Heart Month

Heart Month 2024 is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases. It serves as a reminder to prioritize heart-healthy lifestyles, learn about heart disease prevention, and support those affected by cardiovascular conditions.

How to Promote Heart Health

Improving heart health involves making conscious choices to reduce risk factors and adopt heart-healthy habits. Here are some ways to promote heart health during Heart Month and beyond:

• Eat a Balanced Diet: Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products. Limit saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.
• Exercise Regularly: Engage in physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week. Activities like walking, cycling, and swimming can help improve cardiovascular fitness.
• Quit Smoking: If you smoke, seek support to quit smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease.
• Manage Stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, or yoga to reduce the impact of stress on your heart.
• Monitor Blood Pressure: Check your blood pressure regularly and work with your healthcare provider to manage it within a healthy range.
• Control Cholesterol: Maintain healthy cholesterol levels by following a heart-healthy diet and, if necessary, taking prescribed medications.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Achieve and maintain a healthy weight through a combination of balanced eating and regular physical activity.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to heart problems.
• Get Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support heart health.

We all want our kids to grow up healthy and happy. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™ are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health. Supporting good heart and brain health early helps lower the risk for heart disease, stroke and other major health problems later in life.

Life’s Essential 8™ elements are divided into two areas – health behaviors and

health factors. Health behaviors include diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure

and sleep.  Health factors are body mass index, cholesterol levels, blood sugar

and blood pressure. Healthy habits often begin at home.

Hashtags for Heart Month 2024

When sharing information and participating in Heart Month activities on social media, consider using these hashtags to raise awareness and connect with others:

• #HeartMonth
• #HeartHealth
• #CardiovascularHealth
• #HealthyHeart
• #PreventHeartDisease

  Creek Fit will be offering Yoga for the Heart classes at 11:45am-1:15pm on Saturdays during the month of February:

  • February 3^rd – INTRODUCTION to YOGA FOR THE HEART
    • Basic anatomy of the heart will be discussed along with the numerous benefits yoga has on overall cardiovascular health 
  • February 10^th - DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
    • Pranayama:  slows down heart rate, regulates heart rhythms, oxygenates the blood, induces a feeling of well-being
      • February 17^th - HEART OPENING VINYASA 
        • Elevate heart rate, expand and strengthen the supporting anatomy around the heart
        • Anahata chakra, the heart center; opening and balancing the heart; spreading the seeds of love and kindness  
  • February 24^th - LIFE FORCE OF THE HEART