It’s certainly not uncommon to see people donning red clothing or red hearts in February in recognition of Valentine’s Day, but this February, you should wear red for a different heart related reason. February is The American Heart Association’s American Heart Month.
Why Go Red In February?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, with one in four deaths caused by heart disease, affecting both men and women. By bringing attention to the causes and the deaths that surround them, the American Heart Association aims to educate on prevention of these illnesses that fall under the umbrella of heart disease. These complications can include heart attack, stroke, angina, high blood pressure, and rheumatic heart disease.
At The Woman’s Clinic, we like to educate our patients on how certain dietary and lifestyle choices can affect their health, as well as friends or other family members they may have at home. Through this education and continued discussion with our patients, our goal is to lower the risk and provide good advice on how to improve your heart health.
What Are The Primary Causes Of Heart Disease?
There are a number of risk factors that contribute to heart disease, some of which can be managed and others that are out of your control. Everyone should educate themselves on these risk factors and learn how to manage the ones that are in your hands. Some of the major risk factors that are out of your control include age, gender, family history of the disease, race, or a previous heart attack or stroke. The risk factors that you can control include high blood pressure, smoking, lack of exercise, being obese or overweight, high blood cholesterol, or diabetes.
In celebration of American Heart Month, The American Heart Association recommends knowing your numbers. During your next annual well woman visit, you should find out the following numbers and what they indicate about your current health: your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI. These numbers are used as primary indicators for many aspects of your health, and can help evaluate your risk for heart disease or stroke.
How Can I Best Celebrate American Heart Month?
At The Woman’s Clinic, our patients’ overall health and heart health are a critical part of our patient care. We encourage everyone to research their own family history of heart disease to fully understand any inherent risks they may have. Additionally, it’s important to remember to schedule your annual exam if you haven’t had one recently, as regular health checkups can aid in detection of a multitude of diseases and illnesses. If you’ve fallen into some bad eating or exercise habits, take the opportunity to make some changes this year. Add more fruits, veggies, healthy proteins, and fibers into your diet. Go out for a walk with your friends or family, or call the local gym to look into exercise classes.
Visit The Woman’s Clinic online today to learn about our services and schedule an appointment to see one of our doctors this February and celebrate American Heart Month with us. If you’re looking for some tips to prevent heart disease, find local events in your area, or educational resources to learn more about this disease that is responsible for thousands of deaths every year, check out the American Heart Association’s website for more information.
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