February is National Heart Month

Love Your Heart

February seems focused on hearts - Valentine’s Day, candy hearts, Cupid popping up everywhere. What better way to celebrate than to focus on your own heart? I know better than most that when the heart stops pumping, the music stops and the party’s over. You’ve got to fight for your right to party! That means taking care of your heart.

Picture of me at the gym, putting in the work to keep this heart healthy. I'm also wearing red a little bit early.

Friday, February 7 is National Wear Red Day.

I’m headed to Nashville for a checkup on my transplanted heart, but I want to leave you with some thoughts while I’m away.

Here are some important steps you can take to ensure your heart health:

• Monitor the Big 3 - Blood pressure, Cholesterol, and Blood Sugar.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight - Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease.

• Exercise Regularly - Get at least 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise at least 3 times per week.

• Manage Stress - Stress impacts heart health.

• Get Adequate Sleep - Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

• Quit Smoking - There are a lot of options out there, so if at first you don’t succeed, try another way.

• Follow a Heart-healthy Diet - That’s fruit, veggies, whole grains and lean protein, while reducing intake of salt and sugar.

• Get Regular Health Screenings - Your doctor might find a problem before it becomes a major issue.

• Stay Current on Vaccines - One bad infection with the Flu, Covid, or RSV can significantly increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes heart disease still finds us. We might need drugs like statins, or stents, or bypass surgeries. Some of us might have problems that can’t be fixed, and we require replacement of our hearts - a heart transplant.

In those extreme cases, we have to wait and hope for a donor heart to become available before time runs out and we die. The lucky ones - like me - get a heart in time and get to continue living.

The heart in my chest didn’t magically appear at the hospital when I needed it. This heart came from a generous donor whose last wish was to help others. Organ donors are uniquely selfless individuals who understand that they can’t take it with them. Instead, they check the box on their license or online and agree to give the gift of life to others who are waiting to find out if they will continue to live. People whose families are waiting to find out if they will celebrate the gift of life or mourn the loss of a loved one.

Be a cause of hope for someone this month. Register to be an organ donor.

Sign Up To Be An Organ Donor

Thank you for reading, and I hope that you and your loved ones have the best possible day.