Googling By Numbers

Valentine’s Day is coming and I. AM. PUMPED

But that’s not why I’m wearing red today… No I’m not trying to send a message my secret admirer, if I had one.

Nope, I’m channeling Mrs Claus today because it’s National Wear Red Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about women’s heart disease.

You cannot imagine how happy I was when I saw “wear red 2010″ on Google Trends this morning.

Someone somewhere, or a hell of a lot of someones somewhere to be precise, cared enough about heart disease to Google it… or maybe they just wanted to know why everyone around them was wearing red! But either way, it’s always an encouraging sign when people are Googling things that actually matter.

Unbeknown to many, heart disease is the number 1 killer among American women. It usually occurs in women over 40, and is more common after menopause.

But that doesn’t mean younger women are off the hook!

The American Heart Association urges women in their 20’s to take good care of their heart if they want to avoid future problems later. This means getting out and exercising. Eating a healthy diet… torture right? So close to Valentine’s and all. Reducing stress. And, no surprises here, quitting smoking… (here’s a link to more heart healthy tips)

I know everyone always goes on about how young people feel like their invincible (I certainly don’t… I try to touch my toes and my bones creak like I’m 80… oii) and never worry about death (again not me… I am traumatised by the idea) but it’s kinda true.

We don’t think about the consequences of our actions and that’s one of the things Wear Red Day 2010 is trying to do.

They don’t just want women over 40 to get regular health and heart checks.

And they don’t just want to reduce heart disease and stroke risk by 25% this year.

They also want women of all ages to go out, get informed and do everything they can to prevent heart break, physically not emotionally (I’m sorry, it’s so close to Valentine’s Day that I can’t help the romantic puns).

So please do your bit.

Wear red for women today.

Actually, don’t just wear red today… wear red for the rest of February (it is American Heart Month after all) and visit the American Heart Association website to find out how to become a better, healthier you.