Spirit of St. Louis highlights National Wear Red Day to spotlight women’s cardiovascular health risks

A local call to wear red on Feb. 6 aligns with national heart-health awareness efforts

Spirit of St. Louis is urging residents and employees across the St. Louis region to wear red this Friday, February 6, 2026, to raise awareness of women’s cardiovascular health. The message coincides with National Wear Red Day, observed on the first Friday in February, and with American Heart Month, which is recognized throughout February.

The annual observance is tied to the broader Go Red for Women initiative, which has worked since 2004 to address gaps in awareness and clinical care related to cardiovascular disease in women. Health organizations leading the campaign describe cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death for women in the United States and emphasize that risk can begin early in adulthood.

Why the campaign focuses on women

Cardiovascular disease can present differently in women than in men, and national awareness efforts have increasingly emphasized recognition of risk factors and symptoms, routine prevention, and timely care. Campaign materials stress that a visible, low-barrier action such as wearing red is intended to spark conversations that lead to practical steps: knowing personal risk, understanding family history, and discussing prevention with clinicians.

Local organizers in St. Louis have continued building a community-based approach around the Go Red for Women movement, including leadership and fundraising structures that support educational outreach and research-backed programs. In recent years, the initiative has also focused on improving how women are diagnosed and treated by drawing attention to persistent disparities in care.

What National Wear Red Day is asking people to do

• Wear red on Friday, February 6, to show support and make the issue visible in workplaces and schools.
• Use the day as a prompt to review key health numbers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
• Encourage conversations among family members about cardiovascular history and risk.
• Support community programs that fund education, prevention efforts, and research in women’s heart health.

National Wear Red Day has become a widely recognized moment each February to amplify awareness of heart disease and stroke risks for women.

What comes next after the color

Public health messaging around National Wear Red Day consistently frames visibility as an entry point rather than an endpoint. While the campaign’s symbol is simple, organizers link it to concrete outcomes: increasing recognition that cardiovascular disease is a major health threat for women, encouraging preventive care, and supporting efforts to close longstanding gaps in research and treatment.

For St. Louis-area residents, Friday’s call to wear red is positioned as a community-wide reminder that cardiovascular risk is not limited to older adults and that prevention and early detection remain central to reducing avoidable illness and death.