Why is American Heart Month important?
The campaign for better cardiovascular health in the United States is crucial for many reasons:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US.
- One person dies of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds.
- About 697,000 people (1 in every 5 deaths) died from heart disease in 2020.
- Heart disease cost the United States about $229 billion from 2017 to 2018.
- Coronary heart disease killed 382,820 people in 2020.
- About 20.1 million adults aged 20 and up have coronary heart disease.
- Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a heart attack.
- About 805,000 people per year have a heart attack.
- Lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk.
How is American Hearth Month commemorated?
The American Heart Association promotes its wide array of resources and partnerships to provide people with tools to reduce high blood pressure and help them eat better, adopt an exercise regimen, and make other key changes. They also work to raise funds and awareness for more research toward preventing and curing heart disease.
How do I reduce my risk of heart disease and heart attack?
Lifestyle modification is the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack. Here are some of the most impactful changes you can make:
- If you smoke, quit.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet (work with your healthcare provider to determine the best diet for your individual needs).
- Exercise regularly, particularly cardiovascular exercises like walking, running, or dancing.
- Work with your doctor to treat health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
How do I get involved in the commemoration of American Heart Month?
Here’s how you can spread awareness of the dangers of heart disease and encourage people toward choices that support heart health:
- Host a quit smoking day to enlighten people about the dangers of smoking.
- Team up with friends and family for regular workouts.
- Wear red, particularly on February 4 for National Wear Red Day.
- Encourage people you know to get regular checkups.
- Create awareness on social media using the hashtag #heartmonth.
How important is consistent treatment to ongoing heart health?
Many people default on their treatment plan because of issues affording their medications. Encourage those you care about to get their medications up to 88% off the retail price with an RxLess prescription discount card. The card is accepted at most pharmacies including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens and even for those with insurance, will ensure they get the lowest available price every time.
