Cardiovascular disease affects nearly half of all women in the United States, encompassing heart disease and stroke, with projections indicating this figure will continue to rise. To confront this leading cause of death among women, the American Heart Association, through its Go Red for Women movement, is urging nationwide participation in National Wear Red Day on February 6, 2026, and outlining four critical actions for support.
The first call to action is public awareness. Individuals are encouraged to wear red on February 6 and use social media platforms to discuss women's heart health challenges with designated hashtags. Resources for participation, including downloadable tools, are available at WearRedDay.org, while the iconic Red Dress pin and related apparel can be purchased through ShopHeart.org.
Secondly, the Association emphasizes the importance of personal health metrics. Understanding and managing four key numbers—total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index—is fundamental to assessing and reducing individual risk for heart disease and stroke. The organization advises consulting healthcare providers to interpret these numbers and develop management strategies.
A third, research-focused initiative addresses a significant gap in medical science. Despite cardiovascular disease being the number one killer of women, claiming more lives annually than all cancers combined, most clinical heart studies have historically excluded women or failed to analyze sex-specific data. The American Heart Association's Research Goes Red initiative actively recruits women across the U.S. to contribute to health research through surveys, studies, and testing new technologies aimed at improving disease management and healthcare outcomes.
The fourth pillar involves celebrating and leveraging the stories of survivors. Twelve women have been selected as national representatives for the 2026 Go Red for Women movement. By sharing their personal experiences with heart disease and stroke, these survivors aim to educate women nationwide about cardiovascular health at all life stages. Their narratives, available at goredforwomen.org/survivors, are intended to raise awareness, promote community change, and help eliminate what remains women's greatest health threat. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., volunteer president of the American Heart Association, stated that National Wear Red Day serves as a powerful reminder of the collective impact possible in changing the future of women's health.
For business and technology leaders, this coordinated public health campaign highlights the ongoing societal and economic burden of cardiovascular disease, which impacts workforce health and productivity. The push for inclusive clinical research, particularly through Research Goes Red, signals a growing market and ethical imperative for health tech and pharmaceutical companies to develop and validate solutions specifically for women. Furthermore, the widespread corporate sponsorship, notably by CVS Health, and the call for public engagement demonstrate how major health initiatives increasingly rely on public-private partnerships and digital community mobilization to drive awareness and behavioral change.
