Did you know that heart disease kills more Americans than all forms of cancer combined? In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. In order to beat this deadly opponent, we need to be armed with the facts. That’s why the American Heart Association focuses on education with two of its initiatives, Go Red for Women and Life’s Simple 7.

For some reason, cardiovascular disease traditionally was considered a men’s health issue, but the Go Red initiative changed all that. Red ribbons, red dress lapel pins and other red items are in abundance this time of year.

Once we raise awareness, it’s time to take action. The AHA’s new campaign, Life’s Simple 7  helps you assess areas that may need work and develop a plan of action to improve your heart health. The seven areas are:

Don’t smoke

Maintain a healthy weight

Engage in physical activity

Eat a healthy diet

Manage your blood pressure

Take charge of your cholesterol

Keep your blood sugar at healthy levels

Using a simple questionnaire called My Life Check, you can see where you stand in these areas. No matter how healthy (or unhealthy) you may think you are, there are several simple, inexpensive changes you can make to actively improve your status and reach your ideal cardiovascular health.