If heart health hits close to home in your family or with your friends, you’ll be excited to know February is “Heart Month,” and there’s a whole bunch of great ways you can support the cause and help bring heart health awareness to the table. If you’re ready to get started and learn a little bit more, here’s some info on this year’s “Heart Month.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, being aware of your blood pressure is step one in the name of the game when it comes to heart health. Here’s a look at what the pro’s had to say:
Make Blood Pressure Control Your Goal
This American Heart Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Million Hearts®–a national effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017–are encouraging Americans to know their blood pressure, and if it’s high, to make control their goal.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, which is why having your blood pressure checked regularly is important. It’s easy to get your blood pressure checked. You can get screened at your doctor’s office and drugstores or even check it yourself at home, using a home blood pressure monitor.
Once you’re sure you’ve got your blood pressure under control, it’s time to help spread the word to family and friends. Think about offering a ride to older relatives and neighbors to visit their doc or a local pharmacy for an annual blood pressure screening.
Wear red on National Wear Red Day (February 6th) to help remember and raise awareness for all those who have been affected by heart disease. Share your Wear Red efforts on social media with selfies, pet picks and anything else you’re doing to raise awareness. Join thousands of others who will use #HeartHealth to raise awareness.
Purchase an item that supports heart health research like the Silpada Designs “You’ve Got Heart” necklace. $10 of every purchase will go toward WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Or how about a pair of “Go Red” athletic pants from shopheart.org, where all purchases from the Go Red For Women Collection from the American Heart Association support lifesaving campaigns and efforts to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
There are so many ways you can support Heart Health and help raise awareness during Heart Month. For more information about all of the ways you can help, check out The American Heart Association @ heart.org.
