Women wear red for a healthy heart - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Women are wearing red Friday in an effort to raise awareness for a healthy heart. Heart disease is the number one killer of women.

A local heart attack survivor, Laurie Dougherty, a wife and mother to seven, shared her own personal experience at the Go Red for Women luncheon in South Sioux City Nebraska.

She says, she did not have any symptoms leading up to the heart attack. Now she's sharing her experience to warn people about the disease. She says, thousands of lives, and outcomes could change if people learn more about heart disease, and make lifestyle changes to prevent it.

"I would encourage people, all kinds of people, to see their health care provider, to know what their risk factors are, and to try to lower that and get good numbers with their cholesterol, lower their blood pressure, to lower the stress in their life," Laurie Dougherty, speaker and heart attack survivor said.

She also says it's crucial to get enough exercise. The American Heart Association created the Go Red For Women campaign in 2004, as a social initiative to encourage women to learn about their heart health.

KTIV's Kristie VerMulm emceed the event.