Episode Details

Samanta Rux and Chris Willis joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about healthy eating and staying active for a healthy heart during National Heart Month. OSF HealthCare is honoring National Wear Red Day on February 6th. Watch the OSF Saint Luke Facebook page to post photos of you wearing red to honor American Heart Month. Chris Willis, Clinical Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Education Specialist at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center, is offering advice for those looking to improve their health this year. Drawing on 27 years of experience—and achievements like twice completing the Hawaiian Ironman—Chris highlights the power of setting realistic goals. She encourages individuals to skip fad diets and instead focus on making small, sustainable adjustments in daily routines. These incremental changes, Chris says, build lifelong habits that lead to lasting results. Whether it's healthier food choices or more daily movement, Chris believes practical steps are the foundation of long-term well-being. 

February 6, 2026, marks National Wear Red Day, a key event during American Heart Month focused on raising awareness about heart disease—the leading cause of death for women. Supporters across the nation are encouraged to wear red clothing, accessories, or lipstick, and to share information and resources about prevention. The American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign also encourages donations to fund research and advocacy. Participants often post photos on social media with the hashtags #WearRedDay and #OurHearts. National Wear Red Day highlights the importance of heart health, as more than 40% of women in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease.