CHARLOTTE — February is American Heart Month and Friday is National Wear Red Day – a day to recognize the effects of heart disease on women specifically.
The American Heart Association says wearing red on Friday is a simple step to help raise awareness and encourage everyone to take better care of their heart health.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States.
Channel 9 asked a Novant Health cardiologist his best advice for all patients.
“You should ask your physician how is your blood pressure, how is your cholesterol, are your sugars being monitored regularly,” Dr. Sameer Chaudhari said. “And if you have elevated sugars such as with diabetes or high blood pressure, are they being addressed properly?”
Dr. Chaudhari said you should also ask about “potential tests which can detect underlying silent blockages, or silent heart disease, such as CT calcium score.”
Overall, Dr. Chaudhari said the best medicine is a healthy lifestyle: 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week, five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and limit your intake of salt, fat, and carbohydrates.
WATCH BELOW: Atrium Health staff gets warning to stay out of ICE’s way
©2025 Cox Media Group
