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Thousands wear red to promote women's heart health

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Heart disease kills one woman every 80 seconds. That's why thousands wore red on Friday.

It was to raise awareness for women's heart health. Ribbons flowers and fashion were part of an annual luncheon at VMP Senior Community Club.

Ladies showed off red outfits from Kohl's for the "Go Red" Luncheon. The goal is to remind people that heart disease is the number one killer for women.

Keynote speaker Cardiologist Dr. Patrycja Galazka with St. Luke's Cardio-Vascular Services said, "The American Heart Association just published recent data that shows women still lagging in mortality behind men."

Women's heart attack symptoms are often not just chest pain. They can include neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal pain.

There can be shortness of breath, pain in one or both arms, nausea, sweating, dizziness and fatigue.

Galazka says more younger women are succumbing to heart disease.

"Especially women who are less than 55. There's an increase in cardiovascular mortality among women," Galazka said.

She told the crowd that heart disease is "under- studied, under-reported and under-diagnosed" in women.

But with events like VMP's "Go Red" campaigns more lives are likely to be saved.