THE HEART TRUTH®

forWomen

THE HEART TRUTH®: 

SERIOUS MESSAGES 

ABOUT WOMEN’S 

HEART HEALTH

The Heart Truth®, sponsored by the National 

Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part 

of the National Institutes of Health, is a national 

program for women that raises awareness about 

heart disease and its risk factors and educates 

and motivates them to take action to prevent 

the disease. Through the program, launched in 

2002, the NHLBI leads the Nation in a landmark 

heart health movement embraced by millions 

who share the common goal of better heart 

health for all women.

The Heart Truth is primarily targeted to women 

ages 40 to 60, the time when a woman’s risk 

for heart disease begins to increase. However, 

it’s never too early—or too late—to take action 

to protect your heart health, since heart disease 

develops over time and its risk factors can start 

at a young age—even in the teen years.

WHAT’S A RED DRESS

GOT TO DO WITH IT?

The centerpiece of The Heart Truth is the Red 

Dress®

, which was created by the NHLBI and 

introduced as the national symbol for women 

and heart disease awareness in 2002. The Red 

Dress®

 is a powerful red alert that inspires 

women to learn more about their personal risk 

for heart disease and take action to protect 

their heart health.

NHLBI RESOURCES

The NHLBI’s website, www.nhlbi.nih.gov, and The 

Heart Truth Web pages, www.hearttruth.gov (English) 

and www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/

espanol (Spanish), offer many interactive tools and 

resources for individuals and communities, including: 

Educational materials for women about heart disease

Speaker’s Kit (English and Spanish) with everything

needed to make a 1-hour presentation on heart disease

Online toolkits: The Heart Truth, National Wear 

Red Day®

, and Faith-Based

The Heart Truth image library, videos, digital 

infographics, and Web banners

The Heart Truth logo usage guidelines

Deliciously Healthy Eating—Web pages featuring

healthy recipes, tools, and cooking resources: 

www.healthyeating.nhlbi.nih.gov

NHLBI’s Health Topics resource—featuring sciencebased, plain-language information related to heart, 

lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders: 

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/by-alpha

Printer’s files are available for many NHLBI 

publications by contacting the NHLBI Health 

Information Center at NHLBIinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov

or 301–592–8573.

Join fans of The Heart Truth on Facebook 

to pledge your commitment to living a heart 

healthy lifestyle. www.facebook.com/hearttruth

Follow The Heart Truth on Twitter. 

www.twitter.com/thehearttruth

Find The Heart Truth on Pinterest. 

www.pinterest.com/thehearttruth

NIH Publication No. 14-5206

Originally printed February 2003 

Revised July 2006, August 2013, May 2014, June 2014, December 2016

The Heart Truth, its logo, Red Dress, and The Red Dress are 

registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS). National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of 

HHS and the American Heart Association.
THE HEART TRUTH®

: 

HEART DISEASE 

IS THE #1 CAUSE OF 

DEATH IN WOMEN

The Heart Truth® is that heart disease is the 

leading cause of death and disability among 

women in the United States. But there’s good 

news. You have the power to take action 

and lower your chance of developing heart 

disease and its risk factors. Start today. Make a 

commitment to find out your risk for heart disease 

and take steps toward a heart healthy lifestyle.

Cindy'

s Story

The power of sisterhood enabled Cindy to transform 

her life and health. In February 2012, she joined 

Follow the Fifty, a Heart Truth-funded program in 

northeast Connecticut with her daughter. Together, 

along with 200 other women, they pledged to become 

models of heart health. In 9 months, Cindy lost 77 

pounds, lowered her body mass index by 11 points, 

and decreased her blood pressure to 110/72. Cindy’s 

heart health pledge has become an oath for life.

Theresa's Story

Theresa watched her mother suffer a heart attack at 

age 52. Thirty years later, her mother died of a second 

heart attack. By changing her lifestyle, Theresa’s 

mother prolonged her life and taught Theresa the 

significance of understanding her risk factors for heart 

disease. Theresa, who is now 60, manages her high 

blood pressure through regular physical activity and 

healthy eating. She shares the lessons she’s learned 

with her friends and family so they also are motivated 

to lower their risk for the disease.

Take Action: Tips for Heart Health

Don’t smoke and, if you do, quit. Talk with 

your health care provider about programs and 

products that can help you quit smoking.

Aim for a healthy weight—it is important for 

a long, vigorous life.

Get moving—make a pledge to be more 

physically active.

Plan to eat heart healthy—limit saturated and trans 

fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars. 

Learn how to manage stress and relax. 

Make Changes for a More Healthy Life

Set realistic, specific goals for a heart 

healthy lifestyle.

Act on your goals—take one step at a time.

Figure out what’s stopping you from making 

or sticking to healthy lifestyle changes. Keeping 

a record of your daily food intake and physical 

activity may help you identify barriers and inspire

you to reach your goals.

Don’t give up—get back on track when you slip up.

Reward yourself for the gains you’ve made—with 

something you like to do, not with food.

Make a plan to maintain your healthy lifestyle 

changes. Involve friends and family!

Find Out Your Personal Risk for Heart Disease 

To have a healthy heart, it is critical to know the 

risk factors for heart disease—that is, the behaviors

or conditions that increase your chance of getting 

heart disease. Having just one risk factor increases 

your chance of developing heart disease, and your 

risk skyrockets with each added risk factor. 

They are:

Smoking

High blood pressure

High blood cholesterol

Diabetes and prediabetes

Overweight and obesity

Lack of physical activity

Unhealthy diet

Metabolic syndrome

Family history of early heart disease

Age (55 or older for women)

Preeclampsia during pregnancy

Find out your personal risk for heart disease.

Talk to your health care provider—ask to have 

your blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass 

index, and blood glucose checked.