(Columbia) Feb. 4, 2005 - On Friday all Americans were urged to wear red for the new "Go Red" campaign aimed at raising awareness of heart disease in women.

February is National Heart Month, and Governor Mark Sanford issued a proclamation that Friday is "Wear Red Day for Awareness of Women and Heart Disease in South Carolina."

The Providence Women's Heart Center was dedicated Friday on the second floor of the Providence Hospital's downtown campus. The center is devoted to screening women for heart disease, the number one killer of women in South Carolina.

Olympic figure skater Peggy Flemming was on hand for Friday's festivities, "I lost my dad at 41-years-old, lost my younger sister at 50, had a youngest sister with triple by pass. My cholesterol is up and I take care of myself. It's in my family genetics. And you only know, if you go and get your blood done. To know what your cholesterol is."

The American Heart Association estimates heart disease kills 500,000 women in the US, more than ten times the number killed by breast cancer (42,000).

According to a report from the Department of Health and Environmental Control, cardiovascular disease the leading killer of women in South Carolina, but the American Heart Association found fewer than one in ten women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat.

• Could you be at risk for heart disease? The more factors you have for heart disease, the higher your overall risk. Major risk factors for women include:
• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure (140/90 or higher-or if you take high blood pressure medication)
• Low HDL or the good cholesterol levels
• A family history of early heart disease.
• Diabetes

Updated 7:07pm by Chris Rees