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February is American Heart Month, and the National Institutes of Health is promoting this year’s slogan, “Our Hearts.” This theme encourages people to make a pact with friends and family to take care of their hearts and their cardiovascular health.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that worldwide 17.9 million people die every year from cardiovascular diseases — and more than 75% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Many of those deaths can be prevented. A healthy lifestyle — a good diet, exercise and adequate sleep — contributes to maintaining a healthy heart.
WiRED International created a training module on heart diseases to help educate general audiences and community health workers about heart health and disease. Other modules related to the heart can be found in WiRED’s Health Learning Center, and many are translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese and Arabic.
Cardiovascular health includes not only the heart but also the veins and arteries connected to it. WiRED offers a three-part anatomy series, the first part of which describes the circulatory system. Everyone can benefit from a basic understanding of this critical system.
WiRED encourages people to raise the issue of heart health with family and friends and to share information about a healthy lifestyle.
You can download the modules mentioned in this story, and all 400+ of WiRED’s health modules, through WiRED’s Health Module Access Program (HealthMAP) by clicking here. This easy-to-use free program will enable you to create your own customized collection of health learning modules. You can learn more about HealthMAP through WiRED's animation.
Maintaining a Heart Healthy Lifestyle
Here are five changes to make:
- Schedule a visit with your doctor. Talk with your doctor to identify your risk factors for heart disease and take measures to control them.
- Use more herbs and spices to give food good flavor instead of salt. Eat at home more often. You’ll have more control over the ingredients you use, and can cook healthy meals.
- Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Eat whole fruits and a variety of vegetables.
- Be mindful of portion sizes. If you eat out, share half of your food with a friend or take half home.
- Move more. Start an exercise routine with 10 minute walks a couple days a week. Walk during a break. Dance in your living room to your favorite music. Build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity five days per week.
- Know your family history.
- Limit alcohol use.
Source: NHLBI, CDC and American Heart Association
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