Heart Truth

The Heart Truth is a national awareness and prevention campaign about heart disease in women sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Heart Truth Professional Education Website provides information for clinicians and educators about the prevention of heart disease in women including:

• Links to consumer information and patient education materials
• Links to evidence-based references for clinical decision making
• Educational materials suitable for medical and nursing students, physician assistant students, primary practice physicians, and other health care providers
• Links to web-based CME learning modules about heart disease and women

The Heart Truth campaign includes the following three components: professional education, patient education, and public awareness.

Professional Education

The U.S. DHHS Office on Women's Health has collaborated with the NHLBI to address the continuing education and training needs of health professionals about heart disease in women. A team of national experts from the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health and the National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health developed an array of educational materials for use by educators, practicing health professionals and students. These materials include self study modules offering free CME/CEU credits and other resources which are available on this web site.

Patient Education

The Heart Truth campaign offers individuals and organizations many easy to use materials, resources, and tools to help women learn about their risk of heart disease, and to take action to lower that risk.

Public Awareness: The Red Dress Symbol

The Heart Truth first introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness at Fashion Week in 2003. Since its introduction, women around the country have rallied around the Red Dress and are celebrating the cause and taking ownership of the symbol.