Today is the day for women to wear red. Not for a red hat day but to remind women of the dangers of heart disease for women. How many of us know of women in our lives who is affected by heart disease. It is a serious factor in my family; much more than breast cancer.

Heart disease and other circulatory diseases run in my family. My father and grandfather both had it. My grandfather died from it and my father had multiple bypass surgery twice.

But it doesn’t just affect the men in my family; it also has affected the women. My mother had a stroke which incapacitated her both mentally and physically for the last 6 years of her life. It was a result of high blood pressure and other factors. My sister has also been treated for heart disease.

I watch my blood pressure. I try to keep my weight down. I need to exercise more.

But we all need to watch for signs and take heart health serious. Let today’s red dress be a reminder that heart disease is the number one killer of women and we can do much to prevent it.