February is Heart Awareness Month, and today people are encouraged to wear red to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US. Statistics show heart disease kills a woman every minute, and in Michigan,, 41 women are killed by heart disease every day. Heart attacks and strokes have killed more women than men over the last 27 years.

One Mid-Michigan woman is making it her mission to bring awareness to heart disease, after a close call.

"Two years ago I had a stint placed in my left main artery," said Dotti Pearson, with the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. "My cardiologist told me I was very lucky because I was poised to have a major heart attack and that just kind of woke me up. And I thought I didn't know that much about heart disease."

Pearson says many women think that their number one concern is breast cancer, but breast cancer will take 40,000 lives this year, and heart disease will take 400,000.

"That's why 'Go Red' is out there," Pearson said. "It's a call to action to get women to understand their risks and make changes to their lifestyle."

Those changes could save your life. While the disease is deadly, it is highly preventable. Experts suggest adding exercise into your daily routine, choosing healthy food options, and knowing your family history. The number one risk factor for heart disease is smoking.

"If you're a smoker - stop," Pearson advises. "And stop again and again until it works."

It's also important to know your body. Experts say some symptoms of heart disease can be shortness of breath, pain in the upper back and even being overly tired. Pearson says it's important women become their own advocates, since heart disease is often overlooked.

"There are women being sent home for indigestion, acid reflux, stress - anything but heart disease," Pearson explained.

With a smart diet and exercise, the American Heart Association says women can decrease their risk of heart disease by over 80 percent.

"Just the thought that we're losing these wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters," said Pearson. "We're important. We matter."

Hundreds of thousands of women and men have made the commitment to beat heart disease, and you can do the same. You can start by wearing red today.