Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but people across the United States are still looking to mend hearts. February marks American Heart Month, dedicated to increasing awareness about heart disease.
As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease accounts for approximately 1 in every 5 of all U.S. deaths annually, according to the CDC. The most common type, coronary artery disease (CAD), can lead to heart attacks and other serious complications.
As part of American Heart Month, health organizations encourage individuals to take proactive steps to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Some strategies include making healthier food choices, engaging in regular exercise and quitting smoking.
For Rachel Barrus, a sophomore with an undeclared major, personally relates to Heart Month’s importance. Barrus was born with a gene that will develop into cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood well, in the next 20 years. — For now, she battles premature ventricular contractions, or extra heartbeats.
In dealing with her condition, she says that doctors’ advice to stay healthy is, “to not drink, smoke, do drugs [and] have caffeine.” These steps are the best way to bring normalcy to Barrus’ heart and life. Barrus says that dealing daily with the disease is “an invisible disability” and the basic lifestyle steps toward staying healthy can make all the difference.
Organizations also make an effort during American Heart Month to raise awareness for all demographics dealing with heart disease. Hannah Litman, a graduate student studying specialized journalism, who works with The Heart Foundation as their social media strategist, stressed one of the biggest misconceptions about heart disease.
“People think that heart disease is reserved for the elderly or the overweight or for people who have sedentary lifestyles,” Litman said. “Heart disease impacts people of all ages and abilities and ethnic backgrounds and also financial demographics as well.”
Initiatives like National Wear Red Day, observed on the first Friday of February, also help to raise awareness by highlighting the impact of cardiovascular disease, particularly in women. These organizations help to normalize the stigmas around heart disease, specifically for underrepresented groups.
Aside from raising awareness for heart disease, the month is also dedicated to advancing research in the field. Dr. Robert Bonow, a cardiologist and former president of the American Heart Association, believes artificial intelligence is a beneficial and powerful tool when it comes to identifying health risk, especially heart attacks.
“AI is going to be a continuing area of interest, and like everything else with AI, we also don’t know where it’s going to take us,” Bonow said.
Bonow said the most crucial advancement to come from AI is an electrocardiogram, or EKG, that can further examine structures and recognize an algorithm that can begin to identify heart disease risks more precisely.
He thinks of AI as an enhancement to medicine, not a replacement.
“We never believe that [AI is] going to take away the need to see doctors.”
Bonow also gave some advice and tips on how to maintain healthy heart habits, as well as the significance of exercise.
“Whatever you’re doing, you should be doing more of it, and getting a healthy amount of exercise at least five days a week,” he said. “Even if it’s just brisk walking for 20 and 30 minutes, it’s very beneficial.”
These tips are important to keep in mind for all Americans as you never know who may be affected by heart disease. Bonow stressed that the month of February opens people’s eyes to heart health. He believes it’s just another reminder of things that we should be telling people “all every day, not just in February.”