Keeping Your Heart Healthy

(Rural Health Inc. Recognizes February as American Heart Month)

While deaths from heart disease have continued to decline in recent decades, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. February is American Heart Month. Rural Health Inc. (RHI) encourages residents to talk to a healthcare provider to schedule a heart-healthy check if needed and to join them in preventing heart-related diseases.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, men, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In 2024, approximately 683,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease; that is roughly 1 in every 5 deaths.

While heart disease is a broad category, specific statistics show approximately 805,000 heart attacks occur yearly in the nation. Coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, is caused by risk factors like high cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and lack of exercise, and develops gradually, often without symptoms until a major event happens. It is estimated that 5%, or 1 in 20 adults aged 20 and older, have coronary artery disease. Other causes of heart disease include obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.

“Keeping your heart healthy is not a one-size-fits-all process, that’s why it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program,” says Shawnna Rhine, RHI Director of Public Relations. “What works for someone else, may not work for you. Your and your provider will assess your overall health needs and, together, establish a plan just for you that includes diet, exercise, and managing stress.”

There are several ways you can participate in American Heart Month.

• Join Rural Health, Inc. in Wearing Red on February 6th, to show support for women’s heart health. 
• Learn CPR: Take courses in Hands-Only CPR to save lives. 
• Get Screened: Schedule regular check-ups for blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors. 
• Spread Awareness: Share information and use hashtags like #HeartMonth, #GoRed, and #MoveWithHeart. 

To learn more about American Heart Month, visit heart.org/en/american-heart-month. To schedule your heart-healthy appointment through Rural Health, Inc., call 618-833-4471 or visit ruralhealthinc.org for a clinic near you.

Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) is a not-for-profit organization serving Johnson, Massac, and Union counties in Illinois, designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), whose mission is to provide quality services to all patients in need of healthcare while being committed to the overall health and well-being of the underserved.

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