February is National Heart Awareness Month
Every February it seems that we are overwhelmed by the sight of hearts and other items associated with the color red. While February reminds many of us about the romantic matters of the heart, it is also the month to be smart about your heart. February is national Heart Awareness Month, giving people education and facts about a common killer: heart disease.
The CDC, along with a declaration from former President Barack Obama, has named February American Heart Month. Unfortunately, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, 1 in 4 deaths are associated with heart disease. The good news is that a great deal of trouble is preventable, given the proper lifestyle changes. Small steps can make a huge difference.
The CDC recommends that people (especially men) schedule a visit with their doctor to talk about their heart health. There are many sample question prompts available by the CDC on what to ask your doctor if you are feeling uncomfortable or unsure. The important thing is that you open the conversation and develop tactics to prevent your risk.
Other suggestions for heart health include exercising more in your daily routine. This might mean starting off small and doing something simple like walking for ten or fifteen minutes two or three times a week. Also, healthy eating is a crucial part of the heart health prevention process, and lessening fatty meat consumption decreases your risk for heart disease. Quitting smoking is another key factor. It is suggested that all medication be taken as it is prescribed.
Maybe you have already taken a forward initiative in your heart health and want to learn more for yourself or the community. You can be a voice and advocate for the cause. One easy way that you can spread the message is by wearing red on February 5th, which has been recognized as the national day to wear red for heart awareness. You can also follow the social media pages of heart awareness groups to keep informed on the latest events and information provided to the public. Social media groups, provided they are from a reputable source, make it easy to stay up to date with research in particular fields of health research.
Take time to educate yourself so that you know what to look for and how to help others. Your donations are also crucial to helping heart healthy organizations stay functioning to assist with developing techniques and research. There are multiple warning signs to look for that can indicate someone is having a heart attack. Perhaps the most telling symptom of a heart-related medical issue is if the person is having chest discomfort lasting for more than a few minutes along with uncomfortable pressure like squeezing, fullness, or pain. If the symptoms include discomfort elsewhere, like in both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, you should further examine the victim. Other symptoms to look for are shortness of breath and breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be having a heart attack please call 911 as soon as possible; early admittance to a hospital can drastically increase the chance of recovering from or surviving a heart attack. While genetics do play a role, heart disease is laregely preventable. With the proper health and education we can beat it and keep February heart healthy.
