It’s no secret February is all about hearts — but not just the candy kind. It’s also American Heart Month, a time when the nation unites to raise awareness about the dangers of heart disease and stroke.
The federally designated event reinforces the importance of heart health and the need for more research, with a reminder to get families, friends and communities involved. It’s a tradition that’s over half a century strong. The first proclamation was issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 1964, nine years after he had a heart attack. Since then, the president has annually declared February American Heart Month.
Throughout February, the American Heart Association (AHA) is uniting for American Heart Month to encourage everyone to “Reclaim Your Rhythm,” because losing even one mom, brother, friend, or neighbor to cardiovascular disease is too many.
All month long, AHA encourages everyone to get moving and grooving while wearing red to raise awareness and take healthy actions that will make a positive outcome on people’s lives. The AHA will be rallying together with communities with an urgent message to support each other in taking control of their health by creating healthy habits that help keep the community committed to their resolutions.
Cardiovascular disease kills about 2,300 people a day. American Heart Month is vital for awareness, but the AHA urges everyone to Reclaim Your Rhythm and take back control of their physical health and mental well-being with a few simple lifestyle changes like:
- Staying active is one of the best ways to keep your body and mind healthy. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression.
- Step away from distractions and to-do lists to go for a walk or meditate, – do what you need to re-charge. Managing stress means managing health, reclaim control of schedules and build in time to invest in a healthier “you.”
- A recent study shows people with higher levels of optimism had a 35% decreased risk of CVD and a 14% decreased risk of all-cause mortality.
Join the AHA in February and every day and Reclaim Your Rhythm! Make a lifesaving donation today by visiting https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/colorado/denver?form=donate.