(1/20/12) – Friday, February 3, 2012, is National Wear Red Day, when the American Heart Association encourages everyone to Go Red for Women in order to raise awareness about heart health and encourage the positive lifestyle changes that everyone can make to decrease their risk.

In recognition of Go Red Day, McLeod is hosting a free educational lunch, the Healthy Red Heart Luncheon, on Friday, February 3, 12 p.m. at the McLeod Plaza Auditorium. The guest speaker on "Women & Heart Disease" will be Dr. Jeniqua Duncan of McLeod Family Medicine Center.

Cardiovascular Disease, including heart disease and stroke, is South Carolina’s leading killer for women among all racial and ethnic groups. Historically, heart disease was considered a disease only effecting men. Now, through research and education, it is known that heart disease is the number one killer of women over the age of twenty.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease takes the lives of nearly 500,000 women each year, more than the next seven causes of death combined. This statistic translates to approximately one woman dying of cardiovascular disease every minute.

Space is limited. To register for the Healthy Red Heart Luncheon, please call McLeod Reservations & Scheduling at 777-2005 or 1-800-667-2005. Attendants are asked to come dressed in red.