Healthy is Strong: Help African American Men Be Strong and Put Their Heart Health First

February is American Heart Month, an ideal time to highlight heart health to the communities you serve. Not only does February contain Valentine’s Day, it comes shortly after the holiday season, when we tend to eat too much rich and sweet food. It’s in February when individuals may struggle to stay committed to their New Year’s resolutions. American Heart Month offers an opportunity for you to double your efforts to improve heart health in your community and encourage those you serve to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle.

We know African American men in particular can benefit from focusing on their heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men. High blood pressure—the leading cause of heart disease and stroke—affects more than 40 percent of all African American men, and is even higher for African American men who live in the southeast region of the U.S.

The good news is that most heart attacks and strokes can be prevented. That’s why this February during American Heart Month, Million Hearts® is challenging African American men to start one new, heart-healthy behavior, taking one step at a time until they’ve made all the recommended lifestyle changes. You can support this effort by encouraging the men in your life to:

• Schedule a visit with their health care professional to talk about heart health;
• Walk at least 15 minutes, three times a week, increasing that time a little each week until they reach 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity each week;
• Cook at home at least three times each week and lower sodium by making easy swaps, like using fresh or dried herbs and spices instead of salt. Aim to reduce sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg each day; and
• Take steps to quit smoking if they smoke

Healthy is strong! Share your successes with others on Facebook, and visit the Million Hearts® website to find tools you can use to help African American men in your community set heart-healthy goals that last a lifetime.

Dr. Janet Wright is the Executive Director of Million Hearts®, an HHS national initiative, co-led by CDC and CMS, with the goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. by 2017.