An Excerpt from the White House Web Page

As a wife and mother, Mrs. Bush recognizes the urgency for women to make a commitment to a lifestyle that promotes lifelong health, not only for every woman's own benefit but also for the benefit of family and loved ones. Mrs. Bush believes it is especially important to educate all women about the risks of heart disease, breast cancer and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Heart Disease
Many people are surprised to learn that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Although heart disease deaths have been decreasing, more than 650,000 Americans die of the condition, and approximately half of them are women. Less than half of all women are aware of the risks associated with not taking preventive action against this disease. Mrs. Bush serves as ambassador for The Heart Truth campaign and its Red Dress Project to raise women's awareness and encourage them to take action.

The Heart Truth is a national campaign sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2003, NHLBI introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness, to remind women to take care of their hearts.

New data from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) shows that American women are fighting back against heart disease.
Awareness Of Heart Disease As The #1 Killer Of Women Is On The Rise. In 2000, only 34 percent of American women were aware that heart disease is their #1 killer. By 2005, awareness had increased to 55 percent of women.

Fewer Women Are Dying of Heart Disease. Of the women who died in the United States in 2003, 1 in 3 died of heart disease. Preliminary data for 2004 (the most recent year for which data are available) show that 1 in 4 deaths in women was due to heart disease, a decrease of nearly 17,000 deaths.

Data Shows A Steady Decline In The Number of Heart Disease Deaths In American Women. Deaths have gone down in each of the five years from 2000 to 2004, a consecutive yearly decline which has not occurred before.

Heart disease is often preventable. By leading a heart-healthy lifestyle-eating wisely, getting physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, seeing a physician for routine preventive screenings, and controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes - people can reduce their risk for heart disease by as much as 82 percent.

The first Friday each February is National "Wear Red" Day, when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart health.

Breast Cancer
Mrs. Bush also wants all women to know of the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Too many women around the world are still too embarrassed or too uninformed to seek the treatment they need in time to save their lives. Some women are not aware of what they can do to take charge of their own health, such as having a regular mammogram and doing regular breast self-exams. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Mrs. Bush urges mothers, sisters, daughters and friends to go on group outings to get mammograms.