Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2021

Story and photos courtesy of the American Heart Association
February is Heart Month and it’s more important than ever before to #LiveFierce and take control of your health.
The month kicks o with National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 5. On that day, the American Heart Association is calling a “Code Red” and sounding the alarm for women to live erce and be relentless in the ght against their #1 killer. But living erce doesn’t end with National Wear Red Day. It’s a commitment to learning about your risks, knowing your numbers, moving more, and realizing that your health is within your control. It’s doing what you can to help others in your community enjoy good health as well. There’s no better time than now to take action – in 2021, we must reclaim the health of our communities.
Many obstacles to better cardiovascular health on the Gulf Coast are related to equity. Half of Gulf Coast residents live in areas with low or no access to healthy foods such as fresh produce. Those with access to healthy foods may not be able to a ord them. Too many families don’t know where their next meal will come from, and COVID-19 has only made it worse. Many people remain uninsured and have limited access to care. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes can be managed, but without
the proper treatment they can become life-threatening. This February, we ask volunteers, survivors and support-
ers to amplify this message. You, too, can choose to “live erce,” whether that means knowing your numbers, recog- nizing the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, learning CPR, or making a healthy behavior change. There was a lot of loss in 2020, but you did not lose YOU! This month, show the world the ways you’re taking back your health and helping others do the same. Capture all the ways you’re choosing to “live erce.” Post your sel es, pics, and videos on social media and use the #WatchMe and #LiveFierce hashtags.
For more information on Heart Month, National Wear Red Day, or the Go Red for Women movement, visit www.heart.org.
American Heart Association
2159 E. Pass Rd., Gulfport
228.604.5319 www.heart.org
64 | February 2021
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