A Healthy Heart is a Happy Heart: American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, and we want to motivate you to live a healthy lifestyle by promoting heart health! Heart health had become an important aspect of overall well-being in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heart disease also continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S.

This month, we want to raise awareness on ways you can strengthen your heart. You can improve heart health in your family by setting goals, raising awareness and prioritizing a happy heart! Here are some ways that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say to get involved during Heart Health Month

Get to Stepping

Staying fit is the key to heart health, but with a busy schedule, it can be hard. If you can’t take the time to go to the gym, try maximizing the amount of steps you take during the day. Whether it’s a trail through campus or walking on a treadmill, be sure to go for a walk at some point during the day.

Using your phone, you can track the amount of steps you take. Don’t drive to the dining hall when you can walk. Instead of working in your dorm, take a walk to the library. College students should have about 10,000 steps by the end of the day — and it can be done! You can also invite your friends to make it a competition!

Red Getup

The first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 655,000 Americans die from heart disease every year, making up a quarter of all the country’s deaths. Every 36 seconds, someone dies from a cardiovascular condition.

To bring awareness to some of these startling statistics, we encourage you to wear red on the first Friday of the month. Spread the word about the harmful effects of heart disease by inviting your friends and family to join.

Food for the Heart

One of the best ways to improve heart health is by eating smart. Those with diets that are high in sugar and saturated fats are more likely to have heart problems later in life. There are tons of appetizing, healthy meals that are affordable, too!

The American Heart Association has tons of recipes for those looking for a healthier diet. According to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; here are some ways to get you involved during Heart Health Month. From Orange Vanilla Frozen Yogurt to Grilled Cuban Mojo Marinated Pork Tenderloin, there are endless recipes for you to try!

Join #OurHearts

Social media is one of the fastest growing forms of communication in our generation. Wouldn’t it be great to use it for something good? This month, join the #OurHearts movement on social media to motivate others to improve their heart health. Having a support system can help make the journey easier, and you can contribute by sharing posts about heart health during the month of February.