American Heart Month shines spotlight on heart health

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February is American Heart Month — a time to bring attention to heart health and the steps that everyone can take to fight heart disease.

More than 880,000 people have died in the U.S. after the contracting the COVID-19 virus in the past two years. That’s roughly the same number that die from heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease in a year’s time. Illnesses related to the heart are still the nation’s number one killer. COVID has actually made it worse. Deaths from heart disease and stroke have risen significantly since the pandemic began.

The American Heart Association is encouraging Americans to take back their health this month and will identify strategies to do that on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.

Appearing on the program are Larissa Bedrick, Communications Director for the American Heart Association in Harrisburg and Dr. Rhian E. Davies, DO MS FACC FSCAI, Interventional Cardiology, WellSpan Health – York.