to get a well-woman check up. You can get this screening done this weekend at the Lansing Center during the Women's Expo.

Lansing buildings, like Cooley Law School Stadium and the Lansing Center, have messages and red lights up. It's all about going red for women.