The first Friday of the month, February 4, is National Wear Red Day. From coast to coast, landmarks, news anchors, and neighborhoods will go red to raise awareness and support for heart disease, a press release said.
Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke combined) kills about 2,300 people a day. Obesity in both youth and adults is at an all-time high, youth are being diagnosed with heart disease earlier than ever, and people just ZIP codes apart can live 25 years less than their neighbors because of disparities in health, the press release said. American Heart Month is vital for awareness, but the American Heart Association urges people to take care of their hearts year-round.
Consider the facts:
- Heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined.
- Heart attacks affect more people every year than the population of Dallas, Texas.
- 83% believe that heart attacks can be prevented but aren’t motivated to do anything.
- 72% of Americans don’t consider themselves at risk for heart disease.
- 58% put no effort into improving their heart health.
“While science is advancing medicine in exciting new ways, unhealthy lifestyle choices combined with rising obesity rates in both kids and adults have hindered progress fighting heart disease,” the press release said.
“The good news is that heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups,” the press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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