American Heart Month

American Heart Month Observed in February

February celebrates American Heart Month. The American Heart Association sponsors American Heart Month. February is a time to increase awareness of heart disease. Heart disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women. In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease. This can lead to a heart attack. You can greatly reduce the risk of coronary artery disease through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication.

Since 2004, February also has been the signature month for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign. It’s message is that heart disease is not only a man’s problem, but a woman’s problem, too. Wear red on this important, educational month. Personalized Cause offers red enamel awareness ribbon pins, red fabric ribbons, and red silicone awareness wristband bracelets.

It’s February – American Heart Month

President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation in 1964. Since then, U.S. presidents have annually declared February American Heart Month.

The first Friday of American Heart Month is also National Wear Red Day as part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative. Coast to coast, landmarks, news anchors, and neighborhoods go red to raise awareness and support for the fight against heart disease. For more information on the event and other activities during the month, visit goredforwomen.org.

From landmarks to online communities, neighborhoods to news anchors, this annual groundswell unites millions of people for a common goal: the eradication of heart disease and stroke. Wear red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives. Why? Because losing even one woman to cardiovascular disease is one too many.

The Nation Goes Red in February

These past few years, this federally designated event is even more important due to the impact of the coronavirus on the public’s heart health. This includes potential harmful effects on the heart and vascular system, according to recent research. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people delayed or avoided going to hospitals for heart attacks and strokes. This has netted poorer outcomes and prompted the AHA to create “Don’t Die of Doubt.” This is a national awareness campaign that reminds people that hospitals are the safest place to go when you have symptoms.

Heart Statistics and Lifestyle

Meanwhile, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans and is still the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the AHA’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2021 Update.

The update reports that nearly 18.6 million people across the globe died of cardiovascular disease in 2019, the latest year for which worldwide statistics are calculated. That’s a 17.1% increase over the past decade. And 523.2 million cases of cardiovascular disease were reported in 2019, a 26.6% increase over 2010.

During American Heart Month, the AHA and other organizations reinforce the importance of heart health. The month also stresses the need for more research and efforts to ensure that millions of people live longer and healthier.

In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle. This includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups.

(Image: Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash)