The American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, together with its signature movement, Go Red for Women®, and local sponsor, Ascension Saint Thomas, encourages you to 'wear red' on National Wear Red Day®, February 7, 2020, to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease: women's greatest health threat.

Cardiovascular disease kills one woman every 80 seconds and takes more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease and stroke also impact the lives of one in three women - or a third of mothers, sisters and friends - and cardiac events are on the rise in young women in their 20s.

"National Wear Red Day provides a special platform for celebrating the investment of energy and time that our Ascension Saint Thomas and Saint Thomas Heart caregivers make daily as they offer high-quality and highly personalized care to the women of Middle Tennessee," said Michelle Robertson, Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension Saint Thomas. "Among our clinicians are many examples of strong female leaders who can uniquely relate to the women whom the American Heart Association works tirelessly to serve and educate."

While 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through modest changes to diet and lifestyle, disparities in care for women's heart and brain health continue to exist. In addition, heart disease and stroke symptoms can present differently in women compared to men. Women also make up less than half of all clinical trial participants globally, with women of color only accounting for three percent. As a result, more research is needed to close gender disparity gaps when it comes to cardiovascular research, treatment and care.

The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement, nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally sponsored by Ascension Saint Thomas, encourage you to show your support by wearing red and giving on February 7, 2020 and through the month of February to help save lives of women around the world. Here's how you can join Go Red for Women in support of women's health:

• Wear red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease - the leading cause of death in women. The iconic Red Dress Pin and other apparel at is available at ShopHeart.org.

• Make a donation to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association at WearRedDay.org.

• CVS Health is the national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement and will be offering no-cost heart-health screenings at MinuteClinic® locations nationwide every Thursday in February.

• Sign up to participate in the lifesaving clinical trial research through the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement and Verily's Project Baseline: Research Goes Red initiative.

• Join the conversation by using #NashGoRed on social media.

The evening of February 7, as the sun sets, be sure to catch Nashville buildings and iconic landmarks light up red to support heart disease awareness: Adventure Science Center, Ascend Amphitheater, Batman Building, Belmont Fountains, Bridgestone Area, Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, Metro Nashville Courthouse, Nashville Farmers' Market, Nissan Stadium, Saint Thomas Midtown, Saint Thomas West, Saint Thomas Rutherford, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tennessee State Capitol, just to name a few!

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman's greatest health threat. To treat, beat and prevent heart disease and stroke, women should understand family health history, know their five key personal health numbers - these help determine risk for heart disease and stroke: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index - and make healthy behavior changes like moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.