Focus on Heart Health

Focus on Heart Health
Across our nation, February is recognized as American Heart Month to raise awareness of the leading cause of death among American men and women: heart disease. President Obama acknowledged the importance of heart health:

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Its victims are women and men, and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities, in all regions of our country. Although heart disease is one of our Nation's most costly and widespread health problems, it is among the most preventable. During American Heart Month, we rededicate ourselves to fighting this disease by improving our own heart-healthy habits, and by raising awareness in our homes and our communities.”

Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, had this to say about American Heart Month:

“By leading a healthy lifestyle, Americans can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent. This means following a heart healthy eating plan, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.

Even if you’re diagnosed with heart disease, there are many steps you can take to extend your years and increase your quality of life. Americans with heart disease should eat a low-fat, low-sodium, nutritious diet, get regular physical activity, take their medication, and talk to their doctor.”

The President also reminded us that heart health does not begin after you are diagnosed with heart disease. We can give our children the brightest possible future by beginning heart healthy habits early, creating a foundation for a lifetime of heart health.

“Protecting our families from heart disease requires each of us to take responsibility for our health and that of our children -- including exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco, and raising our children to spend more time playing outside. Because obesity is a leading risk factor for heart disease, good nutrition and physical activity are crucial for all our families.”

For great tips on how to help keep your entire family heart healthy, visit Let’s Move, the first ladies new initiative to tackle childhood obesity. Let’s Move offers great ideas for improving your child’s, and your own, health through healthy eating, physical activity and healthy habits that last a lifetime.

We also want to highlight the important of women’s heart health. The National Institutes for Health launched the Red Dress Campaign to raise awareness of heart disease among women, the #1 killer of women in America. We encourage women, and those who care about them, to learn more about the Red Dress Campaign. There are also plenty of ways for our non-profit partners to get involved in the Red Dress Campaign and to share critical heart-health information with the women within their communities.

Celebrate American Heart Month with The Heart Truth®!

Beginning with National Wear Red Day®—Friday, February 5, 2010—millions will help spread the critical message that "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women.®" The Red Dress®, the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness, was created by The Heart Truth® in 2002 to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women. Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing their favorite red dress, shirt, tie, or Red Dress Pin. For free information and resources to help you and your community celebrate National Wear Red Day, visit the National Wear Red Day toolkit.

On Thursday, February 11, 2010, The Heart Truth will bring the Red Dress to life once again on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with the debut of the Red Dress Collection 2010. This spectacular event reminds women of the need to protect their heart health and inspires them to take action. For the second year in a row, a selection of the designer dresses seen on the runway will be auctioned online in February through a partnership with Clothes Off Our Back. To bid on these Red Dresses this February, visit www.clothesoffourback.org.



Get Involved today: visit the Healthy Action Community, where you can find free tools and resources to help you protect your heart health and share The Heart Truth with others. Be sure to let others know about your event by submitting details to the Activity Registry.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/