February is American Heart Month, a federally designated event, made possible by President Lyndon B. Johnson by a proclamation in February of 1964. At that time, more than half the deaths in the U.S. were caused by cardiovascular disease.
Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.
- Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year – more than all cancers combined. Go Red For Women inspires women to make lifestyle changes, mobilize communities and shape policies to save lives.
- African American men, especially those who live in the southeast region of the United States, are at the highest risk for heart disease. Million Hearts® is encouraging African American men to take charge of their health and start one new, heart-healthy behavior that can help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
While American Heart Month is a federally designated month in the United States, it’s important to realize that cardiovascular disease knows no borders. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.3 million deaths each year. That number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030.
Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. As healthcare professionals we should encourage our patients, friends and families, and ourselves to make health changes to lower the risk of developing heart disease. We should encourage everyone to:
- Schedule a visit with a doctor to talk heart health
- Increase healthy eating
- Watch your weight
- Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
- Control cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Take medication(s) as prescribed
- Reduce stress
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get active
According to the American Heart Association 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action! The perfect gift this Valentine’s Day is the gift of heart health. This year have a heart-to-heart with your patients, friends, and family and commit to a healthy lifestyle. Small changes can make all the difference.
Additional Tools
AHRQ has fact sheets for primary care health professionals to help their high-risk patients adopt the ABCS of heart disease prevention: Aspirin use by high-risk individuals, control their Blood pressure, lower their Cholesterol, and quit Smoking
MCN HEALTHCARE
Regulatory Compliance Solutions for Healthcare Organizations
Our comprehensive compliance suite includes:
Policy Management Software | Policy and Procedure Library Templates
StayAlert! – Regulatory Alert System | Learning Management System
Learn more. Visit www.mcnsolutions.com