February is chosen because it is a time when many people reflect on matters of the heart, including love and relationships. It is a fitting opportunity to also emphasize the importance of heart health.

The goal of Heart Month is to reduce the prevalence of heart disease and stroke by educating the public, advocating for policies that support heart health, and funding research into cardiovascular conditions. It’s an important subject to observe because heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., and a person dies from this disease every 36 seconds. That results in almost 700,000 people dying from heart disease in the country, which accounts for 1 in every 4 deaths. While genetics might play a role in these deaths, lifestyle is a contributing factor that Americans can control to improve their health and lower their risk of a major heart attack.

As part of Heart Awareness month, National Wear Red Day is celebrated on February 7 to encourage people to wear red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death among women.

We need to use this month to take extra care of our heart health and help those who already suffer from heart diseases.

Help us to protect your heart and others too! Volunteer today.