TAMPA, Fla. — National Wear Red Day on Feb. 2 aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular health in women during American Heart Month.

What You Need To Know

  • National Wear Red Day on Feb. 2 aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular health in women during American Heart Month

  • New CDC study shows 1 in 5 women die from a heart-related issue, the leading cause of death for women

  • AdventHealth Internventional Cardiologist Dr. Diana Revenco says lack of knowledge about women's risk factors is a risk factor itself

  • Heart-related risk factors and warning signs are different for women and men

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in every 5 women died from heart disease in 2021.

Research has shown that only about half (56%) of U.S. women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer, the CDC stated.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is encouraging residents to wear red on Friday to spread awareness about women’s cardiovascular health.

The city has also lit buildings and bridges in red to show support and raise awareness.

Dr. Diana Revenco, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth, said the warning signs of heart trouble for women present differently from men. And risk factors for heart disease in women can start from an early age.

“That low awareness of the specific factors is actually a risk factor in itself,” said Revenco. “So I feel what we need is to increase awareness in the general population, that women present with different symptoms than men and they have separate risk factors that are different from men.”

According to the CDC, symptoms include:

  • Angina—usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache.

  • Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat

  • Pain in the upper abdomen or back

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive

For more information on the unique risk factors of heart disease for women, visit www.heart.org/en/health-topics/house-calls/womens-risks-for-heart-disease