Loving Our Hearts

February has long been associated with hearts. Valentine’s Day dates back centuries, with some origin stories going back as far as the 5^th century. So, when former President Lyndon Johnson, a sufferer of heart disease, wanted to raise awareness about heart health, it’s fitting that he selected February to be heart month.

In the fifty years that have passed since the first Heart Month in February 1964, a growing body of research and healthy-living tips are helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases. But like other indicators of well-being, heart health and emotional health are strongly connected. In late 2023, the American Heart Association published a study showing how “depression, stress and anxiety contribute to poor heart health.”   

A strong social network is a key contributor to emotional resilience, and the CDC reports that, “People with stronger social bonds have a 50% increased likelihood of survival than those who have fewer social connections.” In honor of Heart Month, Language of Friendship would like to amplify three important heart healthy tips, made easier with a friend.

Get Moving. Wellness expert Debra Wein, Founder of Wellness Workdays lists “stay active” at the top of her tips for boosting cardiovascular health. She shares ideas for getting in 30 minutes of movement a day, five days a week, many of which are made more enjoyable with a friend. As Sara shared in an earlier post, “One of the best ways I’ve found to maintain a fitness routine is to find a type of exercise I enjoy doing and then get some friends to participate along with me.”

Manage Stress. In a country described by the American Psychological Association as, “A nation recovering from collective trauma,” with the pandemic, global conflicts, and racial injustices all factors in recent years, finding ways to combat stress is critical to well-being. The American Heart Association lists, “Making time for friends and family” among the top ways to manage stress, highlighting the importance of “social connections and talking with people you trust.”

Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat.

American Heart Association

Learn Hand-Only CPR. This Heart Month, consider refreshing your life-saving skills. Go Red For Women 2024 is encouraging everyone to join the effort to be a ‘Nation of Lifesavers™’, by emphasizing the issue that, “too many women go without help when suffering a cardiac arrest because bystanders are often afraid to touch them.” I last took a CPR class when pregnant with my now 17-year-old son. Heart Month is an opportunity to update those skills, made easier by the many CPR classes offered by the American Red Cross.