JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- February is a month not only for remembering Black history, but for bringing awareness of heart health; the leading cause of death in men and women in America.
Heart Health Awareness month was first established by then President Lyndon B. Johnson under Presidential Proclamation 3566 in December 1963. According the American College of Cardiology, it states that President Johnson urged Americans to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.
So whether it’s a lack of knowledge or a disbelief that a condition of this type could occur to them, Americans still suffer a high mortality rate due to this condition.
According to the Center for Disease Control, about 805,000 Americans experience a heart attack every year. Out of those individuals, about 605,000 are first time heart attacks. And ultimately, about 655,000 people die from heart disease each year.
But making healthier lifestyle changes doesn’t have to be difficult. The American Heart Association offers resources to assist with making healthy life and dietary choices. The United States Department of Agriculture also provides a dietary guide that can help individuals make those healthy decisions.
“The diet and exercise choices you make are the easiest ways to be good to your heart,” said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Travis, a Public Health Component with the 433rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, here. “Some enjoyable, easy examples are walking your dog, cleaning house and playing physically interactive video games.”
So when it comes to an individual’s health, we should always be a conscious to our heart’s health. Being proactive to reduce our risks means the difference between life and death.
For more information, click on the links below.
American College of Cardiology
Center for Disease Control
American Heart Association
United States Department of Agriculture
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/lets-work-together-prevent-heart-disease