National Heart Health Month

By: Alexis Weaver

Hello Garnet Valley! February is National Heart Health Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the country, and organizations work to educate the public about risk factors and prevention strategies and encourage regular medical checkups and screenings.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has declared February 7th National Wear Red Day! We encourage all students to wear red this Friday to show their support. 

What's the goal of American Heart Month? 

• Raise awareness about heart disease

• Encourage people to take charge of their heart health

• Support research that saves lives

What are some risk factors for heart disease? 

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• Unhealthy body weight

• Too much alcohol

• Lack of physical activity

• Age

Heart disease affects EVERYONE including men, women, and even children. Did you know that 23,000 children go into cardiac arrest each year? Learning CPR could help save someone’s life. Visit the American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class) or the American Heart Association (https://cpr.heart.org/en/) to get a CPR certification so you can be prepared. Have an amazing February Garnet Valley!