(NAPSA)—Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, yet many women aren’t aware of this or don’t know what they can do to lower their risk of developing it. The Heart Truth campaign, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and supported by Diet Coke, equips women with information to take action against heart disease. Learning the facts and main- taining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent. The steps people take now, like following a heart healthy eating plan and being physically active, can have a big impact on their future. Heidi Klum is joining Diet Coke for the second year as its ambassador in support of The Heart Truth campaign. Klum designed a limited-edition Diet Coke Red Dress Charm in the shape of the iconic Red Dress symbolizing women’s heart health that she will wear on the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards. “I am proud to once again be part of this great cause,” said Klum. “I am happy that I can help raise awareness by participating in the campaign, designing the new charm and getting the word out. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the country and I want every woman to know it andget tested.” Encrusted in rubies and diamonds, the charm is inspired by the Red Dress and shaped like an hourglass to remind womenit is time to get educated and to take action toward achieving a healthier heart. Consumers will have the chance to win one of 10 limitededition Diet Coke Red Dress Charms through the Diet Coke Red Dress Charm Sweepstakes on DietCoke.com from January 26 to April 30, 2009. Heart Health Tips from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Don’t smoke and,if you do, quit. Women who smokearetwoto six times morelikely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmoking women. Smoking also boosts the risk of stroke and cancer. Aim for a healthy weight.It's importantfor a long, vigorouslife. Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths. Get moving. Make a commitmentto be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferablyall, days of the week. Eat for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and moderate in totalfat. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains andfat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.Also include lean meats,poultry, fish, beans and nutsin yourdiet. Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check yourblood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides) and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbersthat are not normal. @ The Heart Truth Road Show will tour six U.S. cities to continue to raise awareness of the impor- tance of women’s heart health. These free public events will fea- ture the one-of-a-kind red dresses worn on the runwayby celebrated women at the Diet Coke-spon- sored Red Dress Collection Fashion Show in New York, as well as provide heart health screenings and educational materials. Consumers will also see The Heart Truth and Red Dress logos on more than 6 billion Diet Coke packages and through retail programs at Target, Publix, Kroger, SuperValu, Safeway and CVS among manyothers. For more information, visit www.DietCoke.com.
