Photo by Jim Covington George Zara, president and CEO Of Providence Hospitals, Connie Gardner, senior vice president of the American Heart Association, and Gov. Mark Sanford attend Red Dress Rally at the State House. The fifth annual Red Dress Rally sponsored by the Providence Heart & Vascular Institute was held February 3, 2009, to call greater attention to the danger of heart disease among women.

Women wore red dresses for the occasion. The day was dedicated to the issue of heart disease in women. Representatives from the American Heart Association and Providence's Red Dress Ambassadors, women who have volunteered to spread the word about the importance of this critical health issue were on hand to share their personal experiences.

"February is National Heart Month, and we believe the Red Dress Rally is a great way to call attention to the issue of heart disease," says George Zara, president & CEO of Providence Hospitals. "We want women to understand that heart disease is preventable and controllable."

Heart disease is not just a man's disease. While most women assume that breast cancer is their chief health threat, heart disease actually kills nearly 12 times as many women as breast cancer. Nationwide heart disease kills half a million women each year, compared to 42,000 for breast cancer.