Many people have hearts on their minds as they move into February. This month not only holds the holiday built to celebrate love, Valentine’s Day, but also marks American Heart Month, which is an excellent time to educate yourself on heart health.
Led by the American Heart Association, this federally designated awareness month sets out to remind people to focus on maintaining healthy hearts and to help raise heart disease awareness with their families, friends and communities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.3 million deaths each year. And that number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030.
Keeping a healthy heart is key to continuing to have a high quality of life as we age. Here are a few simple ways you can help prevent heart disease.
• Eat healthy
• Stay active
• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation
• Manage stress
We place special emphasis on getting nutritious meals and promoting an active lifestyle at our communities because we know how important it is to overall health, especially in regard to the cardiovascular system.
It’s also important to make regular visits to your doctor. Early diagnosis of any heart disease or irregularities can help save your life.
We wish you all a happy and healthy Valentine’s Day! Make sure you remember to wear red on Feb. 3 to celebrate National Wear Red Day as part of American Heart Month!