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National Wear Red Day Draws Attention To Women's Heart Health

By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This is Wear Red Day. February is Heart Month and the focus is on women.

"There's been more women dying of heart disease since 1984 and it continues to now."

Cardiologist Annabelle Volgman says a reason for the trend is that for many years men got heart treatments like statin drugs, and women got hormone replacement therapy until it was determined that HRT increased the risk of heart trouble.

She urges women to see a doctor for a blood test.

"Get your numbers, your blood pressure numbers, your cholesterol numbers and you glucose numbers."

And since women's heart attacks may have different symptoms than men's, Dr. Volgman says, if you feel something unusual going on in your chest, take an aspirin and call 9-1-1.

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