Why do we observe American Heart Month every February?  Because heart disease is the number one cause of death for most groups, affecting all ages, genders, and ethnicities, with more than 650,000 Americans dying from it every year. 

The annual celebration began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized February as the nation’s first official American Heart Month.10 days after President Lyndon’s Proclamation, Congress issued a joint resolution requesting the President to issue an annual proclamation, which has been honored annually by every sitting President since. (both presidents capitalized or none...)

In his remarks announcing February 1964 as the first American Heart Month, President Johnson urged “the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.” Johnson’s action marked a pivotal point in the nation’s approach to addressing cardiovascular disease. From 1960 to 2010, the US population increased by more than 72 percent, yet the annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases decreased by the tens of thousands! We’ve come a long way since 1964.

In February 2022, President Biden’s proclamation unveiled a new health initiative stating, “My Administration is committed to supporting Americans in their efforts to achieve better heart health, as well as closing the racial gaps in cardiovascular disease. That is why I have asked Congress to launch a major new initiative — the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H—which would invest billions of dollars in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and other deadly diseases.  My administration is also working across Federal agencies to develop new programs to alleviate heart health disparities, including those that threaten maternal health.” 

Additionally, following tradition, President Biden’s proclamation also recognized Friday, February 4th, as National Wear Red Day to honor those we have lost to heart disease and raise awareness of the actions we can take to prevent it.  National Wear Red Day was established in 2004 as the “The Go Red for Women” campaign by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the number 1 cause of death in women. The recognition of this day and its campaign is now part of the American Heart Month tradition.

American Heart Month brings together a wide array of public, private, and governmental organizations to shed light on how far we’ve come and the work that needs to continue. While annual deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke have declined since the inaugural American Heart Month, heart disease continues to be a public health burden and a leading cause of death for both men and women. Cardiovascular disease accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States every year, and many of these are preventable.

Often considered a condition for the older generation, heart disease and other associated illnesses are rising across all age groups. That is why American Heart Month is so important to us all. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the warning signs and symptoms and what we can do in our everyday lives to mitigate risk to our hearts.

Consider the following.

• Heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined.

• Heart attacks affect more people every year than the population of Dallas, Texas.

• 83% believe heart attacks can be prevented but are not motivated to do anything.

• 72% of Americans do not consider themselves at risk for heart disease.

• 58% put no effort into improving their heart health.

Risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.

The good news is heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups. American Heart Month is a great chance to start some heart-healthy habits!

Hospitals and health systems around the country celebrate American Hearth Month by raising awareness in their communities about heart disease. It provides a significant opportunity to emphasize sharing best practices, aligning measurements, advancing implementation strategies, and providing leadership to focus on the burden of cardiovascular disease. 

If you’re not doing so, get involved in your local community’s American Heart Month. Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and living healthy lives.

One fun way to celebrate American Heart Month is by enrolling in a lifesaving course so you can be the hero to someone who might need it! Our Basic Life Support (BLS) class provides instructions for CPR & AED (automated external defibrillator) use. Register here!