(BPRW/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – As the economy continues to struggle, Americans will do just about anything to make their dollars stretch, and their health, too. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 2,400 Americans die from cardiovascular disease every day. In 2004, nearly 60 percent or more women have died of this deadly disease.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Minority Health reported that African American adults are more likely to die from heart disease. Minority women have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which are contributors to this fatal disease.

Fortunately, there are many things that we can do to keep this deadly disease from hitting home. Unhealthy weight is one of the biggest causes of cardiovascular disease. According to the National Blood and Heart Institute, if you lose up to 10 percent of your weight, your chances of obtaining this disease will decrease.

Next time you look in the mirror, check out those pearly whites. The American Academy of Periodontology is reporting that people with gum disease can be up to twice be likely to have cardiovascular disease.

In a recent study conducted by the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, researches found that middle-aged non-drinkers who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol saw an immediate benefit of lower cardiac disease morbidity, with no changes after four years.

Let’s join other women across the world and bring awareness by wearing red, which symbolizes the types of fruits and vegetables that we should consume. The red pigment that appears in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and cherries are powerful, disease fighting, and reduce inflammation. The next time you want something sweet, try substituting strawberries for the chocolate candies.