From infants to centenarians, everyone in Newtown is called to "Go Red" on February 3 - an effort that just might end up saving the life of someone they love.

On that day, and in partnership with The Newtown Bee, the Newtown Health District will be encouraging all local residents to don anything from a red accessory to fully outfitting themselves in red attire, to remind all women about the proportionately greater risk they face for cardiovascular disease and heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

February has long been associated with the American Heart Association's (AHA) "Heart Month," during which promotions of heart health, recognition of heart attack symptoms, life-saving CPR, and other related initiatives are escalated. To that end, local health officials have taken it upon themselves to play a greater role in protecting community members from heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

To wit, several years ago the Connecticut Department of Public Health designated Newtown as a "Heart Safe Community" for its collaborative and comprehensive focus on preventing heart disease and its related traumas. It is a designation that Health District Director Donna Culbert is particularly proud of.

"Heart health has been the Health District's drum beat for years," she said. "We know heart disease is the number one killer and we know if we take steps to improve our heart health, the rewards have an amazing ripple effect - better overall health."

In addition to a healthier heart, Ms Culbert said she likes the spillover effect that healthy heart habits like exercise and diet contribute toward helping prevent or control diabetes, obesity, and even many types of cancer.

"The Newtown Health District and the Newtown Visiting Nurse Association [VNA] want Newtown to Go Red for Women's heart health," she said. "Women's heart health is prioritized because for years women's heart health, and heart disease, was underemphasized, and too often unrecognized. For decades, heart disease was thought to be a man's disease, and women's heart attack symptoms can be different than men's."

Secretive Symptoms

According to the AHA, chest pain is often not a symptom for women. Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

Because these symptoms vary greatly between men and women, they are often misunderstood. While a telltale sign of a heart attack could be extreme chest pain, women are somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Other symptoms women should look out for are dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, and extreme fatigue.

Other misconceptions include:

*Heart disease is for old people. But heart disease affects women of all ages. For younger women, the combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent. While the risks do increase with age, things like overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can cause plaque to accumulate and lead to clogged arteries later in life. Even if someone leads a completely healthy lifestyle, being born with an underlying heart condition can be a risk factor.

*Heart disease does not affect women who are fit. Even a yoga-loving, marathon-running workout fiend cannot completely eliminate a risk for heart disease. Factors like cholesterol, eating habits, and smoking can counterbalance other healthy habits. Someone can be thin and have high cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends getting cholesterol checked at age 20, or earlier, if there is family history of heart disease. Every woman should keep an eye on her blood pressure - even if it is only during a routine check-up.

Women might be more inclined to think cancer poses a greater health threat; the fact is one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, and heart disease claims the lives of one in three - roughly one death each minute in 2016.

The good news is, with education and action, 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented. So the Go Red For Women movement also advocates for more research and swifter action for women's heart health, for this very reason.

During the balance of Heart Month, the newspaper, health district, and the VNA will collaborate in promoting and hosting events to help residents understand their risks, as well as steps they can take to enjoy better heart health.

"We're hoping everyone in Newtown marks down the date, and heads to their closets and dressers to find something red to wear on February 3," Ms Culbert said.