You may find yourself expressing love to your favorite people this month. But February is also a great time to show your own heart some love. February is American Heart Month.
In this post, we’ll look at why heart health is so important, common risk factors for heart disease, and what you can do to improve your heart.
What is American Heart Month?
American Heart Month is a celebration that happens in February every year. It’s the time of year when organizations like Heart of West Georgia shine a spotlight on heart disease.
It’s celebrated in February because that’s when former President Lyndon B. Johnson established it in 1964. But the fact that Valentine’s Day also falls in February may help you remember to take care of your heart.
Why should you celebrate American Heart Month?
More Americans die of heart disease than any other disease in the U.S. Heart disease is the term used to describe many heart health problems. Some examples include:
Atherosclerosis/coronary artery disease (CAD): The buildup of a fatty substance called plaque in your arteries
Atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF): An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to stroke, blood clots, or heart failure
Cardiomyopathy: The name for several diseases of the heart muscle that cause it to enlarge, thicken, beat irregularly, or stiffen and scar
Heart failure: When your heart doesn’t pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should
Valvular disease: When any of your heart’s valves become damaged or diseased
Heart disease, particularly atherosclerosis, can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Hypertension — or high blood pressure — is a key risk factor for heart disease.
Take a look at these U.S. statistics to better understand why heart health is so important:
Close to 2,400 Americans die of heart disease each day.
More than 400 Americans die of stroke each day.
Almost half of all American adults have heart disease.
More than 116 million Americans have high blood pressure.
Even though heart disease affects millions of Americans, many people don’t know they have it.
Often, the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack. But you don’t have to wait for a heart attack to make heart-healthy changes.