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National Health Observances Toolkit

National Health Observance Toolkit - February

American Heart Month

Sponsor: The American Heart Association External Link

American Heart MonthAmerican Heart Month is a time to battle cardiovascular disease and educate Americans on what we can do to live heart-healthy lives.

Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

You are at higher risk of heart disease if you are:

  • A woman age 55 or older
  • A man age 45 or older
  • Or a person with a family history of early heart disease

Heart disease can be prevented. To keep your heart healthy:

  • Watch your weight.
  • Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
  • Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
  • If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
  • Get active and eat healthy.
  • Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.
  • Manage stress.

Sample Announcement  |  Sample Tweets  |  E-cards  |  Web Badges  |  Get Involved  |  Related Tools on healthfinder.gov  |  Resources

Get the Word Out

Announcment Sample Media and/or Newsletter or Listserv Announcement
Twitter

Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States: http://1.usa.gov/ijFWzj
External Link

Q. Who’s at risk for heart disease? A. A woman age 55 or older or a man age 45 or older: http://1.usa.gov/ijFWzj
External Link

Planning a grocery store trip this weekend? Pump up your heart health by choosing foods that are low in sodium (salt): http://1.usa.gov/y0uXTq;

Cheat Sheet: Questions to ask your doctor if you have high blood pressure: http://1.usa.gov/jXpKQD
External Link

Manage your cholesterol--Easier said than done? Watch this presentation from @medlineplus4you for help: http://1.usa.gov/ifq74n
External Link

E-cards

healthfinder.gov:  Eat Healthy

healthfinder.gov:  Quit Smoking

View more E-cards

Badges Web Badge

Get Involved

Take action to promote heart health.

  1. Celebrate National Wear Red Day (February 3, 2012) to raise awareness about women and heart disease. Encourage everyone in your community to wear red on National Wear Red Day and use the tools provided in the toolkit to learn how they can protect themselves and their loved ones from heart disease. Visit Go Red for
    Women
    External Link for more information.
  2. Host an American Heart Month event at local schools, health centers, libraries, etc. Work with local recreation and fitness centers to spread the word about the importance of physical activity to prevent heart disease.
  3. Contact your local Red Cross to host a CPR training event in your community. Urge local community members to learn CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator). These skills can help save the life of someone who has sudden cardiac arrest.
  4. Host a 20-minute group walk around your office at lunch time.
  5. Conduct a cooking demonstration using a heart-healthy recipe.

Adapted from the American Heart Association.
Contact the American Heart Association External Link at inquiries@heart.org for more information and materials.

Related Tools on healthfinder.gov

Quick Guide to Healthy Living

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