Valentine’s Day is not the only time to wear your heart on your sleeve. In fact, the entire month of February is dedicated to heart health. Show yourself some love by checking your risk of heart disease.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) cites cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the number one killer of women and men in the United States. It is also the number one cause of disability. A family history of heart problems, age, race and ethnicity are all factors that can determine your risk of heart disease. There are simple ways to take control and lower the risk of CVD. The CDC suggests regularly checking your blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and keeping stress levels at a minimum.
Take care of yourself, but also take care of others. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign urges us to speak up about heart disease and educate our peers.
The campaign has mobilized men and women to wear the color red to raise awareness about heart care and disease. This video about the annual February campaign is just one of the tools contributing to the widespread effectiveness of Go Red.
The heart is more than just an organ-it is what allows us to reach out and connect with others. The nonprofit sector needs healthy hearts to accomplish mission!
http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/
https://www.goredforwomen.org/
