Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 650,000 people each year, that is 1 in every 4 deaths. American Heart Month is celebrated in February to raise awareness of the risks of heart disease, remember those we have lost, and highlight steps we can all take to save the lives of countless loved ones and address the unequal burden of heart disease in high-risk communities.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who’d had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation designating February as American Heart Month in 1964. Here is this year’s proclamation by The White House.
As stated in the proclamation, “ Despite the significant progress we have made, heart disease continues to exact a heartbreaking toll — a burden disproportionately carried by Black and brown Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and people who live in rural communities. Addressing these tragic disparities and improving heart health has never been more important, as people suffering from heart disease and related conditions are also at increased risk of severe illness and long-term effects from COVID-19.”
Here are some books/ebooks available with your Livingston Library card that can offer guidance and help, as you strive to focus more on your cardiac health.
- American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Reducing Sodium and Fat in Your Diet
- Be Heart Smart : Understand, Treat, And Prevent Coronary Heart Disease by Waqar Khan
- Cardiovascular Health: Living Your Best with a Healthy Heart by Martin Juneau
- Coronary Heart Disease: From Diagnosis to Treatment by Barry M. Cohen
- The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease- And The Statin-Free Plan That Will by Jonny Bowden
- Healthy Habits for Your Heart: 100 Simple, Effective Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure and Maintain Your Heart’s Health by Monique Tello
- Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar
- Heart Solution for Women: A Proven Program to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Mark Menolascino
- The New American Heart Association Cookbook: Revised and Updated with More Than 100 All-New Recipes
- The New Science of Fighting Silent Heart Disease: Causes, Diagnoses, Prevention, and Treatments by Harold L. Karpman
Useful websites
The American Heart Association has useful information on cardiac health, including tips for healthy living
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed toolkits for Heart Month, in addition to other resources on heart health.
-Archana, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian