February is America Heart Month
February 7th is National Wear Red Day!
Each year on the first Friday in February, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, The Heart Truth®, and others around the country celebrate National Wear Red Day® to bring greater attention to heart disease as the leading cause of death for Americans and promote steps people can take to protect their heart.
Why it's important: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there’s a lot you can do to prevent it. Taking time to care for your heart can be challenging as you go about daily life. But it’s easier than you think to show your heart the love it deserves each day. Small acts of self-care, like taking walks, getting quality sleep, and cooking healthy meals, help your heart. Research shows that self-care can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Key Messages of American Heart Month:
- Heart Disease is Preventable: Simple lifestyle changes can significantly reduce risk.
- Know Your Numbers: Monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels is crucial.
- Stay Active: Regular physical activity improves heart health.
- Healthy Eating: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can lower risks.
- Manage Stress: Mental well-being plays a role in heart health.
- Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol: These habits contribute to cardiovascular problems
Resources:
Self Care Tips: Researchers define self-care as what you do to stay healthy. It’s also what you do to care for any health problems you have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health disorders. It’s heart-healthy living.
Stress Less for a Healthier Heart: Stress happens. You can’t always prevent or avoid it. But you can change how you respond to it. Try these tips. You may feel better—and have a healthier heart, too!
My Heart Health Tracker: Keep track of important numbers related to your heart health.
Heart Smart Basics Being smart about your heart means knowing what causes heart disease and what your individual risk factors are. This fact sheet defines common heart-related terms you should know and sample questions to ask your healthcare provider to help keep your heart healthy.
Source: National Lung, Heart and Blood Institute
Tribal Wellness Services:
Diabetes Prevention & Management
In an effort to combat the growing epidemic of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, the Samish Indian Nation Diabetes Program provides a variety of services to help delay or prevent a diabetes diagnosis while also reducing the risk of complications. These services are designed to educate tribal citizens on the risk factors of diabetes while encouraging prevention and management, physical fitness, nutrition, foot care, and vision care.
Eligibility Requirements:
You must be an enrolled Samish tribal citizen.
You must reside in our 12-County Service Area (Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, or Whatcom County)
Services We Currently Offer:
Monthly Diabetes Educational Information: Informational flyers regarding how you can prevent and manage your diabetes mailed each month.
Coming Soon: Samish Fitness Challenge!