American Heart Month: Feb. 3 Is National Wear Red Day®

January 31, 2023 / Get Well

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on and raise awareness about cardiovascular health. The simple truth is that while genetic factors do play a part, you can significantly lower your risk for heart disease and associated concerns through education, healthy lifestyle changes and, in some cases, prescription medicine.
Raise your awareness and add heart-protecting practices to your routine. Consider the following:

  • Health Promotion. Rock Your Red. Wear Red on Friday, February 3, 2023.
    • Feb. 3rd is National Wear Red Day® as part of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Go Red for Women initiative. Join the AHA and other health and wellness advocates in their efforts to raise awareness and support for the fight against heart disease. On Friday, let’s all stand together with Go Red and take charge of our heart health; and the health of those we can’t bear to live without.
  • Get Moving on Wear Red Day!
    • Together, let’s get #OurHearts pumping! Participate in 25 minutes of heart-pumping activities with The Heart Truth; the NIH Fitness Center; and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Join the fun here on February 3rd at noon for a virtual sampling of aerobic exercises including kickboxing, dance, and stretches.
  • Be ready to respond in an emergency.
    • Click on the “Medical” tab on NOVA’s Office of Emergency Management and Safety (OEMS) page to review emergency procedures for events that may happen at NOVA. Please reference NOVA’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for detailed information.
    • Sign up here for free CPR and Stop the Bleed Training offered by OEMS. Space is limited. Additional classes will be announced in the future.
    • Classes are also available from:
      • American Red Cross;
      • American Heart Association; and/or
      • A number of private providers like EnjoyCPR.
        *Recommendations for external providers are not meant to serve as an endorsement. You are encouraged to do your own research in selecting a company for these services.
  • Know Your Numbers- Check out the video and -throughout the month- keep an eye out for future Heart Health Daily Flyer messages.
  • Get Heart Smart!
    • Read this fact sheet for definitions of common heart-related terms, numbers you should know, and questions to ask your healthcare provider to help keep your heart healthy.
    • Know the Warning Signs and Symptoms of a heart attack.
    • Join here at noon on Friday, February 17 with experts from the NHLBI’s, the Heart Truth® program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Million Hearts® initiative for a dialogue about what Americans should know to keep their hearts healthy.
  • Practice Self-Care for Your Heart
    • Self-care is heart-healthy living. This fact sheet provides an overview of what self-care for your heart means. It also offers ideas on how to make your heart health part of your self-care routine and its benefits.
    • Making the time! Really, how do I fit it in? Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Dr. Cori Cooper joins @KevOnStage to talk about time management! Dr. Cooper provides tips on making more time in your daily life to live a healthier lifestyle.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, HR-Chief Wellness Officer, dhtett@nvcc.edu