February is a month dedicated to promoting heart health and raising awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. This year, the American Heart Association (AHA) is focusing on the importance of “Living for Today and Tomorrow: Know Your Numbers and Know How to Improve Them.
One of the key messages of Heart Health Awareness Month is the importance of knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. These numbers are essential for determining your risk of heart disease and stroke. If you don’t know your numbers, get them checked. It’s a simple test that could save your life.
In addition to knowing your numbers, there are many other things you can do to improve your heart health. Some of the most important include:
- Eat a healthy diet. Choose plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugar.
- Get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, losing even a small amount of weight can improve your heart health.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you smoke, quit.
- Manage stress. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation.
In addition to these general tips, there are also specific things you can do to protect your heart health based on your age and gender. For example, women should be aware of the unique risk factors for heart disease they face, such as pregnancy complications and menopause. Men should be aware of the importance of regular cholesterol checks, as cholesterol levels tend to rise with age.
By making healthy lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk of heart disease and live a longer, healthier life.
Other Health Observances in February
In addition to Heart Health Awareness Month, there are a number of other health observances in February. These include:
- Children’s Dental Health Month (National)
- Burn Awareness Week (National)
- Cancer Day (World)
- Deaf Awareness Month
- Eating Disorders Awareness Week
- Heart Month (American)
- Low Vision Awareness Month
- National Wear Red Day
- Saudi Healthy Marriage Day
- Saudi Walking Day
- World Glaucoma Week
- World Kidney Day
- World Oral Health Day
These observances provide an opportunity to raise awareness about important health issues and to promote healthy habits.
