February is Heart Healthy Month!

What have you done for your heart lately? Daily exercise, healthy eating habits, plenty of rest, zero-tolerance for stress are just a couple of ways you can improve the condition of your heart.

Your heart is considered to be vital organ because so many other parts of your body depend on it everyday to be able to function properly. Therefore, the road to a healthy heart begins with you!

Here are some alarming facts to think about via National Health Finder.gov:

• Heart disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. (National Health Finder.gov)
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. (National Health Finder.gov)
• In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds. Each minute, someone in the United States dies from a heart disease-related event. (CDC)
• Blacks have a risk of first-ever stroke that is almost twice that of whites (American Heart Association)

While heart disease is more prevalent in women age 55 or older, men age 45 or older, or a person with a family history of early heart disease, it doesn't mean you can't take preventive measure now. Plus you can be the agent of change to help your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. to become more proactive in leading a healthier lifestyle for their heart.

To get more information about heart health information check out the Healthfinder, American Heart Society, or CDC.

*Black History Fact via Biography.com: Famed guitarist Jimi Hendrix was known by close friends and family members simply as "Buster."