With Valentine’s Day coming up, love, hearts and all things red seem to be around every corner. These festive items can be a perfect reminder to focus on heart health. Fittingly, February is American Heart Month.
First federally recognized in 1963, American Heart Month aims to bring awareness of the dangers of heart disease. A staggering one in four deaths are caused by heart disease every year.
Hospitals and healthcare clinics around America celebrate American Heart Month by highlighting the importance of living a heart-healthy life to their patients. Many hospitals and healthcare providers also hold free screenings and/or awareness events throughout the month of February.
In addition, American Heart Month brings to light all the amazing work that researchers, physicians and public health professionals are doing to prevent, treat and cure the array of cardiovascular disease seen throughout the population. American Heart Association raises and donates millions of dollars each year to heart disease and stroke research. They also fund community awareness activities and resources to educate communities all over the nation.
“Heart disease is still the number one killer of men and women. That’s why the American Heart Association works to create a community of health every single day,” says Dr. Adam Prudoff, a cardiologist at Vanderbilt Heart at Williamson Medical Center. “Right now, more than 2,200 Americans die of heart disease daily. Let’s work together to change that.”
Believe it or not, a few simple lifestyle changes can go a long way to help prevent heart disease. In fact, 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable by making small lifestyle changes. You don’t have to be discouraged by the thought of trying to incorporate intense, daily workouts. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of physical activity per week. That’s only thirty minutes five times per week. Encourage daily walks or group exercise sessions with friends or family to get bodies moving and active while holding each other accountable.
Changes to your diet don’t have to be difficult or drastic either. Simply adding a little to spice to your life by opting for herbs or spices, as opposed to salt, to season your food is one daily step that’s easy to incorporate. You can also get creative when adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Simple swaps like cauliflower crust in lieu of normal flour/yeast crust can turn into a new family favorite while also improving your health.
In addition to making small lifestyle changes, a great way to get involved in Heart Month is to join your local healthcare providers and American Heart Association staff and volunteers by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, the official kick-off of the month. This year, Wear Red Day falls on Friday, February 1st. Spread the word on all your social media platforms! Use the hashtag #NashGoRed and show the world a picture of you and your coworkers wearing red or getting out for a heart-healthy walk.
There are many resources to get more knowledgeable about heart health. To gain more insight into heart health, prevention and how else you can get involved in the community, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.
