Celebrate American Heart Month


February is traditionally known to be the romantic month. The month for lovers, flowers, and chocolates. It seems very fitting that it is also American Heart Month. Take your time being romantic, but don’t forget to show a little love to your heart.

In 1963 American Heart Month began. It was a celebration created to raise awareness of heart disease and to encourage people to fight against it. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.” https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/FebruaryToolkit.aspx  It’s important to understand that heart disease can also be prevented!

How Is American Heart Month Celebrated?

Healthcare professionals and hospitals use this month to raise awareness of what heart disease is and how to prevent it. In their communities, different health systems wear red in unity. They also hold annual heart screenings with no charge to the patients and they host awareness and educational events where people can learn about heart disease and what steps they can take to prevent it. This is a great way for healthcare professionals to unite and get involved with the community for a great cause.

You Don’t Have To Be A Health Professional To Celebrate And Raise Awareness

Often people have been impacted by heart disease through a friend or family member and like to get involved in efforts, especially during the month of February. If you want to get involved and help your community in your own way, there are a lot of things you can do. Here are a few ideas:

    • Post about heart disease awareness and ways to prevent it on social media.
    • Make healthy heart-shaped cookies, package them with the recipe, and pass them out at a community event.
    • Host a really fun event for your age group. Serve only healthy foods and drinks and spend some time talking about why it’s so important to understand heart disease and how it can be prevented.
    • Hold a class in the community and teach how to prepare a healthy meal.

You don’t have even go out into the community to raise awareness. Start in your home or office.

    • Educate yourself about heart disease prevention so that you can start with yourself and your family and then educate others.
    • Get rid of salt and use other spices for your foods in your house.
    • Replace cooked vegetables with fresh ones for your meals.
    • Encourage your co-workers to walk around the block with you during a break.
    • Remind each other to stand up throughout the day and move a little more.

You don’t have to do anything big to impact awareness and show your enthusiasm for people to stay healthy. It can be done simply by the way that you live and take care of yourself. People notice what others do and how they feel, and they mimic it in people that are happy and healthy. Be the change and share your story with others.

Throughout February, we invite you to celebrate life by raising awareness of heart disease in your own way. Whether you promote it on Facebook, make a meal for your family and talk about it, or go out and volunteer in the community, remember that you are helping make a difference and giving more people an opportunity to make better choices for themselves. And of course… we’d love to hear what you do and celebrate your efforts with you. Please share on our Facebook page today!