The Scoop Winter 2017 | Page 58

I Heart February

“The heart is the strongest muscle in our body”, as the saying goes. There is truth in this as we only have one heart and that very muscle controls how we live and breathe. That’s why we need to take care of our hearts. With February comes many different holidays from Valentine’s Day to President’s Day, but it also celebrates American Heart Month. American Heart Month promotes having a strong heart and builds awareness to heart diseases and conditions. It is not just February though, we also want to have a strong, healthy heart to do activities as well as eat the right foods to continue these ideal conditions.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and terminal diseases in the human population. Many heart-related conditions have risen in the past century, making these diseases a priority for us. Because of this, American Heart Month was created back in 1964 by President Johnson and it has been a major holiday ever since. Heart conditions can affect anyone of any age. However, African-American men turn out to have highest chance of heart disease and problems and almost half of them have high blood pressure. Because of this, we should take good care of the only heart we have. Having a strong heart is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. Heart attacks and strokes are only some of few conditions that can happen from a poorly treated heart. Almost 1700 people die everyday from these conditions that could be prevented through exercise and eating healthy.

To prevent conditions like high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats, people should exercise and eat better more nutritious foods. Exercising is a key part of staying in shape as well as well as keeping a healthy heart. Doing cardio can strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system. In addition to exercising, sleeping is also a great way to relax and keep one from having too much stress. And a proper diet won’t hurt. Eating more vegetables prevents an influx of fatty foods in the body resulting in better blood flow through the arteries. By doing all of these things, people can significantly decrease the chance of heart disease and better manage sugar and insulin levels. With a healthier heart, we can live longer and happier lives.

Dexter Hom