Nationwide Events to Promote Heart-Healthy Living Being Held in February

By Editor, on February 9th, 2012

February is American Heart Month - Heart Diagram (courtesy of Wikipedia Commons) The American Heart Association and other organizations are holding a series of nationwide events in February as part of “American Heart Month.” The purpose of this annual initiative, sponsored by the American Heart Association, is to call attention to heart disease, which is the number one killer of Americans, and to promote heart-healthy living.

During this month the American Heart Association and other groups are sponsoring a series of educational seminars, “Heart Walks” and other activities and events nationwide to promote education about cardiovascular disease and what each person can do to prevent it, and to help motivate people to make lifestyle changes that promote heart health.

In connection with American Heart Month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, provides a Toolkit of information and resources on heart health and prevention of cardiovascular disease, and on events and activities that are part of American Heart Month this February.

According to the HHS Toolkit,

“Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are:

A woman age 55 or older
A man age 45 or older
Or a person with a family history of early heart disease

Heart disease can be prevented. To keep your heart healthy:

Watch your weight.
Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
Get active and eat healthy.
Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.
Manage stress.”

For more information on heart-healthy living, see the American Heart Association’s Getting Healthy Website.

For further information about American Heart Month and related activities and initiatives, see:

The website of the American Heart Association;

Love Your Heart; Take Steps To Reduce Heart Risks, a newsletter published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and

Be One in a Million this American Heart Month, a webpage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), providing further information about the related Million Hearts™ initiative launched in September 2011 by HHS. As explained by the CDC, “Million Hearts™ is a national initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years. This public-private partnership, co-led by CDC and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is integrating and amplifying a range of existing heart disease and stroke prevention programs, policies, and activities.”

As stated by HHS, “American Heart Month is a time to battle cardiovascular disease and educate Americans on what we can do to live heart-healthy lives.”

More Information

See related HelpingYouCare™ reports on:

5 Healthy Lifestyle Factors Significantly Reduce Risk of Stroke, New Study Finds

HHS & Public-Private Partners Aim to Prevent 1 Million Heart Attacks & Strokes in 5 Years

Improving Your Health Literacy May Help You Improve Your Health, Survey Suggests

Find Walking Paths in Your Area Via StartWalkingNow, Campaign of American Heart Association.

For more information on heart disease and stroke, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on Heart Disease & Stroke, including