William H. Frist: “in a final note, tomorrow, February 4--I mention this because we will not be in session tomorrow--is called National…”

“in a final note, tomorrow, February 4--I mention this because we will not be in session tomorrow--is called National Wear Red Day. So I put my red tie on a little bit earlier, and I will be wearing it tomorrow because tomorrow all across the country men and women will be wearing this red color of dress, or pant suit, or tie, or maybe jackets, all to raise awareness for heart disease in women. A lot of people do not realize that this year more women will die of heart disease than men. People think heart disease, unfortunately, is a men's disease. More women will die of heart disease than men. It is true this year, last year, the year before that--all the way back to 1984. It is a fact. Last week, I had the pleasure of joining WomenHeart, which is the Nation's only patient advocacy organization for women with heart disease. I shared my experiences with them as a heart surgeon, as a heart and lung transplant surgeon, and the importance of awareness of early detection and prevention and treatment. It is not a 'man's disease' and it is not an 'elderly disease.' It is a disease that affects all people. There are over 8 million women nationwide who have heart disease right this very second. That is more than the number of women--if you added them together--in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Women who experience heart problems--it is interesting--die at a higher rate after their first heart attack than men.”