Each year in the month of February, The Florida Department of Health in Okeechobee County promotes American Heart Month.

Friday, February 4, 2022, is National Wear Red Day in support of Heart Health.

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a common name for many conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels in people of all ages. Heart disease accounts for approximately 2 out of 10 deaths in Florida.1 In 2020, 5.2% of Florida adults had a heart attack, corresponding approximately to 902,642 individuals.2 In Florida, in 2019, 11% of adult persons with any disability reported ever having heart disease compared to 4% of adult persons with no disability.

How can I protect myself and my family?

You can prevent heart disease by practicing healthy living habits and preventing or treating medical conditions. These include:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting enough physical activity
• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol use
• Checking your cholesterol
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Managing your diabetes
• Taking your medicine
• Talking with your health care team
  

For more information visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/heartdisease/index.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have more information to view data on heart disease and stroke death rates by race and gender in Florida and across the United States.

For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm and https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/understand-your-risks-to-prevent-aheart-attack