CHENANGO COUNTY – Area healthcare professionals at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton (top photo) and Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (bottom photo) painted the town red in participation of national 'Go Red for Women' campaign held last Friday by wearing red in recognition of women’s heart disease. The nationwide event was held to create awareness and provide education, to employees and guests, on the importance of heart disease prevention and management.

The annual event that began in 2003 stemmed from the recognition that heart disease in women had been grossly overlooked due to being stigmatized as a 'men's disease' – a myth that many still believe to this day.

A National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute study indicates that in the U.S. alone, one in four women die from heart disease. In fact, coronary heart disease – the most common type of heart disease – is the number one killer of both men and women alike.

Now in its twelfth year, the wear red day is held on the first Friday in February every year to raise awareness about heart disease being the number one killer of women, along with encouraging healthy lifestyle changes that promote heart health.