NORWICH – Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Chenango County and the United States, and to bring that issue to light, the Chenango Health Network will be hosting a “Go Red Chenango Heart Festival” from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday in West Side Park, Norwich.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease killed more than 652,000 people in the United States in 2005, accounting for more than 27 percent of all U.S. deaths. Risk factors for heart disease include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity and smoking. According to the CDC, approximately 37 percent of adults exhibit two or more of those risk factors.

According to Stephanie Miller, the event coordinator, the CHN has held a women’s health festival for several years, but this is the first year the event will focus on heart health. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America for women and men,” Miller said. She explained that many women do not realize they are at risk for the disease. “We’re trying to get the message out.”