MOLINE, Ill. — The month of love is also the month to pay attention to your heart! February is American Heart Month and according to the CDC, cardiovascular disease has been the number one killer in the U.S. since the 1950s. Every year it claims more lives than all other cancers combined. Those rates climb even higher in people of color.
This year, the American Heart Association is celebrating 100 years of raising heart awareness. The organization first began funding cardiovascular research in 1948. Since then, heart disease deaths have dropped by 70% in the U.S.
But the COVID-19 pandemic flipped everything on its head. The most recent statistical update shows cardiovascular deaths are now on the rise, reaching the highest rate in 18 years. The AHA says most of the increase can be attributed to the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19.
The AHA is kicking awareness efforts off this year with 'National Wear Red Day' on Feb. 2. You can post your selfies in red with the #IAGoRed or #ILGoRed to your social media. People are also encouraged to share stories of how cardiovascular disease has touched their lives.
The association also urges every family in the U.S. to join the Nation of Lifesavers by learning CPR. According to the AHA, every year more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. More than 70% occur in the home. Learning CPR can be a lifesaving tool in those situations.
In the Quad Cities, families can take an online CPR course, watch a 60-second video to learn hands-only CPR or even buy a training kit to practice at home. Children as young as nine can learn CPR. You can check out each option here.
The AHA is also a stakeholder in the Quad Cities HEARTSafe Coalition, providing hands-on CPR trainings throughout the year.
Locally, the Quad Cities AHA chapter will host the Quad Cities Heart Ball on April 6. The Quad Cities Heart Walk will happen on June 8. You can learn more about the AHA's Quad City group here.
Jessica Palczynski, the co-chair of the Quad Cities Heart Ball, joined The Current to discuss this year's events. You can watch the full interview in the above video.
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