February is American Heart Month

Every year 1 in 3 women die from heart disease. However, events during American Heart Month aim to educate men and women about heart disease prevention and the ways to manage chronic health conditions.

Practices can play a big part in promoting awareness months like American Heart Month and overall health education. Ideas include:

• Adding articles to practice newsletters
• Contributing to practice/hospital blog
• Posting on social media
• Hosting community events
• Sharing patient collateral

According to the American Heart Association women have been largely ignored as a specific group, when it comes to raising awareness about heart disease. Only 55 percent of women realize heart disease is a number one killer and less than half know the risk factors. The Go Red For Women events the month of February shine a light on women's heart health and prevention.

As a result of raised awareness through events like Go Red and other Heart Awareness campaigns:

• More than 2 million women have learned their risk factors for developing heart disease
• One third of women have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans
• Go Red women are more likely to follow their doctors’ advice
• 91% of women visited their doctor in the last 12 months
• 64% follow a regular exercise routine
• 90% have had their blood pressure checked in the last year
• 75% have had their cholesterol checked in the last year

Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day.

And to think it all started with awareness and a concerted effort to COMMUNICATE more. There is power in patient communication, in the messages we share and the educational pieces patients receive from practices, medical organizations and community events.