(ARA) – Ask any woman what essentials she always carries with her, and you’re likely to get a long and varied list: cellphone, keys, makeup, wallet; those are just the basics. But comedienne, talk show host and mother Joy Behar has recently added a new item to her list of “must-haves.” It’s a small silver-colored tote and key chain that’s slightly smaller than a lipstick, and its contents could one day help save her life.

“We have a long history of heart disease in my family. My mother had a heart attack at 50, and her brothers and parents also died from heart disease,” says Behar. “With so much heart disease in my family, I know that I have to be prepared in case I have a sudden heart attack.”

In her tote, Behar keeps aspirin, so she could chew it in the event of a heart attack to help reduce damage to her heart after dialing 911. Experts agree that aspirin, when taken as directed by a doctor during a suspected heart attack, can help reduce the risk of death by 23 percent.

“I keep my pill tote clipped to my ID badge for work so that I always have it with me,” says Behar.

Behar and her daughter Eve have partnered with the makers of Bayer Aspirin and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease to encourage women to know their risk for heart disease and to be ready when a heart attack strikes by calling 911 and taking aspirin as directed by a doctor. As part of the campaign, Bayer is offering a limited edition pill tote at IAmProHeart.com for a $5 donation to WomenHeart, and Bayer will match each donation up to a maximum of $100,000. Limit five (5) per household, while supplies last. Donations help fund educational programming and outreach that enable women with heart disease to share their experiences and personal stories of courage and survival with other women who have or are at risk for developing heart disease.

Betsy Abdulghani is just one of the more than 30,000 WomenHeart members across the country, and she had her own close call with heart disease at the early age of 42.

“I am active and have no family history of heart disease,” says Abdulghani. “Six months after a checkup, I began experiencing tightness in my chest that felt like indigestion and pain in my right arm and hand. I took aspirin just in case it was a heart attack. Two days later, I saw my doctor and was rushed to the hospital where tests showed I’d experienced a heart attack and was on the verge of a second heart attack. My doctor discovered that one of my arteries was completely blocked.”

After receiving three stents and being placed on an aspirin regimen, Abdulghani is now a WomenHeart Champion, a group of WomenHeart members specially trained to advocate for important programs, awareness and resources in support of other women with heart disease.

“The unfortunate truth is that heart disease is still the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and too often the signs of a heart attack in women can be subtle and go unnoticed or undertreated,” says Karol Watson, M.D., chair of the WomenHeart Scientific Advisory Council and co-director of the Program in Preventative Cardiology at UCLA. “That’s why it’s so important to have advocates like Joy, Eve and Betsy helping to raise awareness in women, encouraging preparedness and helping to save women’s lives.”

Dr. Watson explains that heart attack symptoms that women may experience include:

* Chest pressure, tightness and heaviness

* Pain in the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms

* Lightheadedness or faintness

* Paleness, sweating or nausea

* Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain

Studies have shown that women are less likely than men to survive a heart attack, making it even more important for women to recognize these symptoms.

For Behar’s daughter Eve, preparation is just one way that she and her mother are reversing the trend of heart disease in the family. “We encourage each other to eat healthier, exercise more often and get regular health checkups,” she says. “The pill tote makes for a great conversation starter if you’re not already having this talk with your mom, and I’m glad that she has her aspirin nearby in case she ever needs it.”

“Everyone’s so busy these days,” adds Behar. “We’ve taken care of our children for all of these years, and now we need them to look out for us. Women have to put their own health first for a change.”