Iowans might notice more than a few people around them donning a particular bright color on this first day of the new month. This is the fifth annual National Wear Red Day, an awareness effort of the American Heart Association.
Kristen Fettkether, spokeswoman for the Iowa chapter, explains the motivations."We just want people to recognize that heart disease is the number-one killer in America and we symbolize it by recognizing the color red," Fettkether says. She stresses, heart disease is the top killer of both men and women in Iowa and nationwide.
Some warning signs of a heart attack include: chest discomfort, pain in arms or elsewhere, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Fettkether says heart disease is a preventable disease.
She says, "You can prevent heart disease simply by changing your diet, by taking steps to increase your activity." Folks who are wearing red today are helping to show their support for the fight against heart disease. Events are planned across Iowa during the day today — and through the month — to promote heart health. For more details, visit the American Heart Association website .