It’s time to trade in the Kean University blue for red in support of women’s health. Join the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) at Women’s Heart Health Awareness Day as they inform the Kean community of heart disease in women.

The CLS will host Women’s Heart Health Awareness Day on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Miron Student Center (MSC) Atrium. Students are invited to stop by for some information and snacks that are heart-healthy. Attendees can enjoy some jump rope, a physical activity of some sort like Zumba and a CPR table. There will also be a self-made CLS heart-healthy recipe book students can have. Some of the heart-healthy snacks up for grabs include nuts, dark chocolate and select fruit. .

National Wear Red Day began in 2003 when the American Heart Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, realized that heart disease was being overlooked in women. Annually, Wear Red Day takes place on the first Friday of February, which this year falls on February 5, 2016.

Women should be sure to pay attention and take care of their heart and health across the board as heart disease and stroke is the leading cause of death in women. Thanks to the efforts put forth for the Go Red campaign, the importance of women’s health has not gone unnoticed, leading to many to make lifestyle changes. Take a look at the campaign’s success as reported by the American Heart Association:

• Exercise has increased by more than 50 percent of women.

• Diets have changed for 6 out of 10 women.

• Cholesterol levels have checked by more than 40% of women.

• Heart health plans were established for more than one third of women.

• Daily, approximately 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke.

Planning on wearing red in support of informing the public of heart health in women? Make sure to show even more support by taking pictures and sharing on social media, adding #GoRedWearRed people on multiple platforms can be made aware.

More information on Women’s Heart Health Awareness Day can be made available by visiting the CLS office in MSC room 219, calling (908)737-5170 or emailing serve@kean.edu.

Interested in learning more about the campaign? Visit www.goredforwomen.org.