Valentine's Day: February is American Heart Month

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, most people get wrapped up in chocolates and cards, but the best give of all might just be a healthy heart.

The heart is the symbol of Valentine's Day, and it just so happens that it is also connected to the month of February in an even more important way. February is American Heart Month, and a necessary time to focus on ways to treat your heart right through healthy diet and exercise and important health screenings.

You might not know it, but according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S., with stroke not trailing far behind as the fourth leading cause of death. Things such as tobacco use, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all contributors to the risk of heart attack and other related vascular problems known for killing over 800,000 Americans each year. And still worse, more than 150,000 of those killed are younger than 65.

According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, more than 30 percent of adults have been told they have high blood pressure and almost 40 percent have high cholesterol.

"We know that smoking and breathing secondhand smoke greatly contribute to a person's risk for heart disease, stroke and heart attack," said State Health Commissioner William VanNess II, M.D. in a statement. "But it's important to remember that high blood pressure and high cholesterol are serious health threats as well. They are far too common and have no detectable symptoms. Being tobacco free and getting regular screenings can help reduce your risks."

With these statistics, it's certainly easy to get discouraged. But don't. Look at these steps to put you in the right direction.

First off, eating a healthy diet that is composed of fresh fruits and vegetables will help prevent high cholesterol. Also lowering your sodium can help prevent high cholesterol. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise can also help to maintain a healthy weight. Monitoring your blood pressure and limiting alcohol use and eliminating tobacco use will also help your healthy lifestyle fall into play.

 Follow these tips and you'll be on the road to a perfect Valentine's Day with a healthy heart in no time. After all, it is the ultimate V-day gift.