OKEMOS - As well as being Black History Month, February is also National Heart Month, where community members are encouraged to focus on heart health and learn about other heart health issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America for both men and women.
February is a time to reflect and educate ourselves on heart health and heart disease.

Throughout the month, community members were encouraged to wear red to bring awareness to heart health and celebrate those who have overcome the unthikable.

Kyleigh Wegner is the communications admin for the American Heart Association in Okemos. She's been traveling around the state all of February to educate, celebrate Heart Month and listen to survivor's stories.

“A survivor, her husband saved her with CPR and she had to be air lifted. She was part of the one percent that survives the type of heart attack that she had," Wegner said.

Wenger says that February has been extremely busy in their mission to celebrate heart health.

“So, we have had four different Go Red for Women luncheons," Wegner said. "We’ve had them in Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Detroit. Detroit especially was over 600 attendees, so we’ve had like, we’ve reached over 2,000 people.”

So what can you do to protect yourself from the leading cause of death in America and keep your heart healthy?

“So you want to add color to your diet, you want to make sure you get 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week," Wegner said. "And that can be as simple as just going out for a walk, and you don’t have to do it continuously, so if you’re not in the best of health right away, just break it up into ten minute spurts. Park further away. You can also go see your doctor."