Heart disease affects millions of people globally every year, making it the leading cause of death according to the World Heart Federation. February marks American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health.
American Heart Month encourages people to learn and make simple lifestyle changes to improve heart health. This awareness helps build long-term habits that reduce the risk of disease.
“It can benefit people, especially students, by making sure that they have implemented healthy habits, [such as] having good nutrition and hydration, and avoiding things that can negatively affect the heart, such as energy drinks, smoking and vaping,” school nurse Allison Westphal said.
While this month brings awareness to people, it also encourages education and knowledge about heart health.
“I think it’s a good awareness to people who may not know the issues and complications, because anyone at any moment could experience a heart problem and they might not know what impact it could have to their overall health,” anatomy teacher Avital McQuigg said.
Our school has been implementing safety measures for any heart health emergency. Taking these steps helps create a safer environment where potential heart-related risks are identified early and can be handled quickly. Westphal provides a behind-the-scenes look into what Florida High does to uphold safety.
“We are the first school in Leon County to be considered heart-safe. We have partnered with an organization called Project ADAM, meaning that most of our buildings have an AED in case someone on campus suffers a sudden cardiac arrest and can be treated. We have also trained staff to be able to use this device in order to help out in this emergency situation,” Westphal said.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will not only help people now but also in the near future. This sets people up to live a good life and reduces health risks. Freshman Khloe Woodsen shares how knowing about heart health will help her in the long run.
“It will definitely help knowing about this now because it will not only keep my heart safe from diseases, but I will also get to live a fuller life,” Woodson said.
American Heart Month is a reminder to everyone that heart health starts with the everyday choices we make, such as eating well and staying hydrated. By spreading awareness to those around us, we can help others recognize risks early and take steps that can prevent serious heart problems later in life.
