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Learn More About American Heart Month

by Neighborhood-Kids.com2/16/2008 7:05:45 PM

February is a month associated with matters of the heart. Nope, I don’t mean romance; I mean awareness about the prevention of heart disease, one of the leading causes of death in America. Since 1963, February has been known as “American Heart Month.” During this month, the President of the United States and the American Heart Association work together to increase awareness about heart disease and raise funds to continue research and education about this disease that affects so many people in our country.

Are you and your family at risk for heart disease?

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The association first formed in 1924 so physicians could share their research and promote the further study of this disease.

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases and conditions that affect the heart. Such diseases can occur at birth or develop over time.

Congenital heart disease occurs at birth when the heart or surrounding blood vessels are not fully developed, which can cause a heart arrhythmia. Congenital heart disease can be detected through an obstetric ultrasound before birth. If there is a family history of congenital heart disease, it can be detected as early as 14 weeks into pregnancy. After birth, blueness and breathlessness can be early signs of the disease, although some cases can go undetected until adulthood. Because of medical advancements in preceding years, many kids diagnosed with this condition have grown up to live active and healthy lives.
 
Coronary heart disease is the result of the accumulation of plaque within the walls of arteries. It can progress for years before the first visible symptom occurs, which can often be a heart attack. Many factors contribute to an individual’s risk of coronary heart disease, including age, gender, and family history. But there are several things that can help prevent the risk of heart disease, like exercising regularly and eating properly.

To continue the nationwide education about and research of heart disease, you can make a donation to the American Heart Association online, or you can mail a donation to our local AHA branch in Seattle. You can also raise funds, and improve your physical fitness, by joining in the AHA Start! Campaign, which encourages individuals, families, and businesses to make walking a part of their everyday lifestyle.  You can register to participate, set a fundraising goal, and invite others to make donations in your name. The goal for Seattle’s AHA branch this year is to raise $2.6 million. All Start! participants are invited to attend the annual Start! Puget Sound Heart Walk in the fall to celebrate the achievement of staying fit and fighting heart disease.

To find out more about heart disease and prevention, visit the American Heart Association’s official website or ask your family doctor.