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heart. Through this campaign, I hope other women hear my story and take

steps to understand their risk for heart disease."

Michelle Smietana, of Abbott, 33-year-old heart attack victim

According to AHA, Michelle is not alone. Heart attacks strike 9,000 women younger than 45 each year.

To increase the awareness of this and other little known facts about heart disease, Dr. Sandra Burke, a scientist in the Santa Clara-based vascular division of Abbott, is dedicating her career and her free time to fighting heart disease.

"Abbott and AHA urge women to talk to their doctors about their risk of

heart disease and to start taking action to lead healthier lives."

Dr. Sandra Burke

Director, cardiovascular biology research, Abbott Vascular

In addition to raising awareness through campaigns like "Go Red," Abbott is committed to developing new drugs and medical devices to treat heart disease and related conditions. With diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical products, nutritional products and vascular stents to diagnose and treat heart disease, Abbott has one of the world's leading heart disease and vascular care businesses.

Abbott's CEO, Miles White, sent an e-mail to the company's 35,000 U.S. employees earlier today echoing this commitment.

"Abbott is in the fight against heart disease for the long haul and

through all the means at our disposal: with our diagnostic tests to

identify cardiovascular conditions, our pharmaceutical treatments to

improve patients' cardiovascular health, our nutritional products that

help to improve cardiovascular status, and our stents that relieve acute

vascular conditions by reopening blocked arteries. It's only natural that

we lend our philanthropic support and the skills and commitment of our

people, as well." <
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