Every February is celebrated as American Heart Month. American Heart Month is observed in hopes of bringing more awareness about the importance of having a healthy heart while also working to decrease the risk of developing heart disease. Here are a few facts about heart disease:

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that is about 1 person every 36 seconds!
  • Heart disease is often defined as being “silent” because many people do not know they have some form of heart disease until they experience symptoms of a heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmia.

Heart disease presents itself in many ways, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and more. There are many risk factors that contribute to the development of heart disease, such as obesity, poor eating habits, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. Although there may be risks, there are also preventive measures that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The preventive steps that can be taken include:

  • Maintaining a healthy diet
  • Being more active
  • Drinking less alcohol
  • Cutting back on smoking or no smoking

How Are We Improving Heart Health in the River Region?

HeartLink is a free program that lasts for one year. When participants enroll in the HeartLink program they are
presented with the option of signing up for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) or the Chronic Disease Self-Management classes (CDSMP).

  • DPP is a year-long program that is designed for individuals diagnosed as pre-diabetic or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The goal of the DPP program is to stop the onset of developing type 2 diabetes by teaching participants how to instill healthy habits into their daily lives.
  • CDSMP is a six-week program that is designed to help those already diagnosed with a chronic illness to successfully manage their chronic illness. CDSMP teaches participants how to self-manage their chronic diseases through means available to them.

The education that is provided to participants that partake in the different programs is congruent to the preventative measures that help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic conditions. At the end of the programs, the biggest reward that participants gain is the knowledge and tools in order to live a healthier life than before.

HeartLink helps push individuals to be more serious about their heart health. Individuals who successfully complete the HeartLink program receive a free blood pressure monitor to help them stay on the path of living a healthy life.

To sign up for HeartLink, visit https://form.jotform.com/203224130203130.