Break The Barrier Against Heart Disease

2016 is a Leap Year! With February having 29 days this year, make sure to plan your month accordingly. Here’s a list of February’s national health observances to be aware of :

• Age Related Macular Degeneration/Low Vision Awareness Month
• American Heart Month
• Cancer Prevention Month
• Children’s Dental Health Month
• Wise Health Consumer Month
• Recreational Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation Month
• Wear Red Day (Feb. 5th)
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Week (Feb. 14-20th)
• Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 21-27th)

This month, I’d like to spotlight the American Heart Association’s initiative. In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) discovered that cardiovascular disease was the number one killer among women, claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year. This was a health concern that not many people were paying attention to because heart disease and heart attacks were generally considered an older man’s disease. The Go Red for Women campaign was born in an effort to create awareness for heart disease and stroke, and to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

So, why the red dress logo? In 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) got involved and introduced the red dress as a national symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting the disease. To learn more about this initiative and how you can show your support, please visit: https://www.goredforwomen.org/.