Happy A Word Wednesday!

Today’s A Word Wednesday is different than the norm, but very much needed and hopefully informative to you all.

February is American Heart Month. Many of you may know (and many may not) that heart disease runs in my family. And I have experienced this firsthand with both my grandmother and mother. I am a STRONG advocate for staying aware, informed, and actively involved in my own health, especially heart health. We are NEVER too old or too young to start taking an active role in our own health. So today I challenge you all to do the same and start by focusing on your heart health.

Here are some important facts regarding heart health:
• Take charge of your blood pressure—a healthier heart can lead to a healthier life. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action provides tools and strategies to control high blood pressure.
• Regularly monitoring your blood pressure, with support from your health care team, can help lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. You can check your blood pressure at the doctor’s office, at a pharmacy, or even at home!
• High blood pressure is often called the silent killer. You might not have symptoms, but it’s a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Monitoring your own blood pressure at home can help you keep your blood pressure under control.
• Taking care of your heart can be as simple as the ABCS.
• Many people need to take medicine to help keep their blood pressure at healthy levels.

The CDC has an American Heart Month Toolkit for 2022 on their website. There’s a lot of valuable information to educate yourself & then spread the word!

Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/american_heart_month_patients.htm