American Heart Month observed during the month of February

The color red in February is not only to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but to also spread awareness for those who are living with heart disease.

The term heart disease refers to various types of heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmia, heart failure, heart valve disease, pericardial disease, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart disease.

In 1964, to shed light on the condition, Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation for American Heart Month. Since then, United States presidents have annually declared February as American Heart Month.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly 18.6 million people across the globe died of cardiovascular disease in 2019, which is a 17.1 percent increase over the past decade.

In most cases, heart disease is manageable when adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, and receiving regular checkups.

Cardiologist Daniel Jipescu at Coryell Health expressed that for heart health it is important to have a good diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, and fiber.

“It is extremely important to pay attention to your symptoms and seek help when you feel anything rather than healthy,” Jipescu said. “We found more and more patients with what we call atypical symptoms (like shortness of breath, fatigue, or a decrease in activity level) whom after a cardiac work-up are revealing coronary artery disease.”

“Finding out about your cardiovascular disease sooner than later is a key to better and longer health,” Jipescu said.

Ways to prevent heart disease from the Mayo Clinic includes:

• Daily activity: Regular, daily physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease. Physical activity helps control your weight as well as lowering the chances of getting conditions that may put a strain on the heart.
• Consuming a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help protect the heart, improve blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower the risk of type two diabetes.
• Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight, especially around the middle of the body can raise the risk of heart disease. Extra weight can lead to conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type two diabetes.
• Get quality sleep: People who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes, and depression. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night, while children usually need more. Stick to a routine sleep schedule and keep your bedroom dark and quiet to sleep easier.
• Manage stress: Ongoing stress can play a role in higher blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Some people also cope in unhealthy ways, but you can use healthy tactics such as physical activity, relaxation exercises, yoga, and meditation.
• Take steps to prevent infections: Certain infections may lead to heart problems. For instance, gum disease may be a risk factor for heart and blood vessel diseases.

For more information on American Heart Month, visit heart.org.