Learn to protect your heart this February

By Adam Uzell

The heart is an impressive organ.  All day, everyday, it works to keep your blood pumping.  But sometimes the heart fails.  Like any good machine, if you don’t take care of it, eventually it will wear out.  

This is where American Heart Month enters.  Every February, hearts receive the recognition they deserve. While protecting your heart is important, not everyone is aware of the month long dedication to heart health. 

Rebecca Powell, an early childhood education major at Winthrop University, said she has never even heard of American Heart Month.  Powell’s fiancé, history major Ethan Wallace, said all he knew about American Heart Month is “jump rope for heart.”  For Wallace, the word “heart” reminds him of his fiancée.

But one campus organization is working to bring awareness of heart health. Winthrop’s Student Wellness Advocacy Team (SWAT) set up a booth on February 1st, 2nd and 3rd with information and a large piece of paper covered in tiny heart-shaped notes. The notes were filled with students’ ideas for how they would reduce heart disease in 2012.

The president of SWAT, biology major Desirae House, believes that this year’s attempts at bringing awareness were successful.

“We were able to bring new information to people that walked by the table,” House said.  Students walking by could read up on what kinds of food to eat to lower heart disease, the importance of exercise and an explanation on just what heart disease is. 

Heart disease is not linked to just one cause or condition. According to the American Heat Association, heart disease (or cardiovascular disease) is a term relating to many conditions caused by plaque build up in the ateries. 

“Many people do not know that the #1 killer in American Women is in fact Heart Disease, so to get that information out to as many people is a success for us!” House said.  Facts such as this were available for students to view both February 1st and 2nd at the SWAT information booth.

In addition to the information booth, SWAT also worked to increase heart disease awareness by encouraging students to wear red on Friday, February 3rd.  Just as pink helps to remind people of breast cancer, SWAT hopes that red will help further interest in heart disease.

“In the future, I see SWAT hosting this on a larger scale,” said House, “…and it is my wish that more student groups and students in general get involved.”  House also hopes to see free health screenings join the list of events SWAT provides.  “Students would able to get screened and gain free heart health information at the same time,” House said.

For now, SWAT is satisfied with the way American Heart Month has created awareness.  Students came by the SWAT booth and added their ideas on heart health to the poster board and read the information provided.

Still, House would like to see more people aware of the dangers of heart disease. Said House, “I think many young individuals believe their young age protects them from any health issues, and we don’t take into consideration that we too can be affected.”