When thinking about the month of February, images of heart-shaped balloons, cards, candy, decorations, and more may come to mind. With heart-shaped items everywhere, focusing on your real heart is important. February is American Heart Month, and with heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), it needs to be taken seriously.  

Cardiovascular Diseases 

Cardiovascular disease kills more than 800,000 people every year in the United States (NHLBI). Cardiovascular disease is a term for all heart and blood vessel diseases.  

• Heart disease: diseases/conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function  

• Coronary heart disease: the most common form of heart disease, happens when plaque builds up in your arteries 

• Heart attack: plaque builds up and creates blood clots, which block blood flow to the heart and is the most common cause of heart attacks 

• Cardiac arrest: the heart stops pumping unexpectedly  

• Stroke: blood flow to the brain is blocked, and brain cells begin to die within minutes due to the brain not getting oxygen 

Symptoms of a Heart Attack, Stroke, and Cardiac Arrest 

• Heart Attack: discomfort (pressure, squeezing) in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in the upper body 

• Stroke: Use the acronym FAST to identify a stroke. Face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty are all signs of a stroke. If a person shows any of these symptoms, call 911.   

• Cardiac Arrest: Sudden loss of responsiveness (if they do not respond to tapping on shoulders) and no normal breathing  

How to Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle 

Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, it can be prevented. Living a heart-healthy lifestyle can protect you against heart disease and its risk factors. Check out this infographic from the NHLBI for ways to be heart-healthy!  

How AFSPA Can Help 

AFSPA’s Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) has multiple options to help you prevent heart disease. FSBP offers wellness rewards after completing preventive and healthy action items like taking your annual Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and getting an annual physical exam & biometric screening. Just by getting these done, FSBP members age 18+ can earn $175 in wellness rewards. Learn more about other healthy action items where you can earn more wellness rewards (up to $400).   

 FSBP also provides special programs specifically for your heart health. From lifestyle coaching programs to Livongo’s Remote Hypertension Monitoring program, there are ways to start your heart health journey. Visit https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/wellness for more information.  

Sources 

https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-attack-and-stroke-symptoms  

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month