February is Heart Awareness Month which serves as an important reminder of the importance of cardiovascular health. By raising awareness of heart disease and promoting healthier lifestyles, we can reduce the deaths and hospitalization of many people.
A common concern in our modern society is why is heart disease becoming more common? According to the National Institute of Health, “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world and a huge contributor to disability and rising health care costs.” Things such as less physical exercise or unhealthy diets increases the risk of heart disease more likely. While some things can be done to make sure that heart disease isn’t likely to happen as you age, some things aren’t controllable or preventable.
Cardiovascular disease is the cause of one third of all deaths worldwide! “In 2022, 702,880 people died from heart disease. That’s the equivalent of 1 in every 5 deaths. ” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
A Kenwood teacher adds, “Heart Awareness Month is important because it is one of the organs absolutely required to live. The healthier our heart is, the healthier we are.” So what can we do as we age to take care of our cardiovascular health.
The CDC recommends the following:
-Get 30-60 minutes of daily physical exercise
-eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight
-Don’t smoke and limit alcohol intake
-Get sleep and manage stress
-get regular health screenings to monitor keeping your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal
As the month of February is coming to close, it’s not the only month to promote heart health. As we age, we should remember to always make our heart health a priority.
Sources:
“Cardiovascular disease is on the rise, but we know how to curb it. We’ve done it before”. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. NIH. 3 February 2021. Web Accessed 24 February 2025.
“Preventing Heart Disease”. CDC Heart Disease. US Center for Disease Control. 2025. Web Accessed 24 February 2025.
