Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States each year—that’s one out of every four deaths. Heart disease is a major problem.

But, heart disease is preventable and it’s controllable. That’s the good news.

On Saturday, the Pike County Heart Association will celebrate the “good news” about heart disease with the annual Red Cap Survivors Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the First Baptist Church Activities Building in Troy.

Jim O’Neal, event chair, said 200 invitations have been mailed to local survivors of heart disease. Each invitation is an acknowledgment of a victory over the disease that claims so many lives each year.

“We have much to celebrate but we also have much to do in the fight against heart disease and stroke,” O’Neal said. “On Saturday, we want to celebrate the lives of those who have survived heart disease and honor those victories.

“We mailed invitations to the heart disease survivors whose names we have on file but all survivors of heart disease and stroke are invited. We don’t have all of the names and we want to make sure that every survivor of heart disease is invited. We want every survivor to come.”

O’Neal said the spouses of the survivors are also invited to share this time of celebration with them.

“You don’t have to call for reservations, just come,” he said.

A heart-healthy breakfast will be served to all the guests and Terri Williams, a stroke survivor, will be the featured after-breakfast speaker.

“Terri is the wife of local attorney Joel Williams and she has an inspiring story to tell,” O’Neal said. “We are looking forward to hearing Terri and spending this time together.”

The 2013 Pike County Heart Association’s Red Cap Survivors Breakfast will last about an hour.

Survivors are asked to wear their Red Caps to the breakfast on Saturday. Red Caps will be awarded to the survivors of heart disease who have not already received a cap.

The annual Pike County Heart Association’s Survivors Breakfast is one of hundreds of Red Cap Survivors Breakfasts that are held all across the United States during the month of February, which is Heart Month.

The annual Pike County Heart Walk will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Troy Recreation Center. Everyone is encouraged to make plans to attend.