February is the month of hearts. If you have trouble remembering to care for yours, use Valentine’s Day as a reminder. Each February, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute marks American Heart Month by raising awareness about heart health. The purpose of American Heart Month is to bring awareness to heart health and help provide tools and tips for people to lower their risk factors for heart disease.

Hundreds of thousands of people die from heart disease in America each year. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, with one person dying every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. Several medical conditions are risk factors for heart disease if improperly managed including diabetes, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.

Taking care of your heart doesn’t have to be boring – spice it up! Here is a list of ideas from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to get your ticker pumping:

• Hold a contest between members of your family or groups within your organization to see who can get the highest number of steps within a predetermined time frame.
• Start a walking club with your neighbors or family.
• Make heart-healthy snacks for yourself and your family.
• Instead of watching the television, go for a walk or get outside and play with your family.
• Share a video of you doing a fun new activity that gets your blood pumping on social media, to help spread awareness about heart health.
• Join in a virtual community event where you can learn about nutrition and exercise. Check our website frequently for our community class offerings, islandhospital.org/classes
• Ask your healthcare provider questions or for tips on how you can get moving to support heart health.

Help keep your heart healthy for your Valentine. Spread the word about Heart Health!