Yes, February is officially American Heart Month. Congress passed a joint resolution on December 30, 1963, requesting that every president issue an annual proclamation designating February as a month dedicated to fighting cardiovascular disease. Every president since has done so, making it one of the longest-running health awareness campaigns in the country.
The timing matters more than you might think. Heart disease kills roughly 683,000 Americans each year, making it the single leading cause of death in the United States, ahead of cancer and accidental injuries. February serves as a nationwide push to talk about prevention, recognize warning signs, and take action.
What Happens During American Heart Month
The American Heart Association runs the largest campaign each February, and the focus shifts slightly from year to year. The 2026 theme centers on bystander CPR, with the message that “anyone can save a life.” The idea is that in a cardiac emergency, the true first responder is often a family member, coworker, or stranger, not a paramedic. The AHA is encouraging people to learn CPR through its free resources and “Nation of Lifesavers” initiative.
One of the most visible events is National Wear Red Day, which in 2026 falls on Friday, February 6. Landmarks across the country light up in red, and people wear the color to raise awareness about heart disease in women specifically. This matters because heart attack symptoms in women often look different than what most people expect, and delayed recognition costs lives.
Heart Attack Symptoms Women Should Know
The classic image of a heart attack is someone clutching their chest in sudden, crushing pain. That can happen to women, but it often doesn’t. Women are more likely to experience vague symptoms: shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, pain in the upper abdomen, and extreme fatigue. These symptoms may show up while resting or even during sleep, which makes them easy to dismiss as the flu or stress.
Sweating and unusual fatigue without an obvious cause are particularly common in women having a cardiac event. Because these symptoms don’t match the stereotypical heart attack picture, women tend to wait longer before seeking emergency care. Knowing these signs can genuinely be the difference between getting treatment in time and permanent heart damage.
The Major Risk Factors
Heart disease develops over years, driven by a handful of conditions and habits that are largely within your control. The CDC identifies these as the key risk factors:
- High blood pressure. This is the single biggest risk factor. Updated 2025 guidelines define normal blood pressure as below 120/80. Readings of 130/80 or higher now qualify as Stage 1 hypertension, and 140/90 or higher is Stage 2. Many people with high blood pressure have no symptoms at all, which is why regular checks matter.
- High cholesterol. Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol builds up in artery walls over time. You can have dangerously high levels for years without feeling anything.
- Smoking. Nicotine raises blood pressure, and carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces the oxygen your blood can carry. Even secondhand smoke exposure increases heart disease risk for nonsmokers.
- Diabetes. Adults with diabetes face a higher risk of dying from heart disease than those without it. The damage to blood vessels from elevated blood sugar compounds over time.
- Obesity. Excess body fat is linked to higher LDL cholesterol, higher triglycerides, lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and increased risk of both high blood pressure and diabetes.
Diet plays a direct role across nearly all of these. Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium push blood pressure and cholesterol in the wrong direction. Too much alcohol raises blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
What “Heart Healthy” Actually Looks Like
The physical activity threshold is more achievable than many people assume: 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking. That breaks down to about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. If you prefer something more intense, like jogging or running, 75 minutes per week provides an equivalent benefit. You can also mix moderate and vigorous activity throughout the week.
On the dietary side, the DASH eating plan (originally designed to lower blood pressure) remains one of the most evidence-backed approaches. A key target is keeping sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams per day, roughly one teaspoon of table salt. Dropping to 1,500 milligrams daily lowers blood pressure even further, which is especially relevant if you already have elevated readings or a family history of hypertension.
The combination of regular movement, controlled sodium intake, not smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption (no more than one drink a day for women, two for men) addresses the majority of modifiable risk factors simultaneously. None of these are February-only goals, but the awareness month exists precisely because most people need the reminder.
Know Your Numbers
If you do one thing during American Heart Month, get a blood pressure reading. The updated categories are stricter than what many people remember:
- Normal: below 120/80
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic (top number) with a bottom number still under 80
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139 systolic, or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher systolic, or 90 or higher diastolic
If your top and bottom numbers fall into two different categories, the higher category applies. Many pharmacies have free blood pressure machines, and home monitors are widely available. Catching elevated blood pressure early opens the door to lifestyle changes that can bring it down before medication becomes necessary.