Make American Heart Month a Family Affair

February is a month that has a lot of heart. While Valentine’s Day seems to monopolize the calendar, there’s another important event that is also heart-centric, but this one isn’t promoted by Hallmark.

In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated February as American Heart Month, declaring that “over one-half of the 10 million Americans afflicted by the cardiovascular diseases are stricken during their most productive years, thereby causing a staggering physical and economic loss to the nation.”

Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one of four deaths attributed to it each year. While these statistics are still high, the American Heart Association (AHA) is heartened that this devastating disease can be prevented with healthy life choices.

In order to bring more awareness to heart disease the AHA encourages families to work together and shift their lifestyles in a more positive direction in order to make good heart-health a priority.

Make this American Heart Month a family affair with these fun and healthy tips: 

1. Talk it Up. Spend some time chatting about American Heart Month with your loved ones. Many schools now have events like Hoops for Heart to raise awareness and money for the AHA. Keep the conversation age-appropriate but emphasize how important it is for everyone to take good care of their hearts by eating well, exercising, and finding hobbies and outlets that can reduce stress. A great book to read to younger kids is Your Amazing Heart, by Dr. Edwin Lee. The information and illustrations allow for great conversation following the story.  If you have older kids and have any family members or close friends afflicted by heart disease, you can reference these individuals and what they’re doing to care for their health to bring the topic closer to home.
2. Enjoy the Great Outdoors. With the immense importance of electronics in our lives, heading outside to explore or enjoy nature is not a priority. Use American Hearth Month as the catalyst for getting back to basics and taking a brisk stroll through the neighborhood or pull those bikes out of the shed...

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