The first Friday of every February isn’t your average Friday, it’s National Wear Red Day. Today, our nation wears red to raise awareness about heart disease - a leading cause of death for Americans. Although heart disease is responsible for 1 in 4 American mortalities, it also is largely preventable. That’s why we join together to raise awareness and educate our communities about heart disease and how to protect your heart.
Understand what puts your heart at risk for heart disease. 47% of Americans have at least 1 of the 3 key risk factors for heart disease:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
Other risk factors for heart disease include:
- Overweight/obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Family history of early coronary heart disease
- Age (for women, 55 and older)
Take the steps to protect your heart - that’s where the Hello Heart program comes in!
- Know your numbers: Tracking your blood pressure is a key step to a healthier heart. With Hello Heart, you’ll be able to monitor and understand what causes your BP to rise and fall all from the privacy of your smartphone.
- Eat for heart health - find great recipes & foods to add to your diet here.
- Be physically active
- Don’t smoke
Be sure to spread the word about heart disease prevention, wear red, and take care of your own heart.
About Hello Heart
Hello Heart is an easy-to-use program that helps you track, manage and improve your heart health from the privacy of your own phone. The Hello Heart program is offered at no cost to eligible members and includes a FREE blood pressure monitor and an engaging app.
1. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm
