It's already the middle of February, and halfway through the commemoration of American Heart Month. This month as a nation we focus on heart disease, the number one killer of Americans. Did you know we’ve been spotlighting this since 1964? Our president at that time was Lyndon B. Johnson, and his proclamation continues today.  

It’s hard to keep bringing up COVID-19 when we’d rather make it a distant memory, but COVID did more than give us the sniffles—the harmful effects COVID has had on our heart and vascular system keep COVID rearing its malicious head. 

Not that long ago during lockdowns, many of us engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that contribute to heart disease. We ate poorly, drank more alcohol, and had limited physical activity. Worse yet, many people delayed or avoided going for healthcare with symptoms of heart attack and stroke, high blood pressure and blood sugar, and the outcomes are obvious. 

Meanwhile, and despite all we know about prevention and our best efforts to control it, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans. And, it is still the leading cause of death worldwide, according to new 2024 heart and stroke statistics. 

During American Heart Month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), and others, reinforce the importance of heart health, and the need for more research—all to ensure that millions of us live longer and healthier. 

In most cases, heart disease is preventable. We at Viaro are here to encourage and help you in your efforts to adopt a healthy lifestyle for yourself, and those you care about. This includes not smoking or using nicotine in vaping or chew, keeping a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week and getting regular checkups. 

There’s a little less than two weeks left in the short month of February. Now is a good time to make a commitment to caring for our hearts. It’s not possible to be without one.  

Teresa Pulvermacher, RN, MSN, FNP-C

President, ViaroHealth

For questions or comments, please contact wellness@viarohealth.com.