Feb. 1, kicks off National Heart Health Month, and Feb. 3 is National Wear Red Day.

Choose a red shirt, dress, pants, hat, tie, scarf or socks to make a statement for a great cause. Wear red alone or join together with friends and colleagues, whatever! It’s your chance to raise awareness for heart disease and also wear your favorite red outfit.

National Wear Red Day is intended to help raise awareness of heart disease, especially in women. Heart disease is often associated with men, but cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women.

This is a time when organizations like the American Heart Association shine a spotlight on heart disease to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy heart and to encourage healthy habits that help reduce the risk of heart disease.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign sponsors an annual Red Dress Collection presented by Macy’s during Fashion Week in New York City. The event features stars such as Bridget Moynahan, Rachel Platten, Veronica Webb, Bonnie Somerville, Lauren Holly and Jeannie Mai as models.

Our club members wear red to meetings in February.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs has been a supporter of the American Heart Association for years, spreading awareness of heart disease. Past GFWC presidents as well as state presidents have selected heart disease as their President’s Projects. GFWC Alabama selected heart disease as one of its President’s Project, and the Book Lovers Study Club participated. More than $10,000 was raised by Alabama clubs.

This Valentine’s Day, contribute to the American Heart Association in honor of your loved ones.

The American Heart Association was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists as a professional society for doctors. American Heart Month began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease.

In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the first American Heart Month in the United States.

Why is American Heart Month important?

It reminds us to take care of our hearts and motivates us to examine our health habits and risks.

It also promotes heart health education and what steps to take to improve heart health.

Heart attacks can be silent. One in five heart attacks occurs without the person even knowing they had one.

Women may experience different symptoms than men. These include pain in the back, arm, neck or shoulder; nausea; fatigue; shortness of breath; and vomiting.

Facts I learned researching this topic include that diet soda raises heart attack risk. If you drink one or more diet sodas a day, your chances of having a heart attack are 43 percent higher than those who drink regular soda or none at all.

Also, heart attacks are more likely to occur on Monday mornings than other days of the week. Scientists attribute this to the disruption of the circadian rhythm over the weekend, which leads to increased blood pressure and changes to the nervous system.

We need to use this month to take extra care of our heart health and help those who already suffer from heart diseases.

Malone is lifestyles columnist for the Franklin County Times.