February is American Heart Month, an observance that Congress has required the president to proclaim each February since 1963. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, American Heart Month is intended to raise awareness of the nation's number one killer: cardiovascular diseases, which together account for about 630,000 deaths each year in the United States. These diseases include coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of heart attacks, and strokes.

During American Heart Month, thousands of American Heart Association volunteers hit the streets to inform their neighbors about heart disease and stroke, and help raise funds for research and education.

You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are:

• A woman age 55 or older, or a man age 45 or older.
• Have a relative with a history or early heart disease.

You can help prevent heart disease by:

• Watching your weight.
• Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
• Controlling your cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Drinking alcohol only in moderation.
• Getting and staying physically active.
• Eating a heart-healthy diet that's low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
• Talking to your doctor about daily, low-dose aspirin therapy.
• Managing stress.

Since 2002, the American Heart Association has taken special efforts to raise awareness among women, many of whom mistakenly believe that heart disease is a “man's disease,” not realizing it's also the leading killer of women. On Feb. 4, 2011 – a special day during American Heart Month – all Americans (men included) are urged to wear red – a dress, shirt, tie, or Red Dress Pin – and use an associated toolkit to spread the word that women are at equal risk of heart disease and need to protect themselves. For more information, visit www.goredforwomen.org, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/, or http://www.healthfinder.gov/nho/PDFs/FebruaryNHOtoolkit.pdf.

Other ways to participate in American Heart Month include:

• Hosting a related event at your local school, health center, or library
• Working with local recreation and fitness centers to promote the heart-healthy benefits of physical activity
• Contacting your local Red Cross to host training events aimed at educating participants about CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
• Leading 20-minute group walks around your office at lunch time
• Conducting cooking demonstrations of heart-healthy recipes
   

Heart Disease Screening

Great strides continue to be made in understanding the complex development of heart disease.

At Life Line Screening, we help detect risk for heart disease by identifying four significant risk factors:

• High cholesterol
• Elevated C-reactive protein
• Peripheral arterial disease
• High glucose

Learn more about Heart Disease

Find a Screening in Your Area