Happy February, Happy Month of Love, Happy National Heart Month! What exactly is American heart month and how did it come about, well look at what the American Heart Association has to say. What is American Heart Month? American Heart Month, a federally designated event, is an ideal time to remind Americans to focus on their hearts and encourage them to get their families, friends and communities involved.

• The first American Heart Month, which took place in February 1964, was proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson via Proclamation 3566 on December 30, 1963.
• The Congress, by joint resolution on that date, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating February as American Heart Month.
• At that time, more than half the deaths in the U.S. were caused by cardiovascular disease.
• While American Heart Month is a federally designated month in the United States, it’s important to realize that cardiovascular disease knows no borders. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.9 million deaths each year.
• That number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030.
• President Lyndon B. Johnson’s proclamation that first declared February as American Heart Month.

Chances are, we all know someone affected by heart disease and stroke, because about 2,300 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of 1 death every 38 seconds. But together we can change that! The health finder website (https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/FebruaryToolkit.aspx) says that. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices. Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart healthy lives. How can American Heart Month make a difference? We can use this month to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it — both at home and in the community. Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage families to make small changes, like using spices to season their food instead of salt.
• Motivate teachers and administrators to make physical activity a part of the school day. This can help students start good habits early.
• Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by speaking out about ways to prevent heart disease.

More importantly what can we do for someone who may be having a heart related issue? We can learn CPR and know how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). The artificial breaths and pumping of the blood through the heart helps keep the brain, heart and lungs oxygenated so that when the EMS crew arrives they can take over with advanced medical care and get the patient to the hospital in hopes to sustain life. Take a moment and learn CPR today.