Let’s Get to the Heart of the Matter!

February is dedicated to issues of the heart in more ways than one. In addition to Valentine’s Day, February is American Heart Health Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 610,000 deaths per year.

In honor of Heart Health Awareness Month, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension encourages you to make modifications and improve your lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing disease. “The human heart is the most vital muscle in our body, and with any muscle, there are ways to strengthen it”, said Erica Reyes, Extension Program Specialist II with Healthy South Texas. “Make some easy adjustments that everyone can do, and you’ll be supporting and improving your heart health in no time,” Reyes adds.

According to the American Heart Association, Americans who intend to protect their hearts and control their risk factors should:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Increase physical activity.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Know and control your heart health numbers.
• Get quality sleep.
• Stop smoking.
• Reduce stress.
• Maintain visits with your doctor.

Boosting our health and heart can be as simple as eating a rainbow’s worth of fresh fruits and veggies every day. If you’re looking for healthy and delicious recipes to try, visit our Dinner Tonight website at Dinnertonight.tamu.edu and sign up for a weekly e-newsletter for menu planning and food safety tips.

For more information about Texas A&M AgriLife Extension online and in-person health programs, contact your County Extension Office at 979-865-2072.